Hardline supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari may not admit it publicly, but it is now obvious that President Buhari runs into trouble most times when he speaks ex tempore. Calling his running-mate “Osunbade”, his party “All Progressives Confidence” or “All Nigeria Progressives Congress”, INEC “Independent Nigerian Electoral Commission”; Angela Merkel “Angela Mitchell” or Germany ” West Germany”, etc all occurred when he was not reading from a text.
READ: Presidential Gaffe: Buhari Embarrasses Nigeria With ‘West Germany’ Comment
The current controversy over how he would treat those who gave him 97% votes and those who gave him 5% votes also occurred when he spoke without a script.
He may avoid granting interviews in Nigeria in the true Nigerian presidential way, but he can’t avoid it anytime he visits another country.
One way to avoid such gaffes is to allow his articulate Vice President, Prof Yemi Osinbajo, to take care of most of these foreign visits and interviews, while he focuses on the home front. It may not always be possible, but it can be better managed if he and his handlers can accept his limitations without feeling that it is a crime not to be a great speaker.
As far as Buhari can, let all his speeches be written and let him read his speeches.
He did not make any gaffe when he went to Chatam House, neither did he make any gaffe during his inauguration. Why? He read from a paper. So his speech writers couched sound speeches for him with some sound bites.
Travelling to the US, UK or Germany may look glamorous on the surface, but in practical terms, travelling around Nigeria and adding value to the Nigerian economy will achieve better results for a Nigerian president. More voters preferred him because he promised to fight insecurity, fight corruption, and provide jobs (boost the economy). These 3 key items are at home, not in foreign lands.
Obama may not visit Nigeria (because it is alleged that our democracy is not superb) but he would gladly visit China, Saudi Arabia etc that don’t even have democracy or bother about human rights. Why? Their economy is solid and attractive.
I wrote an article with this topic last year and I am repeating it: Let’s boost our economy and we would become the beautiful bride to the world powers. They will start trooping into our nation to do business with us.
Ralph Waldo Emerson said that if you build a better mousetrap, the world would beat a path to your door (even if you live in the jungle).
Azuka Onwuka is a veteran journalist, author, and columnist with The Punch. He is on Facebook.
The opinions expressed in this piece are solely those of the author.
