How many Media Aides has Buhari?

HOW MANY MEDIA AIDES HAS BUHARI?

     

The last time I checked, if I wasn’t mistaken, the amiable President of Nigeria in the person of Mohammadu Buhari had four substantive media aides. You can put up a disapproval hereafter if you have a contrary view.

     

The portfolios of the concerned appointees/technocrats are as follows: Special Adviser (SA) on Media and Publicity, Senior Special Assistant (SSA) on Media and Publicity, Special Assistant on New Media as well as Personal Assistant (PA) on New Media. Owing to these uncalled and inconsequential discrepancies, I was tempted to insinuate that this administration is equally synonymous with bureaucracy, which is not unusual in the Nigeria’s democratic terrain ab initio.

     

The worrisome part of the scenario is that it’s taking place at the moment when every dick and harry in Nigeria is deeply concerned over how the acclaimed giant of Africa can step down on excesses with a view to saving more funds for the anticipated economic diversification thereby ensuring that the ongoing crises emanating from the country’s dependency on mono-economy becomes a thing of the past.

    

Similarly, it’s being witnessed when we are bothered with or looking forward towards acquiring more experienced and respected economic aides for the Presidency that would look inwards on how the country could be salvaged from this unfortunate and unforeseen state of economic morass, especially at this time all eyes are on the 2016 appropriation bill that’s presently and pitiably lying in the National Assembly.

     

Undoubtedly, we are all aware how veritable the media, which is an inevitable tool, is; particularly in this era when everyone needs to be duly informed to avoid mere speculations among the people which are liable to constituting more severe societal tantrums and brouhahas in addition to the already existing ones. But such obvious fact never called for the engagement of several professionals all in the name of ‘media aides’.

     

One may appreciate the President for ensuring that the youth were carried along as regards the appointments in question, but it’s pertinent to acknowledge that there are various other vacant political positions the said group of persons (the youth) can fit in rather than involving too many hands in the media concernment which might even end up spoiling the soup.

    

Prior to when the current ministers were assigned respective portfolios, the country’s various ministries were merged whilst few others were scrapped which was aimed at eradicating bureaucracy thereby curtailing the not uncommon astronomical cost of governance on the nation’s democratic platform. This very step, which was indeed in line with the expectations of the citizenry, was really complimented in most quarters across the federation and beyond.

    

If this recollection holds water, then the Presidency is not expected to dampen the spirit of its followers that is already high as a result of the political wills showcased so far in regard to reviving the country’s economy. Thus it’s high time we started concentrating only on the needful and overlooked trivial issues solely for the sake of our collective national interest.

     

Right now, I urge our paramount interest to be shifted to the seemingly dying power sector. We must invariably note that the targeted diversification cannot be effectively and efficiently actualized if the aforesaid sector remains ostensibly moribund. We can’t meaningfully improve the agricultural sector without adequate and reliable power supply, likewise other sectors seriously yearning for revival. Hence, I’m of the view that switching over to solar energy as a source of electricity generation is long overdue. Countries that can’t even boast of up to 15 degree Celsius are already relying on solar, so what stops a country like ours that can currently boast of up to 40 degree Celsius from following suit?

     

So, as much as I appreciate as well as congratulate President Buhari for remembering the youth, I equally want to humbly and candidly appeal to his Excellency to endeavour to employ the role of ‘Scale of Preference’ as he ebulliently pilots this administration that’s targeted to ushering in the desired change. Think about it!

 

Comr Fred Doc Nwaozor
Follow: @mediambassador