SIR: Mr. Ray Ekpu’s piece at the back of The Guardian on December 1, 2015 was an excellent one. Not so because of the writer, though Ekpu is one of the most respected columnists in Nigeria, but more because it appeals to the sentiments of most Nigerians. No need to stress that we are a set of sentimental human beings laced with emotional tread with capacity to throw away reason sometimes. Politicians and some business people have leveraged on this singular weakness to suck us dry.

I wish to note some missing links in the writeup. The issue of President Buhari shaking hands with female ministers is non-issue as far I am concerned. Mr. Ekpu made reference to the report of one Olalekan Adetayo, Punch State House correspondent, saying “that the President had shaken hands with women before. He remembers that when Buhari relocated to the Villa he shook hands with female journalists, held their hands for a few seconds while they introduced themselves.”

Personally, I watched the ministerial oath taking ceremony. The women themselves never stretched forth their hands to the president. In particular, the current Minister of Women Affairs, Mama Aisha Alhassan deliberately held her hands behind. Others prevented the president one way or the other from shaking them. The Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun obviously shook the president. Since Mr. Ekpu admits that President Buhari does not have issue shaking hands with women according to Adetayo’s report alluded to by Ekpu, what should Mr. President do to women who folded their hands behind during the swearing in ceremony? Should he force them to shake hands?

I have always maintained that our issue in Nigeria has never and will never be about belief or religion. No developed nation plays up sentiments as this. Our country has remained under this clog for long and we must break loose. Buhari’s personal beliefs remain his, not ours as a people. Fine, he is the Nigerian president and he cannot, in a democracy setting, compel us to follow his personal belief that has little or nothing to contribute to national development.

Our concerns as citizens should be policies pronouncements to move us out of this dark room we are currently to the path of progress. We must move away from perceived impressions that are vague to seeking improved and better governance. We must demand developmental policies from our leaders, not their personal ideas.

The etiquette of shaking hands is extremely a personal stuff for those who refused or accepted to do so. Other women who didn’t stretch forth their hands to the president also should be left to their beliefs as such have no place or value in the constitution that governs Nigeria and Nigerians. What should be of deep concern to us all should be what merits or values for national development are these set of “change” ministers bringing to the table? What are these people going to effect differently from those before them? What national vision has this government crafted for Nigeria’s future? What are Buhari’s policy thrusts?

We should be more concerned about where we are currently and how to get out fast so we can be relevant among comity of nations.

• Sunday Osanyintuyi,
Lagos.