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4 things Buhari didn't say in his speech

Most Nigerians who hoped to hear major policy pronouncements in Buhari's first address to the nation in three months, were left disappointed.

President Muhammadu Buhari

President Buhari’s speech on Monday, August 21, 2017, was his first after 103 days of medical leave in the United Kingdom for an undisclosed ailment.

Hence, Nigerians who were expecting to hear major policy pronouncements and political shifts from the president, were disappointed in the content of the message.

One of these Nigerians is Dr Oby Ezekwesili, former Minister of Education and Vice President (Africa) of World Bank Group, who expressed that President Buhari’s speech was another opportunity missed to address issues of national importance.

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Here are three major issues President Buhari failed to address during his speech:

1.    President’s health status & medical tourism

Top on the issues Nigerians were expecting President Buhari to address is his current health status. Though he looks healthier, questions surrounding the nature of his ailment and frequency of his medical trip to the United Kingdom, were not answered.

Also, the president was expected to address why he sought medical treatment abroad after promising that the practice will be stopped during his administration; thus raising the question about his integrity and issue of public trust.

The president could also have told Nigerians if he'll be embarking on another medical trip soon and when.

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Moreso, President Buhari could have also used the opportunity to address the decay in the nation’s healthcare system. He would have used the occasion of this speech to promise to improve it to a preferable standard.

2. Economic policy thrust or change

Nigerians also expected President Buhari to make some economic pronouncements during this speech, most especially, in the exchange rate regime and others as regards economic direction of the country.

To the surprise of many, the president skipped this for other issues.

A leading Newspaper in Nigeria – the Guardian Nigeria, in anticipation of economic policy pronouncements, had a story on how President Buhari’s speech will make or mar the economic recovery of the country.

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Leaving economic issues unattended will affect potential foreign investments into the country.

3.    Anti-corruption campaign

One issue most Nigerians thought President Buhari was going to address in his speech is the non-confirmation of Mr Ibrahim Magu, the acting Chairman of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), by the Nigerian Senate.

This is as a result of the fact that, corruption is one of the cardinal electoral promises of the administration. Also, many believed the president would use the opportunity of his speech to address the pending corruption cases of the Secretary to the Federal Government, Mr Babachir Lawal, and the Director-General of the National Intelligence Agency (NIA), Mr Ayo Oke. But, there was no mention of them in the address.

Mr Azubike Ozumili, the Head of News, Inspiration Fm Nigeria stated during a news analysis about the President’s speech said that: ‘The speech is watery. And If the president’s handlers had known that major issues begging for answers are not going to be addressed, the broadcast would not have been necessary.’

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4. Cabinet reshuffle

Most Nigerians were anticipating a cabinet reshuffle intent or announcement in this speech, but it never arrived.

Most of the president's team hasn't delivered and some ministers have been sleeping on their beats, it has to be said. There are also square pegs in round holes, in certain areas.

Upon his return, Nigerians were expecting the president to utter a word or two concerning his moribund cabinet. Buhari is still leaving the nation guessing here.

This was an opportunity missed as well.

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