BUHARI'S ISIEWU BONES.

Thank God I have been a vegetarian for more than 20 years now but I still recall years before that when isiewu (goat head) bone got stuck in my throat.
There I was sometime in 1991 or 1992 having a quick top up before goinon a scheduled business trip to the north and it happened: isiewu bone got stuck in my throat.
My trip was called off; my day turned into one nightmare of hard to swallow overflowing spit and much more.
I tell you it was not an experience I would wish my enemy if I had one and so I feel for President Muhammadu Buhari even if what is presently stuck in his political throat are not real isiewu bones like mine.
The first and apparently most troublesome of the bones was inherited from Goodluck Jonathan primarily because Goodluck did not have enough luck in reserve to over ride the no way from the nation when he attempted to bite the bullet.
Now it is Buhari who must take a decision on fuel subsidy and the petroleum industry bill before Nigeria goes down subsidising even fuel consumers in neighbouring countries. Sure some are still arguing that there is no subsidy but that a new government driven by change mantra is now seeking money to pay for the same subsidy that does not exist is enough to clearly show why the bone is too embedded in the presidents throat.
And indeed, He must take a decision soon, hopefully while presenting the 2016 budget, if not it is hard to see how Nigeria can continue to supply this drain pipe with good trillions of naira needed desperately in other areas.
All he may need to avoid is Goodluck Jonathan's ill advised attempt to smuggle a decision in while the nation was in yuletide stupor.
Three other bones are also stuck in the President's political throat demanding attention. Unfortunately, they were not inherited but part of the baggage of the man turned President. These are he and his party's promise to pay unemployed youths N5000 monthly as survival stipend till they can find their feet; to give one free meal a day to all pupils across the land and of course, the commander's order, perhaps while unknowingly playing God, to the armed forces to end Book Haram activities by this month.
The first two promises are threatened by economic realities on the ground and the fact that even if the President, well known for his penchant to stubbornly stick to a promise, decides to go ahead, none can be sustained for long. Besides, the question of whether the money could not have been better utilised in revamping the real productive sectors of the economy will continue to hover above for a new president to resolve.
The Boko Haram order which of course, covers the now legendary missing chibok girls could also have been avoided if the president had resisted the temptation to be caught in the garb of a gladiator faced with a David waiting to be slaughtered. Now it is stuck firmly in his political throat.
In my case, nature came to my rescue. I fell into a deep sleep at night and on waking up the next morning, one very painful swallow I could not help and the bone was gone. While I slept nature relaxed relevant muscles while the mind was on holiday and the deed was done.
Will that be possible for President Buhari? It is in our interest as Nigerians to keep hoping it will be.