Buhari vs Trump: Between wanting and preparing to be President

It is often said by some people that of all civilian Heads of State / Presidents Nigeria had produced since independence; it is only Mohammadu Buhari that actually wanted to be President of Nigeria. Others that occupied that post at one time or the other, they said, were there at other people’s prompting. The truth about this assertion could be seen on how many times Buhari had tried his hand in the presidential venture. He started in 2003 when he contested against the then President Obasanjo and failed. He repeated the venture in 2007 when he contested against Yar’adua and was defeated. Buhari suffered the same fate in 2011 when Jonathan humbled him. This third defeat sent him sobbing in front of the camera in a world press conference where he promised not to contest any longer. Kudos here must be given to Tinubu and his group who saw that the coast was clear in 2015 and were able to convince him to break the vow.
However, given what has transpired during this 18months of Buhari presidency, it can be safely submitted that while Buhari had always wanted to be President, he never prepared to be President. Now let us look at this: Buhari contested Presidential election held on March 28, 2015, and was declared winner on the 30th March 2015. Between that time of his declaration and his inauguration on May 29, 2015, Buhari had full two months to have shown the colour of his Cabinet. However, this never happened.
In addition, between the time of his inauguration and November 11, 2015 when his first set of Ministers were sworn in, it took another six months. How does one marry Buhari’s tardiness in constituting a Cabinet and his touted urge to turn around the country? This shows that while he wanted to be President, he never prepared to be one. It is often also said that when preparation meet opportunity, success occurs. What success would anyone had expected of Buhari when he never showed that he was prepared for the job? The result of this unpreparedness on the side of Buhari is manifest for all eyes to see.
On the other hand, you have a Donald Trump, a business mogul who surfaced in the American political horizon a year ago. As he went about the grueling party primaries within the Republican Party, he only succeeded in attracting more foes than friends within that fold attract.
Because of his style and utterances, he was deserted by friends and alienated by enemies. However, Trump kept his vision and sense of mission alive. This doggedness also became an advantage, endearing him to millions of American voters who had become disenchanted by Obama style of leadership. Having won his party nomination, he went into Presidential election on the 8th November and was declared winner the following day. Between 9th November and 9th December 2016, Donald Trump has assembled most members of his inner Cabinet, the latest being the Exxon Mobil CEO that has been tipped for the post of Secretary of State. Yet, he has more than one month to be inaugurated. This shows someone who did not only want but also prepared to be President. This also contrasts widely with our President who ran the country as a sole administrator for six months, rebuffing every entreaty to appoint cabinet in a record time and calling the ministers “noise makers”.
I am resolute in my conviction that had Buhari done the right thing at the right time; the economy would not have been in this sorry state. Even as late as he started, if he had put the right people in the right places, Nigeria would not have come near recession, falling oil price notwithstanding.