The Buhari/Jonathan war of words continues....
Former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, on Tuesday said President Goodluck Jonathan and the Federal Government were hatching a plot to arrest him.
Speaking to PREMIUM TIMES via his closest political associate and national secretary of his party, Buba Galadima, Mr. Buhari said the presidency and the ruling party were already preparing the ground to harass, arrest and incarcerate him.
“They are just trying to give us a bad name in order to hang us,” Mr. Galadima told this newspaper in a telephone interview. “We know that they are already planning to arrest the General and I, they are just preparing grounds for their actions.”
Mr Buhari was reacting to statements issued by the the presidency and the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party describing him as a serial election loser and blood thirsty politician, who is in the habit of inciting his supporters to violence.
The PDP and the presidency issued the statements in reaction to comments attributed to Mr. Buhari on Monday where he said the Nigerian government, led by President Goodluck Jonathan of the ruling PDP, is more deadly than the extremist Boko Haram sect and that any attempt to rig the 2015 election would be firmly resisted.
In its statement, released at a hurriedly convened press conference, the PDP said the leader of the opposition Congress for Progressive Change had become unstable and is being haunted by what it described as "combat withdrawal syndrome."
The party also described the retired army general as excessively blood thirsty.
Shortly afterwards, the presidency came out smoking describing Mr. Buhari as a serial election looser renowned for inciting Nigerians to violence.
But speaking to PREMIUM TIMES after the statements were released, Mr. Buhari said rather than him, it was the PDP and the Jonathan-led Federal Government that were the real threat to peace in the country.
“It is those who organise the rigging of elections that are trying to disrupt the peace, not Buhari,” the former head of state said, through Mr. Galadima.
Mr. Galadima also said the PDP and the presidency only came up with the allegations because the government “is planning to arrest Buhari and I, and so they are using Monday’s remarks as an excuse.”
“It is not General that is threatening peace, rather it is the action of the PDP that is leading to bloodbath, they have infected us with bloodbath,” he added.
In its statement, the PDP said such remarks by Mr. Buhari was capable of “inciting people to take the law into their hands” adding that it was the same sort of remark that the retired general made prior to the last presidential election that led to “a spate of bloody post-election violence across six states of the federation”.
The party also claimed that a 22-man panel raised by the government to investigate the causes of the post-election violence under the leadership of Ahmed Lemu “confirmed that Buhari's provocative remarks played a significant role in the bloody violence that led to the death of at least 200 people, gruesomely injuring thousands and the displacement of more than 40,000 people.”
The PDP said although it believed in freedom of speech, assembly and association, it is also of the view that such freedom comes with responsibilities.
The party said it “condemn in no uncertain terms this shameful call for the spill of blood of innocent Nigerians to acquire political power”.
“What Nigeria needs right now is ‘evolution’ in the true spirit of democracy. The utterances of General Buhari, a former military Head of State is truly, undemocratic, unpatriotic and un-statesmanly,” it added.
The ruling party continued, “Buhari's pre-election utterances were misconstrued by his supporters to engage in the condemnable mayhem that greeted the aftermath of the presidential elections. Buhari never apologized to the nation or to the families of the victims. Today, Buhari is again engaged in another build up of massive bloodletting and destruction”.
However, shortly after the press conference by the PDP, the presidency also issued a statement describing the former head of state as “a serial election loser who has never taken his past election defeats graciously even when such elections were generally acknowledged to be free and fair.”
The statement also described the comments by the retired general referring to the Jonathan government as Boko Haram as unfortunate.
“The Federal Government led by President Jonathan is not Boko Haram. Boko Haram means Western Education is sin. That being the case, one wonders how a government that devoted the largest sectoral allocation in the 2012 budget to education could be said to be Boko Haram,” presidential spokesperson, Reuben Abati said.
The Federal government, Mr. Abati said, can “ now challenge Major General Buhari to tell Nigerians what he has done, whether in his capacity as the head of a military junta or in his private capacity, to bring education to vulnerable children. If he cannot live up to this challenge, perhaps he has to reassess who really is Boko Haram”.
Mr. Abati also said the government was particularly disturbed by Mr. Buhari’s remarks in which he said that "Since the leaders now don’t listen to anybody but do whatever they wish, there is nothing the north can do."
“We find it very sad that an elder statesman who once presided over the entirety of Nigeria can reduce himself to a regional leader who speaks for only a part of Nigeria,” Mr. Abati added.
“When Buhari says that "if what happens in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, ‘the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood", we hereby state that it is Buhari himself who does not listen.
“He has obviously refused to listen to the Nigerian People, the European Union, the Commonwealth Monitoring Group, the African Union and a multitude of independent electoral monitors who testified that the 2011 elections were free and fair and "the best elections since Nigeria returned to civil rule.
"Finally, we wish to make it known to Buhari that given his reference to "dogs and baboons", perhaps his best course of action would be to travel to the zoo of his imagination because President Goodluck Jonathan was elected by human beings to preside over human beings and it is human beings who will determine what happens in Nigeria at any material time not "dogs and baboons".
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mr man u are the big idiot, a big fool at that...is mr Ruben abati a spirit to know what was in Buharis mind at the time he made the statement? its high time u guys use your tongue to count your teeth; an insane man cannot rule Nigeria, God knows i can vote anyone but not a person that lacked regard for human life, a man that refused to appologise to the countless number of people that died or suffered in the hand of his ruthless supportess after last years election.Even if this man had had a one time fine record, or has all good intention I CANNOT, i repeat, I CANNOT CAST MY VOTE to such a one
ReplyDeletePlease let's stop distracting this administration with all these political issues. Our elders should focus more on finding lasting solution to out security and economic problems instead of making up stories just for political reason.
ReplyDeleteBusinesses in Nigeria and suffering, GEJ is trying to move things forward, but they won't just let him be.
I AM INDEED MIFFED AT THE DELAY IN THE ARREST OF BUHARI AND HIS COHORTS IMMEDIATELY THIS BOKO HARAM SAGA STARTED. FROM ALL SIDES, EVEN A CRAWLING BABY KNOWS BUHARI AND HIS AIDES ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR THE QUANTUM LOSS OF LIVES AND OTHERS WHO STAND MAIMED FOR LIFE PRESENTLY. AM ANGERED BY THE INACTION OF THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT TO TAKE A STAND ON THIS MENACE. THEY SHOULD ALL BE PICKED AND BOMBED SO THAT THEIR FAMILIES TOO CAN TASTE THE BITTER PILLS THEY HAVE BEEN GIVING OTHERS. THIS NONSENSE MUST STOP.
ReplyDeleteBuhari is the only General that cries when he lost logical points to convince Nigerians to vote for him. Buhari is a religous extrimist, a fool and a caward that could not go to south east to campaign becouse of fear of the Igbos. Bokohari, u are A crying General.
ReplyDeleteIn reverse gear, the southern camouflaged northerners probed to be idiots, jungle ugly dark black arrogant hippos who try to cover up the mess their streotypical hero GEJ commits. The man who transformed himself from leadership of MEND to extremism of BOKO HARAM marshall commander that detonate the north together with his allied commanders GANA, USENI and ORETSEJAFOR who bailed out boko haram feild commander MOHD YUSUF from detention, indicts the most truth, trust citizen ever had in Nigeria BUHARI.
ReplyDeleteThe NIgerianeye should stop publishing any comments by these faceless idiots identifying themselves as "Ananymous". Contributors should use their real names and stop being cowardly. On the Buhari issue: Nigerians hate the truth, the best President Nigeria never had is Buhari. The average Nigerians do not like that man,Buhari because of our corrupt, indiscipline nature. Recently, the National Security Adviser serving in the present government said it - that the PDP brewed and is encouraging the Boko Haram syndrome and we all know this is true, but hiding under some stupid sentiments of etnicity and some immediate selfish gains to keep quiet. Boko Haram bombings is a PDP internally generated reaction, the PDP know this and that is the simple reason why they cannot arrest themselves as there will be more bombings. Buhari will ever remain a great Nigerian.
ReplyDeleteMy take on this is that going by BUHARI recent utterances he has no compassion for the NIGERIANS he so desperately wanted to rule.To say the least i'm so very disappointed in him.
ReplyDeleteBuhari is yet to come to terms that NEMESIS will follow him even his entire generation. How many people have died because of his foolish and unrealistic political interest. He is unelectable and certainly SENILE. I predict that he will be the DOG and his followers the BABOON before 2015.
ReplyDeleteCan someone please tell GEN Buhari that his chances of getting to the saddle of governance in NIGERIA again is diminishing daily by his fonny utterances.To be specific, before 2011 election,opinion poll rating of BUHari in the south was far above average,this was based on the coverage IDIAGBON gave to him during their short spell at the top,if you conduct same today- the respect has migrated to boosting IBBs image that shoveled him aside in 1985.What A PITY !
ReplyDelete@Yany, Buhari ruled this country and did not produce anything rather than hatred and sectionalism, religious intolerance and extrimism.
ReplyDeleteHe probably has forgotten something in the statehouse or wanted to remove a document from the file carbinet, that is why he is desperate to come back. Must we continue to recycle our great nation around a minority few (fools) who did not have the interest of over 150 million people?.
Let us forget about those blood thirsty retired warlords who want to transform themselves from kaki to agbada rulers and rub minds on how to move our great nation to the canaan land.
Let Nigeria forgive Buhari for the past crime and warn him not to repeat that again because God will surely fight for Nigerians
The govt. should bring to book all elements sponsoring or participating in boko haranism in whatever manner neccessary or it will continue to deter infrastructural & national development. A stitch in time......saves more than a million lives.
ReplyDeleteI do not know why as a human beings Who God by his blessings bequeth us with the knowledge on how to determine between wrong and right, put aside the noble acts and set up bombarding sentiments. Oh Nigeria! What Nigeria lacks is patriotism of recent Mr Azazi an aide to GEJ pronounce to this nation what is really the cause agent to all these stupidity so called Boko Haram, infront of the top officials of both PDP and the government, who then come up with denouncement? Neither he nor the officials, this is just a confession and no body can shape it. Oh Nigeria i pity you, it is highly unfortunate but we must answer it before God. Every citizen of Nigeria knows that Buhari was the leader Nigeria ever had, the good quality of his will continue to manifest whether you like it or not the fools the loots the unpatriotic the baboons and the rest. If you do not love Nigeria you will love Angrya.
ReplyDeleteAm not happy with Janathan and the FG.The federal Goverment plan to publish names of Boko haram sponsors.The list has already been published by Buhari statement.This man preached violence before and after the Election period. Buhari should be arrested,is he above the law? Abiola die - heaven did not fall.
ReplyDeleteTell them loudly, and let them try it and see ......... Mumu, Akuya.
DeleteMy anger is why GEJ is finding it difficult to arrest this amimal called Buhari and all other people that are collaborating with him to incite violence in Nigeria. I see GEJ as a coward for allowing an animal like Buhari, who is a Jihadist to cause the death of countless Nigerians. God will judge you GEJ and that animal called Buhari. The short time glory that we are attributing to Buhari was achieved by Idiagbon. Infact, we refer to that regime as Idiagbon regime. we never knew Buhari. Idiagbon was the man to be feared, that was why Mr. Maradonna Babangida had to deceive him to go to Mecca in order to overthrow that idiot called Buhari
ReplyDeleteYou (Buhari) are long over due for arrest.
ReplyDeleteYes, Buhari should be arrested, along with Atiku & Co. It just amazes me why these guys at their age cannot simply accept loss at an election, but must call for bloodbath.
ReplyDeleteSo after their Boko Haram bombs the whole nation to show that they are not in support of GEJ, and they eventually come in, what is left for them to rule over, dead and maimed citizens?
These guys should just be arrested and put away for life so that Nigeria can move forward.
Mr Buhari the blood sucking man. Why is everything about your statement blood and violence.Just wondering why you have not been arrested. Nobody will still vote for you. Looser and a looser you will always be. Vampire.
ReplyDelete@Andrew...Thank you very much you really spoke my mind. The idiot Buhari could not stand and think normal.Well it like he and his cohort have already finalized plan of either North rule, come 2015 or Divide the nation after triggering a war. It will never work for him. Leave GEJ to rule his turn. We elected him. If you forgot something in the Government house, sorry don't go for it again.You may not find it and it does not belong to you alone. After all you took it away from someone forcefully.
ReplyDeleteBUHARI AND BUBA:
ReplyDeleteHAVE YOU FORGOTTEN WHAT YOU CAUSED IN 2011 IN KEY STATES IN THE NORTH? THE KILLINGS AND BURNING OF CHRISTIAN CHURCHES IN KADUNA STATE( BIRNIN GWARI LGA, ZARIA, KADUNA, KAFANCHAN, ZANKWA, KANO, BAUCHI, YOBE AND SOME FEW NORTHERN AREAS? YOU ARE ALL FROM THE NORTH AND YET ENCOURAGING AND ADVOCATING VIOLENCE IN THE NORTH. WHAT DO YOU MEAN? AND WHAT ARE YOU ACHIEVING? DOES THIS YOUR VIOLENT INCITEMENTS TO THE ONENESS OF THE NORTH? TALKLESS OF NIGERIA?
YOU PEOPLE SHOULD NOTE THAT YOU AND YOUR AGENTS DONT POSSESS THE MONOPOLY TOOLS OF VIOLENCE ALONE. IT IS PEACE, DEVELOPMENT ONENESS AND THE FEAR OF GOD THAT RESTRICTS.
BE CAREFUL IN MAKING AND PROMOTING VIOLENCE AND ANARCHY BECAUSE WHEN YOU START IT YOU DO NOT KNOW HOW IT WILL END; TO WHO'S INTEREST?
YOUR UTTERANCES AS LEADERS AND PAST HEAD OF STATE IS BECOMING DANGEROUS TO PEACEFUL AND CORPORATE EXISTENCE OF NIGERIA. BE WARNED PLEASE!!
Let's Pray Hard.Nigeria's Cup is fast getting filled.
ReplyDeleteSome of you guys are so unintelligent with these gibberish you're splattering on the internet. We should be more interested in putting an end to this Boko haram's insurgency rather than apportioning blames. If we must remain an entity, i suggest a SNC would help and it's the fundamental blueprint to ending this menance. Please let's be guided peeps!
ReplyDelete4rm all indication Buhary is d boko harram, d real name is BOKOHARY
ReplyDeleteBuhar is bokoharran himself and should be throu to dia in jail.Anonymous
ReplyDeleteCHRISTIANS,ANIMISTS AND MOSLEMS SHOULD PRAY
ReplyDeleteFOR THIS MAN.AM AFRAID HE HAS FINALLY LOST
HIS BEARING.
AT WAR TIME,ANY STRAY SOLDIER THAT LOOSES HIS
BEARING- IS GONE.
If GEJ had set example by making one arrest all these would have been under control. All the uniform guys that sat him down as VP, waiting to see his oga {Yaradua} knowingfully that oga has airbone to Saudi are still in uniform. Buhari too is untorchable for GEJ.
ReplyDeleteGEJ should take action not just talking.
if GEJ does not arrest Buhari, he is a whimp
ReplyDelete