As Buhari's Ship Sets Sail

After about six months of delay, Nigeria’s ship of state under the captainship of President Muhammadu Buhari has finally set sail. On May 29 this year, the president was inaugurated into office following a pan-Nigeria mandate he secured from a slim victory over his predecessor and then incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan. A tumultuous euphoria greeted his victory and subsequent assumption of office. So also was a massive burden of expectations from a citizenry harangued by decades of inept leadership. Nigerians looked to the coming of Buhari as the soothing balm to cure the aches and bruises of a dysfunctional society steeped in a paradox of wasted wealth. They expect him to rescue the country that has become characterised by a crumbling economy, widespread poverty, decaying public infrastructure, sunken social services, and a debased sense of self-worth abroad.


With the inauguration of ministers on Wednesday the challenge has indeed begun in full blast. At a somewhat subdued ceremony held at the presidential villa presided over by President Buhari, the ministers swore on oath to the oath of allegiance as demanded by the Constitution. The president pulled a masterstroke in the allocation of portfolios to all of the 36 ministers, effectively retracting what he had earlier told the nation. Buhari in faraway India where he had gone to attend the India-Africa Summit, told the world that Nigeria was too broke to afford 36 ministers. He therefore promised to run a lean cabinet to the extent that some of the ministerial appointees would not have portfolios but merely be attendees at the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meetings to fulfill the notorious federal character requirement of the constitution. That position had generated a heated debate in the polity and drew consternation from a cross-section of the political class. The uncertainty of the president’s statement had threatened to overshadow the swearing-in ceremony as many waited to see which of the appointees would end up being ministers without portfolios. But at the end of the day, not only did all of them get ministries to man, the posting also showed a fair understanding of the capacities and limitations of the ministers and how they can help to discharge the task before the administration.

Technocrats seem to have been accorded their dues and posted to man sensitive ministries. Politicians as usual, have been identified for their talent and accordingly sent to areas where governance demands political correctness. And those with a blend of both technocratic and political backgrounds have been placed in positions where the balancing act is a needful skill in public policy implementation. Kemi Adeosun as Minister of Finance for instance appears to be a round peg in a round hole given her professional background as a trained and tested economist and financial expert who had hitherto served her home state in Ogun as Commissioner in similar capacity.

Having another professional in the person of Okechukwu Enelemah to oversee the Ministry of Industry, Trade, and Investment as a manager in the Economic team of the administration is also a good indicator of President Buhari’s wisdom in the ministerial posting. And then to have Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma, a consummate politician before retiring into the corporate world, serve in the National Planning and Budget portfolio is a robust addition to the economic team. There are others like Amina Mohammed in the Environment ministry and Zainab Ahmed (Minister of State, National Planning and Budget) who can also help strengthen the team with their rich background and exposure in critical sectors of economic management. What is now expected from all of these distinguished individuals is synergy and singularity of purpose on a clear vision and direction to get Nigeria out of the woods as soon as possible. Or at least, put the country on...