The recent dramatic action taken by Mohammadu Buhari has been variously interpreted as the crucification of Osinbajo and the Yoruba Race. Even in these days of national emotion, and ethnic disorder, this is an exaggeration and not the views of many people in the South West nor among the Yoruba race. But I believe that the truth must be told however unsavory. The new body that was setup is a purely professional one, aimed at energizing the economic well-being of this country. Compared with the Economic Management Team (EMT) presided over by our hard working vice president, it is not a collection of key cabinet ministers and some important administrators of this government. To me it now appears the president is on the right track of moving our country forward or to the next level. We must admit it, the former body was merely a branch or a sub-committee (plus a few technocrats) of the Federal Executive Council. It was the same people Osinbajo met at Exco that he presided over at the lower level of his former Economic Management Team (EMT).
If we care to have a look, a dispassionate look at Buhari’s Economic Advisory committee, it is a think tank forum for serious minded Nigerian Professionals-Economists, Public Finances experts, most of whom have had some connections or attachment to Multinationals in Africa and at the World Bank at large. They are people who would not like to please and shower praises on the president at every turn and by every turn. They are professionals who will talk straight and look straight at Buhari’s face.
On the other hand, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo is a very loyal, committed and willing supporter of the President. He is competent and ideal as a high level administrative and legal adviser to the throne in Nigeria. Throughout our history it is hard to come by a deputy to a president or a head of state that is more vigorous and loyal to his boss. But may I ask fellow Nigerians if these are the only qualities needed now for our struggling economy where over one hundred million Nigerians are struggling under the poverty line. Osinbajo is not an economic planner. He should be left to where he belongs, legal and administrative matters. No country in Africa is blessed more than we are in the skills required to develop and advance economy. We should not play cheap like some others who will jump and defend ‘their own’, right or wrong
I guess the next three to four years will be crucial to the well-being of Nigerians and therefore to the peace and stability of our country. No political jargon ever ensures stability and peace. What restraints restlessness among the youth is ability to make a living out of life. It is not how many voting process or free elections that our country may go through to ensure peace and progress in our community. it is simply ability to put food on the table which the new Economic Advisory Committee must consider to be its number one priority.
On a larger appreciation of the Buhari Administration, let us have a look at some momentum decisions taken by him in the last six months. Decisions taken against the former Secretary to Government of the Federation, the former Chief Justice of Nigeria, the outgoing Head of the Federal Civil Service, to name a few were not initially applauded by Nigerians generally. Today we are living witnesses of the effect these momentous decisions have on our nation. Some of the decisions took flaks from ethnic jingoists. Some threatening fire and brimstone if the presidential decisions were not reversed. If the unpopular decisions were not taken at those times, the resultant tragedies would have been so apparent today.
While on this, I wish to offer unsolicited advice to a section of the Yoruba Race. In particular I want to advise the Afenifere faction that pretends to spit fire every time on any issue, the contending parties constituting the Yoruba Council of Elders and the newly inaugurated Yoruba leadership that the Yoruba are so civilized, so exposed, so informed that no desperate attempt for self or group recognition can turn the Yoruba Race into negative partners in the Nigerian Project. Most of our people young and old are fortune seekers who cling to one nomenclature or the other to be able to earn a living. No, the Yoruba have passed that state.
May I humbly repeat that the economy of this country needs constant appraisal, re-appraisal, re-positioning and turning that our joint efforts must be seen to rise above linguistic and ethnic pursuit. The Yoruba Race must rise and attempt to meet the basic moral and nationalistic position of Obafemi Awolowo who considered his personal well-being, far less important than the progress and stability of our Nation. Indeed we have a history to be proud of. Let us now rise to the occasion by seeing the well-being of our country our major concern.
