I have been amused, reading a number of jokes concerning the frequency of the President, Muhammadu Buhari’s foreign trips.
Questions have been raised about why so many visits, and what are the
benefits Nigeria
I will make it clear from the beginning that the critic is entitled to
his and her opinion and nothing said here is intended to silence him or her.
Criticism goes with the territory and as it is often said in a
wisecrack, if you don’t like the heat, get out of the kitchen.
President Muhammadu Buhari came into office under the mantra of
change. While Nigerians are yearning for change, you need someone who will set
up the infrastructure, both at home and abroad for it. President Buhari is busy
doing that.
The change is manifest in where he visits and what he does.
In the delegations accompanying him abroad, President Buhari has
slashed the numbers, bringing them down to a tolerable or the bearable minimum.
He went to the United Nations General Assembly in September with an
unbelievable 32 officials in his delegation. These included his cook, his
doctor and luggage officer.
His predecessor in office went to the same meeting with 150 officials and family members the year before.
Wherever they are given government accommodation and feeding, members of President Buhari’s entourage receive reduced allowances, thereby saving the government some money.
