There is a narrative that has been sustained by the All Progressives Congress concerning the Muhammadu Buhari administration. The narrative is that President Buhari is always right and he is never to blame for anything. There is always a fall guy whenever anything negative happens in his administration.

Whenever anything goes well, it is because of Buhari’s body language or magic wand. But when things go wrong, the blame is heaped on someone or something. It is common to hear something like this: “It’s not Buhari’s fault. It’s the fault of those around him.”

The scandal over the 2016 budget made that glaring. First, there was an untidy scenario over the whereabouts of the budget after it had been presented to the National Assembly. There were allegations that the budget had disappeared or was missing. Then it was confirmed that the government took it back and adjusted some figures, possibly because of the outrage over some items in the budget.

Then when the National Assembly began to review the budget, they discovered some curious figures. Ministries and parastatals began to wash their hands off their allocations in the budget. There was outrage in the nation over the scandal. Many asked Buhari to withdraw the entire budget and apologize to the nation for such an embarrassment. The Presidency ignored that and said that the mix-up was caused by a “budget mafia.” Shortly after, the President, who had been easing off officials appointed by the past administration and replacing them with his own, seized the opportunity to sack some 24 heads of parastatals, including the Director-General of Budget Office, Aliyu Yahaya-Gusau.

Many people felt that those who caused the budget scandal had been punished. But what was the punishment? Nobody was arrested; nobody was prosecuted; nobody was indicted for the budget scandal. Yet, many people believed that “those who wanted to stain the President’s unblemished record” had been sacked. That is the fall guy syndrome.

What was curious was that even before the Presidency blamed it on the budget mafia, many had begun to blame it on “those who surround the President.” The President, who approved and signed the budget and presented it to the National Assembly, was let off the hook, while the blame landed on “those around him.”

Furthermore, as the dollar exchange rate ballooned to about N400 two weeks ago, a 2015 campaign poster of Buhari on the exchange rate surfaced online. The poster, which bore the pictures of Buhari and his running mate, now Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, said: “Is N216 to $1 okay? It’s time to speak out! Vote APC Change. March 28, 2015. Buhari – Osinbajo. Act now.” Given that the 2015 election was postponed from February 14 to March 28, it is obvious that the poster was produced about this time last year.

Ironically, one year after this message, and with the exchange rate of the dollar moving towards N400 – about double the price it was last year when the APC/Buhari used it as a campaign point – the same narrative that Buhari is not to blame is on. Jonathan is blamed for causing the skyrocketing depreciation of the naira. While he was in office last year, he was to blame; and now that Buhari is in office, Jonathan is still to blame.

In the same vein, the more companies sack their staff because of the economic crunch, or the more the stock market experiences huge losses, it is blamed on Jonathan and the PDP for “destroying the economy.” Buhari is not asked: “Sir, in practical terms, what have you done to boost the economy?”

For his inability to “jail corrupt politicians” as promised, Buhari is not to blame. The blame falls on “the judiciary, powerful lawyers and powerful PDP people who don’t want Buhari’s anti-corruption crusade to succeed.” Those who join him in this excuse were those who believed during the campaign that once elected, President Buhari would “jail” corrupt politicians. Such people did not bother to ask: “As a democratically elected President, will you have the powers to jail people or is it the responsibility of the judiciary to do so? Can you even make the judiciary to fast-track a case?”

Also, for his inability to crush Boko Haram in two months as promised, the blame is not Buhari’s but Jonathan’s for not buying weapons for the army. And when Jonathan said that the weapons the military has been using to fight Boko Haram were those he purchased, Alhaji Lai Mohammed, Minister of Information and Culture, promptly added that the weapons bought by Jonathan were substandard. The military came out to say that they are not fighting with substandard weapons.

Recently some Nigerians went as far as calling themselves “criminals” to prove that there was nothing wrong in the comments that Buhari made in his London interview, for which he was criticised by many Nigerians.

Ironically, when Buhari was announced the winner of the 2015 presidential election, the stock market appreciated hugely. As Buhari was inaugurated as President on May 29, 2015, the naira began to gain in value, electricity supply improved, the refineries began to work. These were credited to Buhari’s “body language”. He was seen as a change agent. But as the naira began to plummet and the stock market nosedived and electricity supply worsened, Buhari was excused again and Jonathan and other people and circumstances took the blame.

Does Buhari, as well as those who fanatically defend him, think that this shirking of responsibility is a positive leadership trait? A true leader takes responsibility. A true leader takes both the praise and the blame. A true leader is not too proud to apologize for any mistakes made and move on to new things. A true leader thinks of how to solve problems, not how to blame the past or the conditions in which he finds himself. The reason Buhari beat Jonathan in last year’s election was because he created the impression in the minds of many voters that he had answers to problems Jonathan was seen as not solving well. Jonathan is gone. Buhari is in charge now. Nigerians would like to see how he is solving the problems facing the country, not how he is blaming people and situations.

Rather than humour Buhari and make excuses for him, Nigerians should ask him:

“Mr President, what is your economic blueprint?

“Why have you retained the 10 aircraft in the presidential fleet on which you admitted spending N2.3 billion to maintain between May and November last year at an austere time like this?

“Why did you budget N3.9 billion for renovation of Aso Villa at a time like this when things are hard?

“Why was the budget for Aso Clinic higher than the budget for all the federal hospitals in Nigeria?

“Why have you not led the campaign to buy made-in-Nigeria products, especially in the automobile sector, as a way of boosting the economy?

These are just simple questions that will make the President roll up his sleeves for the task and sacrifice ahead, not justification and defence that make the Presidency feel comfortable with excuses when solutions are needed.

The nose diving of our economy needs to be arrested urgently and then our economy systematically stabilised and revived. There is no APC yam or PDP rice in the market. There is no APC hunger or PDP hunger. There is no APC economy or PDP economy. What we have is the Nigerian economy for everybody within the Nigerian territory. Action is needed urgently.

–Twitter @BrandAzuka

Copyright PUNCH.

http://www.punchng.com/when-will-the-buck-start-stopping-on-buharis-desk/

lalasticlala

APC Zombies are really blaming Buhari. . but they are doing it via their new technology.


Tech = Blame Buhari Via Blaming Jonathan


Tech2 = Blame APC Via Blaming PDP.

The Zombies new Technology

From all indications, APC was more prepared for defeat than for victory.

sdindan:
APC Zombies are really blaming Buhari. .
but they are doing it via their new technology.



Tech = Blame Buhari Via Blaming Jonathan



Tech2 = Blame APC Via Blaming PDP.


The Zombies new Technology

Nonsense!

Looking at the Twitter handle of the writer, you can see that he's a fellow perpetual wailer as you.

PMB has shown to be responsible where the Ineffectual Buffoon was completely docile. Not so?

Of all the questions posted up here, the only valid one us the one on the presidential fleet. I don't see any reason why the president should still keep 10 or 11 aircrafts.

The rest questions bother on the budget which we've already known was the handwork of some budget mafia and for which some heads have rolled with many more to bite the dust.

So, wailers keep wailing.

Hmmm...

What the narrative implies is that Nigerians cannot sincerely lay any serious claim to smartness.

Or how would one translate a situation where a Buhari is blatantly insulting our collective intelligence?

If Nigeria were a serious country, Buhari would have since been shown the exit door.

Who doesn't know that an autopiloted plane is susceptible
/amenable to either crash landing or colliding with avoidable obstacles?

and the blame continues.

I weep for APC!

PassingShot:

Nonsense!

Looking at the Twitter handle of the writer, you can see that he's a fellow perpetual wailer as you.

PMB has shown to be more responsible than the Ineffectual Buffoon. Not so?

What do you expect from them?

buari dullard's govt is d most irresponsible n most hypocritical govt eva in history of human race. Imagine padding of budget was done during GEJ era , APC would have torn dis con3 into pieces with war songs, throwing tantrums, yelling in loud voice on CNN about why GEJ need to be arrested by ICC for padding national budget. Yeye hypocritical pipul.

PassingShot:

Nonsense!

Looking at the Twitter handle of the writer, you can see that he's a fellow perpetual wailer as you.

PMB has shown to be more responsible than the Ineffectual Buffoon. Not so?

More responsible. Puhlease, Jonathan doesn't even know the meaning of the word, so saying PMB is 'more responsible' is an aberration.

PassingShot:

Nonsense!

Looking at the Twitter handle of the writer, you can see that he's a fellow perpetual wailer as you.

PMB has shown to be more responsible than the Ineffectual Buffoon. Not so?

hahahahahahahhhh

en pain am wella


If you like continue dieing in silence.

I wail for a better naija

ur blindness will never allow u to see the happenings in this country.

passingshit pls receive Jesus in ur life so that u will be healed.

This is the summary of the news
It has to be someone else..
Buhari never does wrong

APCeeeeeere Lies
APCeeeee Lies
AP&Ceeeeeeeee Lieeeeeeeees

hehehe... it aint easy defending a government in power- even with propaganda- 'cos the number of wailers will keep increasing with the ranks of ex-zombies who have snapped out of their hypnotism.

I suppose the APC supporters are seeing first-hand how it does feel when you wear the shoe whilst the PDP ones are so relishing tormenting their then-tormentors.

It is my wish democracy in the country continues to grow in the ensuing political discourse.

PassingShot:

Nonsense!

Looking at the Twitter handle of the writer, you can see that he's a fellow perpetual wailer as you.

PMB has shown to be more responsible than the Ineffectual Buffoon. Not so?

Is this what you have to say?
You couldn't even tackle the points raised in the article.
Will it be out of place to call you a zombie because you just acted as one.

disloman:
What do you expect from them?

zombie spotted.

firefire flets kenai drss

PassingShot:

Nonsense!

Looking at the Twitter handle of the writer, you can see that he's a fellow perpetual wailer as you.

PMB has shown to be more responsible than the Ineffectual Buffoon. Not so?

chief zombie of nairaland ^^^

Where are those that claimed they saw rainbow colours and were rejoicing the day Buhari was inaugurated as Nigerian president. Turns out now them rainbows were from the devil

Nigerians should be rest-assured that there will always be an explanation for any goof of the PMB/APC administration.

Right now, I am more concerned about pointing out the errors than expecting APC/Buhari to take the blame for anything.

-Lord

PassingShot:

Nonsense!

Looking at the Twitter handle of the writer, you can see that he's a fellow perpetual wailer as you.

PMB has shown to be more responsible than the Ineffectual Buffoon. Not so?

responsible in the fulani crises?

the matter at hand is beyond yourc capacity . swerve to ur propaganda threads . buhari worshipper

lalasticlala for president

PassingShot:

Nonsense!

Looking at the Twitter handle of the writer, you can see that he's a fellow perpetual wailer as you.

PMB has shown to be more responsible than the Ineffectual Buffoon. Not so?

.. Guy are you for real? So in all of these stated facts the only one your eyes caught and digested immediately is the twitter handle of the messenger? Ok out of all these he stated which of them do you think is a lie .. You see the reason why we call una ZOMBIE

drss:
lalasticlala for president

Lala for wetin?
I know what you are trying to do.
Anyway, I have helped your ministry by quoting this.

When Nigerians, especially the APC social-media 'short-change' agents awake from their slumber and be able to put to to Mr. President that he is not infallible and that he is not doing well, so far.

The basic tools of the dictator are well known: Fear, intimidation, scapegoating, grand and unrealistic promises of change and a better future. We saw Adolph Hitler promise the German people that he would make them proud again after World War One. He gave them someone to blame for their economic problems, unemployment, and sense of hopelessness by telling them it was the Jews who were responsible for all of their problems, and he promised he would make Germany great again so the people there could raise their heads and be proud to be Germans.

^^^
Any similarities with the Nigerian situation?

1. You cannot attribute this useless drivel to the Punch newspaper. It is an opinion piece written by a member of the public.

2. As I was reading the article, I was 100% sure that the author has IPOBic background and of course I was right. Mr Azuka is one of the corruption loving imbeciles that now occupy the media space

3. So far, Buhari is the best performing leader Nigeria has ever had. The best!

The most hardworking and intelligent leader ever

He will serve 2 terms and we will push for a third term

God bless Nigeria

Ipob can go and die

Those blinded, fanatical weak minds will find noting wrong in Buhari led maladministration. It is a matter of time. Some of them after four year of this maladministration they will not be able to come online not to talk of commenting.

Buhari is the Mr. perfect #TimeWillTell

I did not read the article but i agree with the headline. The greatest trait of a good leader is accepting responsibility and that is something Buhari and the APC have failed to realise and do.

Nigerians knew that the PDP had nothing to offer so they were kicked out, we don't need Lai Mohammed telling us ............(insert issue here) was caused by the PDP we already know that, what we should be hearing is how they plan to solve the numerous issues plaguing the country.

PassingShot:

Nonsense!

Looking at the Twitter handle of the writer, you can see that he's a fellow perpetual wailer as you.

PMB has shown to be more responsible than the Ineffectual Buffoon. Not so?

My DEAR I STRONGLY AGREE WITH YOU...
BUHARI has done more &have SHOWN more courageous than that WOMAN called GEJ.



Take a look at the things PMB has done courageously since he took over May 28 2015...
1... Going to the USA without a single business man. Only with politicians.
2... Traveling as if he there is an ant that bites him in Aso Rock.
3... Because of no economic policy, investors has withdrawn about #2.2trillion from Nigeria.
4... Having 5 media assistants without a known economic team or assistant on economic matters.
5... Lassar Fever just killed some people yesterday because PMB is an active president.
6... Bag of rice December 2014 sold at #8000 but today is 14000 (what a great couragous improvement).
7... Tarrif increased by 45% while lights drops by 75%. Buhari is seriously trying.
8... Media trial of everyone that opposes him...
9... Not doing anything on agriculture but seeking ways to explore oil in a dead zone called lake Chad.


Oh my GOD...
Buhari is so so responsible... I mean so responsible that he is a CHAMPION IN BLAME GAME...

INEFFECTUAL, WOMAN, CLUELESS GEJ... STOPPED DEADLY EBOLA...
BUT OUR ACTION PACKED TRAVEL MINDED PRESIDENT CANT HALT LASSER FEVER... Even though APCheats Media agents are trying to stop the masses to know that death toll have reason to more than 100...


****

GEJ I MISS YOU SO MUCH... NIGERIANS ARE MISSING YOU...
BUHARI IS CONFUSED.