Few politicians have polarized this country like President Muhammadu Buhari. The last election was a keenly fought contest between two extremes: the excesses of youth vs. the wisdom of old age; continuity of the old system vs. an abrupt restart for the new; the patient solider vs. the erudite teacher. In what many consider the fairest election yet, President Buhari emerged the winner of the keenly contested election.

His win not only guaranteed that he would become the first candidate to unseat an incumbent president, it also ensured that his every action would come under scrutiny. Observers have done everything from writing pieces, conducting interviews, to even setting up an ingenious Buharimeter—an online site dedicated to monitoring his tenure as president weighed against the promises he made during his campaign.

Expectations are high—maybe a little too high. President Buhari marked his 50th day in office by embarking on an official visit to the US. Just how well has he performed in the last 50 days.

Settling into Office:

President Buhari has (unsurprisingly) taken a lot of hit from PDP loyalist for the speed in which he has set up his cabinet. However, in taking his time to assess the situation, the president is actually making the right choice. It is not just a bold move. A smart move. One that might have benefited past administrations if the leaders had been wise enough to consider it. Patience in setting up a government is a virtue. Nigeria has been the recipient of far too many tepid band-aid appointments.

The news leaking out of the presidential office have been promising. There are suggestions that President is seriously considering the transition committee’s recommendation of trimming down the number of ministries from 42 to 19. The idea is to rid the government of redundant structures and allow for management that is more effective. Its a simple case of smart logic? Why have the EFCC and ICPC when you can only have one? Fewer ministers means that the government ends up spending less on wages. And Buhari’s decision to reduce his salary is a strong indicator that the newly appointed Ministers may end up earning a lot less than their predecessor.

More importantly, Buhari’s careful approach shows that he is not disillusioned as to the challenges that lie ahead. Here is a president who understands what is at stake and appears willing to do whatever is necessary to get the job done.

Grade: A-

Handling of the House of Assembly

When Buhari announced during his inauguration that he was for “everybody and for nobody” few people took him seriously. Many are now. In avoiding being tangled with the ongoing crisis of leadership within the House of Assembly, Buhari is showing surprising maturity above his political years.

Prior to the House’s election, Buhari had said that he was willing to work with whoever emerged as leader of the Senate or House of Representative, explaing that he had no preferred candidate. And while he would have preferred that the current leaders had “..emerged through the process established by the party,” the president has done little to undermine their new positions—something rare within the upper echelons of Nigeria’s political structure. Through all the bickering—and outright hitting—that has gone on within the House of Assembly, President Buhari has kept himself impressively distant but continually relevant—a hard balance but one that he has successfully pulled off.

Grade: A

Fight Against Corruption

Buhari’s stance against corruption is no secret. He dislikes it. Hates it. Abhors it. Detests it. And plans to permanently kill it. His ruthless, unapologetic crusade against corruption is what probably cost him his last couple of elections, and yet ironically, it is that same stance that ensured that he was all-but-swept into office by the nation.

Voters who had expected that Buhari would start his tenure by immediately throwing people behind bars may be disenchanted with the current lack of theater. But shrewder voters will undoubtedly be impressed—and guilty ones terrified—about how Buhari has undergone his quest to wipe out corruption. Again, it has all the traits of BabaGoSlow: slow, patient, and deliberate. The early weeks of the president’s administration were spent conducting a series of audits of the different ministries and federal departments. The exact results of those audits have yet to be announced but Buhari gave an early indication of what to expect, when he announced that current investigations have shown that many officials were involved in large scale oil thefts, with millions of dollars being stolen daily.

Speaking during a recent question session in Washington, he revealed “We are now looking for evidences of shipping some of our crude, their destinations and where and which accounts they were paid and in which country. When we get as much as we can get as soon as possible, we will approach those countries to freeze those accounts and go to court, prosecute those people and let the accounts be taken to Nigeria.”

“The amount of money is mind-burgling but we have started getting documents. We have started getting those documents. Whichever documents we are able to get and subsequently trace the sale of the crude or transfer of money from Ministries, Departments, Central Bank. We will ask for the cooperation of those countries to return those monies to federation accounts and we will use those documents to arrest those people and prosecute them. This, I promise Nigerians.”

Grade A+


President Buhari is widely recognized for his championed course against corruption. He has promised to pursue justice regardless of it falls within party lines. “I am for everybody and nobody.”

On Nigeria’s Security

Buhari’s first order as Commander in Chief of the Armed forces was to move the command center to Maiduguri, Borno. It was a brilliant move. It not only signaled the clear intent of his government, but did a lot to settle the fears of many Nigerians, who hitherto the announcement still held on to absurd pre-election propaganda that Boko Haram was secretly being funded by Buhari. Moving the command structure, also gave more teeth to the proposed coalition with Nigeria’s neighbors—primarily Chad, Cameroon, and Niger.

Buhari’s actions thereafter—on the subject of battling the Islamic insurgency–have been nearly flawless: he has accelerated plans to improve the military, consolidated Nigeria’s strategic partnership with the US, and initiated efforts to boost the development of the war-ravaged North East in the form of a $2.1 Billion World bank loan. Despite this though, his first 50 days has been characterized by a spike in violence, with hundreds of people killed over the last two months. Buhari may have inherited the problem, but the buck ends at his desk.

Grade C+

for more info:clink: http://watchdognews.net/analysis-buharis-first-50-days-in-office/

Why must u tail this man every second abet free him for once let him breath

this right up is written by his supporters, when you see the one written by opposition you will know wats up.

Buhari Is too despotic to be a POSITIVE change element..

Buhari is not literate enough to understand that economic power and prestigous private sector icons must not be ignored in the scheme of governance

Buhari is too vindictive and unforgiving so no one should be surprised if he visits his enemies of 1985 till date with retribution

Buhari's assumed strong point is his integrity. Integrity alone does not make a good leader.

Buhari is a hard core tribalist , He can never be inclusive in governance. His "i am for everybody and for nobody" talk can never hold water.. You cannot be for everybody yet you still demarcates your subjects into Constituencies that gave you 97% and those that gave 5%...

If this is how to make 'A', everyone would have/will graduate with first class.

thekingsmen:
Buhari Is too despotic to be a change element..

Buhari is not literate enough to understand that economic power and prestigous private sector icons must not be ignored in the scheme of governance

Buhari is too vindictive and unforgiving so no one should be surprised if he visits his enemies of 1985 till date with retribution

Buhari's assumed strong point is his integrity. Integrity alone does not make a good leader.

Buhari is a hard core tribalist , He can never be inclusive in governance. His "i am for everybody and for nobody" talk can never hold water.. You cannot be for everybody yet you still demarcates your subjects into Constituencies that gave you 97% and those that gave 5%...

but better than Jonathan who has proven that his certificates are without education, who didn't answer the difference between stealing and corruption, who being a so called youth have no definite ingenuous plan for national development. Who is clueless about inflation and purchasing power parity as well as management of financial resources. Buhari may not know all but he is taking his time to select those who know and have direction and definite solution to Nigeria's issues unlike the former surrounded by scoundrels and liars. Nigeria is making progress at least we know what we wan.

adeyemistrong:
but better than Jonathan who has proven that his certificates are without education, who didn't answer the difference between stealing and corruption, who being a so called youth have no definite ingenuous plan for national development. Who is clueless about inflation and purchasing power parity as well as management of financial resources. Buhari may not know all but he is taking his time to select those who know and have direction and definite solution to Nigeria's issues unlike the former surrounded by scoundrels and liars. Nigeria is making progress at least we know what we wan.

You must be joking...

Jonathan certificates and education have never being in doubt. The records are there for all and sundry to see unlike your idol whose secondary school certificate was a subject of contention and ridicule for months

Jonathan said stealing is not corruption. Fact is he is 100% correct from the context which he made that statement. These are two vices that has some relationship but cannot be said to be the same thing in all entirety.

Jonathan can be accused of many things, but not having a plan for development can never be one of such. Jonathan policies and developmental strides cut across all sectors and till date Nigerians are still reaping its dividends

Buhari in all ramifications has not proved to Nigerians that he is better than Jonathan ..A we are still waiting for the change as promised during the campaign season

thekingsmen:
Buhari Is too despotic to be a change element..

Buhari is not literate enough to understand that economic power and prestigous private sector icons must not be ignored in the scheme of governance

Buhari is too vindictive and unforgiving so no one should be surprised if he visits his enemies of 1985 till date with retribution

Buhari's assumed strong point is his integrity. Integrity alone does not make a good leader.

Buhari is a hard core tribalist , He can never be inclusive in governance. His "i am for everybody and for nobody" talk can never hold water.. You cannot be for everybody yet you still demarcates your subjects into Constituencies that gave you 97% and those that gave 5%...

What do you know about leadership? SMH

Obiagelli:


What do you know about leadership? SMH

keep shaking it my dear... but your buhari is fast loosing credibility from all sides..

thekingsmen:
keep shaking it my dear... but your buhari is fast loosing credibility from all sides..

He was never credible in the eyes of ethnic bigots, haters and mediocre minds...

patrickmuf:
He was never credible in the eyes of ethnic bigots, haters and mediocre minds...

Word!

Wen u see an article written by a janjaweeed u will know

thekingsmen:


You must be joking...

Jonathan certificates and education have never being in doubt. The records are there for all and sundry to see unlike your idol whose secondary school certificate was a subject of contention and ridicule for months

Jonathan said stealing is not corruption. Fact is he is 100% correct from the context which he made that statement. These are two vices that has some relationship but cannot be said to be the same thing in all entirety.

Jonathan can be accused of many things, but not having a plan for development can never be one of such. Jonathan policies and developmental strides cut across all sectors and till date Nigerians are still reaping its dividends

Buhari in all ramifications has not proved to Nigerians that he is better than Jonathan ..A we are still waiting for the change as promised during the campaign season

Now I get it, you simply do not know the difference between certification and education and your response on corruption could simply be related to saying that sin is not the same as offence. Don't play with words their is no two name than calling a spade a spade. Let's see what Buhari is up to at least let him do his tenure like Jonathan before you criticise. Buhari is not a perfect man but Jonathan is a shame. Peter never had a certificate but did the work of the ministry just as Paul.

adeyemistrong:
Now I get it, you simply do not know the difference between certification and education and your response on corruption could simply be related to saying that sin is not the same as offence. Don't play with words their is no two name than calling a spade a spade. Let's see what Buhari is up to at least let him do his tenure like Jonathan before you criticise. Buhari is not a perfect man but Jonathan is a shame. Peter never had a certificate but did the work of the ministry just as Paul.

Gentleman, Jonathan went through tertiary education and was duly deemed fit and certified by the institutions he attended. It is not in your authority to disregard or cancel this out. if you feel Jonathan bought this certificates or doesn't merit it education wise, then sorry its solely your personal opinion and you must not force others to tow your line of opinion.. Records are available to proof you wrong.

Like i said before(please feel free to research) Corruption and stealing are not one and the same thing, this topic has being debated severally here on Nairaland i dont wish to start arguing over this again with you.