A president’s ghost advisers

‘Finally, it’s official Hubby dear, the president has no advisers.’ I said, holding a copy of the day’s newspaper in my hand as I walked into his room.

‘What do you mean he has no advisers?’ Tahir asked, sitting up on his bed. ‘Even before his government took off properly, the first thing he did was to ask the National Assembly’s approval to appoint 15 advisers. Now how can you say that a man with 15 advisers has none? Or did he sack them? Is that what they published in the paper, did they say he had sacked his advisers?’ Tahir asked.

‘No that’s not what they said, but every one of the President’s actions lately show a man with no access to wise counsel. To be honest with you, if I were in a position to do so, I’ll declare all the president’s advisers ghost workers. Not one of them is earning his keep, if you ask me.’ I replied, heatedly.

‘But what did they say in the paper? What is it that’s getting you all worked up?’ He enquired reaching out for the paper.

‘Look’ I answered, showing him a news item promoted on the cover of the paper. ‘They said the President spoke to a governor, during a prayer session at his state, yesterday. And just a few minutes ago, I received a WhatsApp photo of the president and his famous nephew walking on the streets of London. The photo caption said he was feeling so much better that he had gone out for a walk. Do you think a leader with advisers worthy of the name will take to these methods to communicate with us? I mean we are a country of 170 million people all anxiously waiting to know his state of health. Granted that maybe not everyone cares or is anxious about him, but there are those of us who really care. So why won’t his overpaid and virtually idle advisors not prevail on him to address the nation? Why should they take it for granted that because someone capable is doing his job we should forget that the man we entrusted with our fate, for four years, is away and unwell?’ I argued. 

‘So all you want is to see the president talking. But what difference does it make? Even if he appears on your screen talking but cannot make it back home yet, he is still sick and absent. It amounts to the same thing.’ Tahir countered. 

‘No Hubby dearest, it isn’t the same thing at all. A man who was rumoured dead, soon after he left, ought to be advised to address his people the moment he could rise on his feet. But no one saw that happen. Then he began to pose in photographs with his high-ranking visitors and still no one thought it right to ask him to talk to us. Then finally he could walk on the cold streets of London, with no walking stick or assistance, and still no one said please talk to your people. I mean if not all Nigerians, at least for the sake of the 15 million who voted him, someone ought to have made PMB address the nation, but still no show. And you want to tell me that those advisers are earning their keep? No way sir, they are ghost workers who should be expunged from the nation’s pay roll.’ I demanded.

‘Wow, anyone hearing you now will think you are an undergraduate campus activist Bint. I mean what is all these fire and brimstone about?’ He asked, smiling.

‘It is saying that if his advisers knew what to do, we wouldn’t have had to contend with all the rumours that he was poisoned or he had cancer, because one look at him talking to us would have assuaged all fears concerning his health. And if he were to ask for another month, we would gladly give him, knowing that he was getting better but needed to rest. You see at over seventy, we don’t expect too much of him. And we won’t be shocked whenever he falls ill but my point is we shouldn’t be taken for granted. Someone should respect our feelings and concerns and tell us what is up with the President.’

To be continued.