In 43 days, we will be home — Nigeria’s Presidential Aide

Muhammadu Buhari and his Aide,Mr Femi Adesina in a warm handshake.

By Goodluck Ikiebe

The Special Adviser to Nigeria’s President on Media and Publicity, Mr Femi Adesina, says in about 43 days, we’ll be home.

“Who are the ‘we?’, Those of us who serve with President Muhammadu Buhari, whose second term expires on May 29, this year. Some people pray with you, wish you happy and safe landing. Others, low people, despicable, count the remaining days with glee.”

Adesina added, “There’s a saying in Yoruba language that the horse does not spurn the final gallop home. True. Home is that place you go to rest, after the labour and toil of the day. It is that place you find succor and respite, after the vagaries and vicissitudes that go with your daily exertions. No wonder they say, home, sweet home. There shouldn’t be a bad home. Worse than hell.

According to him, “Some of us have been around, serving in government since 2015. Eight solid years of being like a sojourner in a foreign land. Modern day Gershoms, (Exodus 2:22) who left home, family, profession, abandoned terra firma to go into what was then terra incognita. We had never served in government, didn’t even want to, but for love of country and of that honest man from Daura, we took the plunge. Now, it’s time to return home, Happily”.

I’ve had two types of experiences as we embark on the final gallop home. Some people pray with you, wish you happy and safe landing. They tell of how much they would miss you in the public domain. Others, low people, despicable, count the remaining days with glee, saying whether you liked it or not, “you will soon be out of that place.” Deserving of pity. Do they know that I started counting the remaining days long before them? “And teach us to number our days, that we may apply our hearts unto wisdom.” (Psalm 90, verse 12).

He says, “The clutter you generate in eight years can be a huge pile. And that is what has happened in my office. All sorts of files, documents, proposals, which would really make no meaning to the next occupant of the office. I met an office that was spick and span, and I need to leave the same for my successor. Why bequeath what is akin to an Augean stable, and pass unnecessary burden to him? Or her?”

In his words, So, in the last couple of weeks, I’d been painstakingly going through my office with a fine tooth comb. I’ve looked at every document, thrown away what is considered not useful again, kept those which will come handy in the writing of my memoirs, and filed those the next Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity will find useful.

You need to see how I vibrate each time I engage in this packing. With joy, expectations, like a horse galloping home. And my Secretary of eight years, Rosemary Ezugoh, a career civil servant, who was there before me, and remains after me, would come in, hiss, turn her face away, and say: “Oga is just harassing us with the fact that he’s leaving soon.”

“For here we have no continuing city, but we seek one that is to come,” says the Good and Holy Book. (Hebrews 13, verse 14).

“Many people have I met across all walks of life, who congratulate me for successfully serving as S.A Media for 8 years (only Chief Duro Onabule, God rest his soul, has done that, serving Ibrahim Babangida for that same length of time, and no one has achieved it in a democracy). They pray that we will end well, and land safely.

“I thank such people, and bless them in my heart. They are good souls, and God will reward them. Amen”, Adesina prayed.
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