Columns
Obama Cancels Planned Visit To Nigeria Because Of Buhari’s Inability To Enforce Change – Critic
September 26, 2016 – Obama Refused To Visit Nigeria Because Of Buhari’s Inability To Enforce Change – Critic
Being the first black president of the United States of America (USA), is among reasons history shall speak kindly of Barack Obama. Others include his focus and determination to accomplish what others considered impossible in their lifetime.
Foremost American civil rights activist, Rev Jesse Jackson, wept at his inauguration because of this. When you consider the indignities blacks suffer in America, Jackson’s tears provide a fresh perspective.
There are other reasons Obama is electric and shall be celebrated in American history as an uncommon phenomenon. These include Melania Trump, wife of the US Republican presidential candidate who realized too late that she had plagiarized aspects of a 2008 speech given by Michelle, Obama’s wife.
But in the most populous black nation that the US president has consistently shunned, he shall be remembered for inspiring change, a mantra that the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari is incapable of following to its logical conclusion.
If “Change begins with Me” was lifted from a previous speech by Obama, this sudden and hilarious twist is hardly surprising but it should not justify the allegation that the pet programme of the administration lacks originality as some critics have said.
The Senior Special Assistant to the President on Media, Mallam Garba Shehu should tone down his pledge to sanction the Presidency official responsible for the offensive insertion in the president’s speech because that would be counter-productive.
Even if the anonymous official is sanctioned as threatened, what happens to the person who read the speech without any clue that it lacked originality? Having discovered itself in this twist, The Presidency is in a better position to empathize with Melania Trump who has had to convince Americans that similarity of thought with Michele Obama is not sufficient to sustain the charge that she plagiarized the speech of Obama’s wife.
As powerless as Trump was to resist the infectious Obama man magic, despite the enormous political differences between them, so also change should not resist the opportunity to wow Nigerians, even when the similarity is too serious to be coincidental as Shehu admitted.
Providentially however, Obama visited the subject of his snub and provided the administration to reconsider the allegation that it is disdainful of contrary opinion, especially those adjudged politically not correct.
For example, the President of the Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria (APBN), Mr Foluso Fasoto said the economic recession in the country would have been averted if the administration sought the advice of experts.
And a former presidential candidate, Prof Pat Utom agrees that the crash in oil price was not enough to trigger recession if the right policy choices were made by the administration. He regretted that experts became wary of offering advice after the administration ill-advisedly scared away investors with contradictory signals.
[About the author: Umosen ([email protected]) writes from Lagos.]
Danti
September 26, 2016 at 5:31 AM
Nonesense! What about Obama? What did he do to effect his pre- nomination bluffing? Before Obamacare, health insurance premiums was okay, but now with Obamacare it is hell! Obama must keep quiet and mind his business, all he knows is lame duck speeches that helps nobody. Let us take Nigeria out of it, what about other stable African countries what has he done for them? When we requested for arms procurement, they pointed at human rights record, but could supply arms to rebels in Libya, Syria and the Kurds. What have we done to deserve this immature attititude from America?
Amanda
September 26, 2016 at 3:52 PM
Agree with you. He is simply not interested in Nigeria. Period. His excuse is trash.
D Hunter
September 26, 2016 at 6:37 AM
Even the Bible warned us about APC, but we obviously don‘t read our Bibles.
Open to Provers 24:21&22.
Vs “21: My son, fear the Lord and the king as well; do not associat with those that say CHANGE.
Vs “22: For their calamity comes quickly and the disaster they both bring“
May God deliver this countary from the wicked grips of Wolves pretending to be Sheep and putting on borrowed robes of integrity.
I take a stroll…
Bok
September 26, 2016 at 8:25 AM
Obama coming to Nigeria changes nothing as far am concern, it will not change the fact that Buhari is a very poor leader who does not know what he is doing, it does not change anything for fact that Fulani’s are killing innocent people, and Buhari does not say anything about that. he does not change anything to me at all.
fifelomo
September 26, 2016 at 9:21 AM
How has that got to affect me?
sola olaniyi
September 26, 2016 at 9:29 AM
This administration is our worst ever as a nation
Olaogun
September 26, 2016 at 9:47 AM
Your question and is reason Nigeria done to deserve this immature attitude form America bcos buari his looking upto Obama
Scum emty brain.putin previous education is law
Same Obama education is law but Putin had proof to world that Obama know notting and unqualified
He just fooling of talk and promises same trump proof to us also chinese resently show us that Obama is puppett
But our ignorant leader still listening him bcos of dollar
Metu Nyetu
September 26, 2016 at 12:47 PM
I DON’T CARE who does or does not visit Nigeria. PMB is about to create the very worst economic record for our country if FG goes ahead to sell NLNG. He has surrounded himself with incompetent people, of which he himself has proven to be among.
huchennar
September 26, 2016 at 1:13 PM
@metu God bless you Bro… i believe you no what is happening in this country… how long do can we continue to be in this mess..
SOMEONE WRITING about Obama visit is of no use at this point in time.. i swear the very first day we elected a primary six certificate holder to rule us we will forever regret it.. i now strongly believe that an uneducated personnel has nothing to offer economically. our PMB is looking up to Obama for help forgetting that America as a country don’t just render helps unless they see benefit.. FVCK them all for all i care
#clueless human
Amanda
September 26, 2016 at 3:55 PM
Dammmmmmn! you so upset, man.
JAMOON (GBS )
September 26, 2016 at 4:21 PM
Hahahaha confused govt.
Uzoma
September 26, 2016 at 5:26 PM
It is a pity that in a country with unlimited natural, and human resources, a country with abundant educated people, a country that exports intelligent people to man other countries judiciary and other governments agencies in Africa can not get things right in their own country. Why? This is because they blocked the way for these intelligent people to come to power and allow illiterates who don’t see beyond their nose to rule the country. As long as they play tribal politics in this God forsaken country, things will not get right.
betty
September 26, 2016 at 5:36 PM
president buhari I tot Obama was in support of ur govt so refusing to come? I laugh in french
Lady P
September 26, 2016 at 8:41 PM
Make i tell u a story story all lies