Nigerians are anxiously waiting for President Muhammadu Buhari’s broadcast slated for 7pm Nigerian time.
Thie broadcast have been long awaited because many have been living in uncertainty as to what the future holds for them in the threat of the rampaging Coronavirus (COVID-19).
The virus has caused the collapse of the price of crude oil in the international market, forcing a downward cut in 2020 budget spending.
And in order to contain the spread of the virus, the nation’s economic, social and religious life and activities have been brought to a halt, with many States of the federation closing their boundaries to stop any influx of outsiders that may bring the virus in.
Since this scenario, Nigerians have been waiting to hear from President Buhari to assure them and give them a sense of hope on the way forward.
In the midst of agitation for a Presidential address on the virus and its effects on the citizens, Presidential Spokesperson, Mr Femi Adesina said when he appeared on Channels Television’s Politics Today, on Thursday, that it is the President’s style not to address Nigerians on major issues of governance.
Defending President Buhari’s right to his style of leadership, Mr Adesina said when asked why the President does not brief Nigerians as it was done in other countries, that “it’s a matter of style. The style that A adopts may not be the one that B adopts, and there is no style that you can call ‘this style’ for everybody. So, everybody is at liberty to adopt that suits him.”
But on Sunday afternoon, Mr Adesina signaled the President’s change of style, announcing via a Press Statement that “President Muhammadu Buhari will broadcast to the nation Sunday, March 29, 2020 at 7pm.
“Television, radio and other electronic media outlets are enjoined to hook up to the network services of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) and Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) respectively for the broadcast.”