Buhari and the art of doublespeak

EZUGWU OBINNA

When President Muhammadu Buhari announced the appointment of both Femi Adesina and Garba Shehu as his spokesmen, it must have come as a surprise to many. Not specifically because it was incomprehensible why the president wanted to have two spokesmen, but more because he had famously postured as one who was out to cut the cost of governance.

Not to worry however, both men have slightly different nomenclatures. Adesina serves as Special Adviser Media and Publicity while Garba Shehu is Senior Special Assistant Media and Publicity. The president must have reasoned that both men, Adesina specifically would constitute potent shield against any possible attack by the merciless Nigerian media. No wonder he had himself quipped that “I choose the best of you to defend me against you.”

But he must not have anticipated the other side of having double spokesmen. At the same time however, it might have been his idea. Nonetheless, he is now having one big challenge, and to borrow a word from George Orwell, in his futuristic novel “Nineteen Eighty Four,” the challenge “doublespeak.” But one may doubt if such poses any sort of upheaval to the Commander-in-chief, he may just be getting the result he wanted.  The people bearing the brunt now are the news reporters. Certainly, reporters now have more engagements. They have not done their job if they take just what one spokesperson has said, they now have to wait for the second to disprove it, or at least amend it so that they can have two stories.

It all started when governors who could no longer pay salaries in their states went to appeal to the president for a bail-out. An initial report had come to the effect that Mr. President had agreed to bail out the governors in question, but when it was already looking like the process was about to begin, a contrary report came: Mr. President will not bail debtor governors out; he has asked the governors to fashion out means of paying workers in their states their outstanding salaries. Indeed, this has become the pattern since the emergence of two spokesmen; one for, the other against- it is a kind of debate.

Few days ago, a report came that Buhari had appointed Hammed Ali as his Chief of Staff (CoS), but just as media men were struggling to provide Ali’s profile to help Nigerians know who their new Chief of Sfaff is, a second report came: Buhari has not appointed any Chief of Staff. There was also another report that came almost at the same time: Buhari has ordered arrest of his brother-in-law for collecting bribes from his prospective visitors in order to grant them access to him, this particular one had made many people commend him on social media for being a no-nonsense-man who will not spare any corrupt individuals no matter who they are. Not so fast though, Buhari has not ordered arrest of his brother-in-law was the second and contradictory report.

There was this one that had already seemed certain: Buhari’s aid has ordered DSS out of Aso Rock Villa, some had begun to accuse the president of wanting to risk his life, and others wondered what his grudge with the security outfit might be.  But not so, Buhari did not order DSS out of Aso Rock, the initial report had been a fluke. The real issue may have been lack of trust nonetheless as the President has since decided to get rid of Ita Ekpeyong as the Director of DSS and appoint his kinsman, Lawal Daura in his stead. He again reportedly later claimed the appointment was on acting capacity.

Also , Buhari had reportedly asked that nine planes on the presidential fleet be sold in a bid to cut costs in line with his campaign of reducing the cost of governance. The move did impress more than a few Nigerians. At last, it was said, a government with the interest of the masses at heart has emerged. Quite unlike the immediate past administration where even ministers were accused of buying highly expensive bullet proof cars while majority of the country’s citizens live below poverty line. Before you could clap however, Buhari has not ordered the sale of any planes according to one of his spokesmen, Garba Shehu.

Some of the ensuing contradictions appear as though the whole affair might not be the problem of double spokesmen after all. It may just be the president thinking yes and no at the same time, such that when the first report comes to the effect that he had said yes to a certain decision, he would quickly think otherwise and conclude he had made the wrong choice by giving a go-ahead and would quickly reverse it.

Here is a typical example. The president had ordered the dismantling of military checkpoints in all parts of the country, including the volatile North East Zone. It was a surprising announcement that quickly prompted a national debate with many wondering the rationale behind such announcement considering the enormous security challenges the country is still facing. However, a few days afterwards, Buhari held a meeting with governors and other relevant stakeholders, after which he asked that military checkpoints be reinstated in some states; notably the North East and South East zones. North East obviously because of the security situation there, but South East? For God-knows-why. The army has already returned to their various posts in Abia State, which is perhaps good news.

When the battle over who takes what among the principal offices in National Assembly raged, Buhari famously promised that he would love to work with anyone who emerges senate president, so on and so forth. Then Senator Bukola Saraki, after a battle of tricks and maneuvers, emerged as senate president alongside Ike Ekweremadu who emerged as deputy senate president. Surprisingly, another report came that Buhari is not comfortable with the emergence of Saraki, and that in fact, he had snubbed the senate president when he wanted to see him.

That is not all. He was said to be extremely uncomfortable with the emergence of Ekweremadu as DSP. He has meanwhile asked that members of the National Assembly accept that the party is supreme, perhaps contrary to the ideal responsibility of an independent arm of government such as the legislature in a presidential democracy to elect its leadership. This should be the job of the party . Could he have been joking after all when he said he would work with anybody?

Here is a different case altogether, perhaps a situation where his spokesmen speak contrary to what he had said himself. Buhari had at an African Union Summit in South Africa noted that at age 72, age might constitute a limit to his performance. And for both good and bad reasons, the opposition preyed on the statement, until his spokesmen issued a disclaimer. The president did not in fact, say what we heard him say, Buhari is like a fresh wine, he gets better with age.

This is of special interest to the South East and more specifically, the people of Anambra State. The rumour  that the Federal Government was planning to relocate Boko Haram prisoners to Ekwulobia prison in the state had sparked protests prompting swift denials from the relevant authorities and even the South East chapter of the APC. But only days after, the government sneaked in 47 convicted terrorists into an already overcrowded prison in what is Buhari’s first gift to the South East Zone. The move has since put the incumbent Anambra governor, Willie Obiano and his predecessor, Peter Obi on a collision course. The president surely does not care.

Over all, one may have to admit that this strategy is working for the president so far, at least no one can pin him down to any of his words, for before you could scrutinize to find fault in what he said, he would have said another to the contrary. It is just now in the news that that Buhari has named Mrs. Amina Bala Zakari as acting Chairman of INEC. Meanwhile Jega had handed over to Mohammed Wali, and no one can say for sure whether a contrary report won’t come in soon.

Finally, the suggestion that the government may negotiate with Boko Haram in the wake of the group’s resurgent attacks has been attracting negative reactions. One may be right to predict the coming of a contrary statement.