The Archbishop Emeritus of Lagos Archdiocese, Anthony Cardinal Olubunmi Okogie, on Friday noted that President Muhammadu Buhari has so far performed below average, warning that Nigeria will be worse for it if the incumbent gets a second time in office.
Speaking in an interview with Saturday Telegraph, he maintained that the first term report card would be a stumbling block for Buhari’s quest for re-election, adding that those calling the President out for another term do not mean well for Buhari and are simply enemies of Nigeria.
The religious leader said: “As far as Cardinal Anthony Okogie is concerned, his first term is bad; I think it’s below the average mark. So, this will not give him a better chance to stand for a second term. From what is on ground, I don’t think he will get anywhere.
“The main thing that Nigerians want now is to see the dividends of democracy in action.
“They are telling us that we have pulled out of the recession. Go to the market, there’s nothing like that. There’s no sign of improvement. What is sold for N10 still sells for N10 or even at N12. Is that what you call improvement of the economy?
“They promised to do everything but on getting into saddle, they keep procrastinating. Look at the state of the nation today. It’s as if there is no government.”
Okogie, who went on to lampoon the legislature, stated that they are moving the country backwards.
“Look at the parliament, what are they doing in the House of Representatives? What are they doing in the Senate? What are the so-called big men doing? It’s very painful. We are going from bad to worse. Very soon, we’ll get to worst if there’s no change before December.
“Everybody is taking the laws into their hands the way they like. Would you call this a nation? You can’t walk freely on the street. You are not sure of having a meal per day. You are not sure of seeing tomorrow.
“People are not asleep. People are opening their eyes every day to see what these people are doing. And that is why they are struggling to have their man at the top. There are many other people lined up. And we’re talking about Buhari and Atiku.
“Can they even win the primaries? These noisemakers are just making people to know that they are alive,” the former president of the Christian Association of Nigeria was quoted as saying.