By Emmanuel Aziken

The claim that President Muhammadu Buhari desires harmony with the forthcoming National Assembly was one of the revelations that came from the get-to-know session with All Progressives Congress, APC members elected into the National Assembly last Monday.

The president’s desire for harmony according to those present at the meeting was premised on the need for him to build a legacy that he would be remembered for.

The fact that the president desires a legacy on the right side of history is undoubtedly one that must have reassured genuine patriots and especially friends of Nigeria outside the country.

Indeed, no less should have been expected from the former army general and commander-in-chief of the country’s armed forces.

Some critics had sold the narrative that the 76-year old president was determined to crash the roof of the house upon everyone during the elections.

The quest for a legacy comes against the background of the president’s record in the first term. In that period, a once cult-like image built upon perceptions of an aversion to the Nigerian disease came crashing as the same maladies seen in previous administrations got the better of his administration. The stand-off with the legislators during the budget presentation last December was particularly revealing of how the Buhari persona had eroded over his time in office.

The matter was not helped by outcries of imbalanced appointments, surrender of governance to cronies and indeed, the divisiveness that took hold upon national discourse. It is now a catchphrase that Nigeria has never been divided as it is now. Another saying is that not even during the civil war was Nigeria more prone to insecurity than it is now.

So, when the president in the private session with party men revealed that he wants to build a legacy, then he should be taken seriously irrespective of the political differences some of his traducers may have with him.

Indeed, his utterances following the election have been laced with seeming remorse on his failure to achieve set goals. Such assertions as: ‘I will do better,” also point to the fact that the president did not meet the set goals he set for himself during the 2015 presidential campaigns.

So within the period of the next four years available to him, the sincere desire to build a legacy which generations born and unborn will reflect on is the daunting task facing the president and his handlers.

In years to come, the name that would be mentioned as having built a unified and prosperous Nigeria or caused the division of the country in this period would be Muhammadu Buhari. It would certainly not be Adams Oshiomhole, Nasir El-Rufai, Bola Tinubu or any of the fervent crusaders presently riding on the wings of the recent election attainments of the ruling party.

Given that President Buhari realizes this, every patriot must provide him with the needed support not just to build his legacy, but also to sustain the country’s democratic ethos.

It is gratifying that there are quite a few of those around the president who have sought to help him in this regard. The exemplary role of the First Lady, Hajia Aisha Buhari is especially noted.

There are, however, quite a handful of others around him especially in the party who in seeking to rub it in against the opposition are inadvertently soiling that worthy legacy of presidential decorum that Buhari should have.

Telltale signs of authoritarianism as espoused by some APC officials should be discouraged by the president if only he desires that his name will be remembered for good years after he would have gone.

Tinubu Returns As National Leader

While many have made issues of the absence of President Buhari at Asiwaju Bola Tinubu’s colloquium on Thursday, the president’s birthday greeting to the former Lagos State governor is significant. In his birthday message to the celebrant who turned 67 yesterday, Buhari hailed him as the national leader of the party.

Remarkably, the APC, in its Twitter handle also hailed Tinubu as the national leader of the party.

The recognition of Tinubu as national leader is remarkable, given that just after the president came to power, that ascription was banished in party protocols.

This development is contrary to insinuations from apparently “mischievous quarters” that Buhari would ditch Tinubu immediately after the elections.

GOODBYE

What a trained biochemist as your correspondent has over the years done as a purveyor in the political arena has enthralled even the writer. After several years ventilating through this medium, this column under this byline will be rested as your correspondent proceeds under God’s grace to his NEXT LEVEL! Goodbye!