Mixed reactions trail Buhari ‘only God can fix Nigeria’ remark as dignitaries from opposition parties fume
During the All progressives Congress (APC) stakeholder meeting on Saturday, General Muhammadu Buhari remarked, after leaving office in 2023, that the problems of Nigeria are beyond what a man can fix.
General Muhammadu Buhari, who was at the helm of affairs between 2015 and 2023, has been berated by various members of the opposition parties over his comment.
From Saturday, major figures from opposition parties scold Buhari after the former president urged Nigerians to supplicate GOD to fix the country’s problems other than conceding that the emergence of the ruling party, the All Progressives Congress (APC), has failed the citizenry.
Buhari’s comment provoked anger in his sectioned interviews. The former Head of States infuriated the already-frustrated Nigerians during his address to the Party supporters.
A stakeholder made the comment in Hausa at the APC meeting in Kastina on Saturday.
Mixed Reactions Trail Buhari ‘Only God Can Fix Nigeria’ Remark
Amidst the meeting, Buhari who ruled Nigeria as a military Head of States and Civilian president said in his address to the stakeholders and supporters of the party.
According to him, he said: “Only God who created Nigeria can solve the problems of Nigeria.”
Buhari’s statement has, since then, not found a comfortable place to sit among Nigerians who have taken to various social media spheres to express their anger and distaste.
Reacting to the comment, the National Publicity Secretary of New Nigeria People’s Party, Ladipo Johnson, indicated that the former president’s statement was a like-reflection that the ruling party is not sincere and had been ‘putting a wool over faces of the good people of Nigeria’ and had nothing promising to fix the problems of the nation.
In Ladipo’s statement: “Well, it’s an admission that the APC government has totally failed Nigerians, and they have led us down to an economic downturn.
“This statement by the former president shows that even the current administration is confused.
“It also means they have no clue about what they have been doing all this while. It’s like a trial-and-error process.
“What we need is the right set of leaders. The APC has failed and cannot provide the leadership required to turn the fortunes of this country around.”
PDP’s Reaction
The major opposition party, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), also expressed their disappointment in the ruling party.
In a phone chat, the Deputy National Youth Leader of the Peoples Democratic Party, Timothy Osadolor, described Buhari’s statement as an indictment on the incumbent President Bola Tinubu’s government.
Mixed Reactions Trail Buhari ‘Only God Can Fix Nigeria’ Remark
“First and foremost, I think Nigerians should commend Buhari for being honest about the state of the nation and the reality of today’s government, Osalodor said.
“Buhari, however, failed to mention that he laid the groundwork for this government and its ineptitude. It is a continuation of his past leadership failure.
“Again, it’s a vote of no confidence in President Tinubu, which further reaffirms what we have been saying that the man is just there giving people colorful speeches and doing nothing.
“It is not a time to criticise Buhari for what he said or why he said it.
“It is a wakeup call to this government and all Nigerians to salvage this country from going the way of South Sudan.
“This is what happens in countries where leadership fails. So we must not give in to partisanship or nepotism.
“President Tinubu only consolidated on the ineptitude of Buhari who was just fortunate enough to lead this country.
“Therefore, all men of goodwill must stand up and salvage what remains of this country before things fall apart. Nigeria can only get it right if the leaders are there,” he added.
And also, reacting to the statement made by the former president, the National Youth Leader of the Labor Party, Prince Kennedy Ahanotu, noted that he was not amazed at the former president’s remark because he happened to be one of a few good Nigerians who knew Buhari had nothing positive and progressive to offer Nigeria.
Mixed Reactions Trail Buhari ‘Only God Can Fix Nigeria’ Remark
Ahanotu stressed that it was high time the older Nigerian politicians gave the younger generation a chance to correct the past mistakes and propel the country to a higher height.
“The truth is that I am not a fan of Buhari and never expected him to do well. So, I am not surprised that he did nothing for eight year,” he said.
“But my point is that we are in a country where, before a new president takes over, there is always a perception that he will do better.
“Unfortunately, after each successive regime, there will be lamentation that he didn’t do well.
“However, we have options in Nigeria, I keep saying it. Until we include a younger generation of leaders, we cannot enjoy the dividends of democracy that are happening all around the world.
“So, there is no point lamenting because there is another Sheriff in town.
“But just like all the letters former President Obasanjo wrote to him, Buhari neither heeded nor implemented any of the advice.
“So, if the ex-president decides again to write Tinubu today, he is also at leisure to listen or not to any of the counsels.
“This is because successful APC governments don’t listen to people they consider outsiders.
“This is why I said Buhari’s lamentation does not make any sense to me. It’s not something I even want to talk about because it is their system.
“Don’t forget this current President was among those who protested and fought in NADECO for the government to do the right thing. But today, it’s not safe or healthy to protest in Nigeria.”
Mixed Reactions Trail Buhari ‘Only God Can Fix Nigeria’ Remark