In 2015, President Muhammadu Buhari (Bubu) was nicknamed the Minister for Tourism. As of December, it was estimated that Buhari had spent a quarter of his 186 days on about 12 foreign trips, which, according to his aides, is imperative.
With seven more trips between January and now, Bubu has gotten himself a trending nickname – #wakawakaBuhari. Nigerians are lamenting on Twitter that the president is not addressing some of the issues plaguing the country’s already troubled economy.
Dear Buhari, since u enter u don do reach 2 weeks for Naija? U be President abi u be globe trotter? pic.twitter.com/z9F3uGH5eM
— Chxta (@Chxta) February 21, 2016
When you notice one satchet water is now 10naira and you hear Buhari has travelled again. #WakawakaBuhari pic.twitter.com/KEIvfLHSlF
— OLODO® (@tweetolodo) February 19, 2016
!”@PeeExcellence: Inflation will hit double digit soon, yet the solution is to junket purposelessly #WakawakaBuhari https://t.co/oeX7TlNNuk“
— Gbemisola (@gbemy01) February 19, 2016
President Buhari has visited 13 foreign countries but only been to 8 states since he became president.Thanks for your vote 👌🏾#wakawakabuhari
— Ifeoluwa Wole-osho (@Zeus_Ares) February 19, 2016
If Ebenezer Obey (the legendary highlife-juju musician) had known that Buhari would travel so much, he may have replaced Ajala with Bubu in his song-
You have traveled all over the world,
Ajala (Bubu) travelled all over the world….
Bubu’s trips are not for jamboree?
The Special Assistant to the President on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, was the first to explain why the President has to visit other countries while Nigeria is literally on fire. He stated that “the visit by any president to another country is the highest act in international relations. It sends out a message that that country is important to the visitor.” Also, Nigerians have been reassured by other officials of the government that the President constantly travels out of the country in order to seek a solution to terrorism and corruption.
Lai Mohammed, the Minister for Information and Culture, in a recent speech, noted that “One thing that nobody can fault this president on is his determination to fight these two ills (terrorism and corruption). Mr. President’s presence in these fora is very crucial even to the economy back at home. What I mean that Nigeria was a pariah state, is that before now the level of corruption was very high that nobody was ready to risk his investment in Nigeria. The cost of doing business was so high that most international businessmen didn’t want to come here. Who is coming to invest in a country where there is insecurity? These are the twin problems that Mr. President has addressed in the last nine months.”
Dear Bubu, why are you so silent?
While one can safely agree that Nigeria, as a country, is not an island and that strong international relationships are needed, it is pressing to ask Bubu, why he’s not spending time with the people he is governing, equally. Not once has the President reassured his ‘beloved’ Nigerians that all his trips will bring a reasonable solution to the hardship the people are facing.
Bubu, yes, many are aware that you are passionate about bringing an end to terrorism and corruption, however, Nigerians are yet to witness your compassionate side. You were in Kenya to commiserate with the nation over the loss of their soldiers, yet, you could not send a word of sympathy to the residents of Chibok, who have constantly been under attack by Boko Haram. Why did you have to wait until 24 hours after the Dalori massacre to make a statement? Is that not enough for you to cut your trip short and show that you care about the people (including children) who died at this time?
A democratic governance is people-oriented, so Bubu, please sit back at home for a while, take a Nigerian tour and get a feel of what the people need and address them, so that they can smile again when they say “Sai Baba.”
