Most Nigerians know him as a man of integrity. He is one of the few former leaders not widely associated with corruption and self-enrichment even though he has held juicy portfolios such as Minister of Petroleum and Natural Resources, Executive Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and Head of State. Nigerians also know him as a disciplined leader.
In addition, most Nigerians believe that Buhari can easily arrest the security challenges plaguing the nation, including the Islamic insurgency in northern Nigeria. His devotees believe Nigeria needs a man like that at this period to rein in a country set adrift by ineffective leadership.
Buhari's greatest vice or drawback is his extreme provincialism. His worldview is heavily coloured – even circumscribed – by his Fulani, Muslim Arewa roots. His best effort towards growing out of this cocoon has been to extend a hand of fellowship to Western Nigeria. In his calculations, Arewa/Muslim + O'odua = Nigeria. And Arewa/Muslim must be the Head with O'odua (preferably also a Muslim) the Deputy. He was the first to create a Muslim/Muslim ticket at the Presidency when he paired with General Tunde Idiagbon who was a Yoruba/Fulani from Ilorin, to run Nigeria between January 1984 and August 1985. For him, the South East, South/South, Middle Belt and Christians do not count, if indeed they actually exist.
Some people often say it does not matter. Yes indeed, it should not matter, so long as Nigerians will also accept it with the same equanimity if a Christian from the South pairs with another Christian from the Middle Belt or North to rule Nigeria. We all know that will be a recipe for disaster. The Jihadists will simply go berserk, and this time, they will have a credible reason. The constitution and conventional wisdom in Nigeria envisage accommodation and balancing of the ethno-religious and geopolitical scales to ensure that no part is dominant over the others.
Buhari's provincialism, therefore, is a major obstacle in his quest to be elected as president of Nigeria. The problem is compounded by the fact that he makes very little effort to overcome it. Those who say it does not matter should check Buhari's tenure as Head of State and PTF Chairman, and how posts and public amenities were distributed. The south, particularly the former Eastern Region, was practically shut out. Even during his campaigns in 2011, he only made tame forays there, opting to campaign heavily in the North and pay regular visits to the West.
His latest utterance about President Goodluck Jonathan's handling of Boko Haram insurgents baffled even his ardent apologists. In an interview he granted Daily Trust on Wednesday, May 22nd 2013, he was quoted as saying:
"When the Niger Delta militants started their activities in the South-South, they were invited by the late President Umaru Yar'Adua. An aircraft was sent to them and their leaders met with the late President in Aso Rock and discussed issues. They were given money and a training scheme was introduced for their members. But when the Boko Haram emerged in the north members of the sect were killed".
And for that he called on the president to resign and "give way to (a) competent hand to govern the country".
Buhari not only twisted the facts of recent history (unlike the man of integrity or Mai gaskiya that his followers in Arewa call him), he also engaged in a rare romance with hypocrisy. It is not true that when the Niger Delta militants started their armed agitation, President Yar' Adua sent an aircraft to bring them to Aso Villa and they were granted amnesty and given money. The nation battled them and the communities where they operated, with heavy arms and there were large-scale civilian casualties. Villages were sacked and people forced to flee. They fought back and caused the nation great distress mainly by disrupting the flow of oil. The economy was suffering.
The amnesty offer was a final warning; the last carrot before and all-out onslaught. If they had rejected the amnesty as Boko Haram did, your guess is as good as mine what would have happened to the Niger Delta. My guess is that it would not be far from what is happening in the North East. But because they surrendered and accepted amnesty it became possible for them to be invited to Aso Villa.
Secondly, this Buhari who has turned himself into a human rights campaigner for Boko Haram was once appointed by the terrorists to represent them to negotiate terms with the Federal Government and he turned down the appointment. If he loved them so much why did he not accept a dialogue that could have prevented this onslaught?
Secondly, we remember very clearly, that Buhari, as the General Officer Commanding the 3rd Armoured Brigade, Jos, played a leading role when President Shehu Shagari crushed the Maitatsine riots of 1980 in the Bulumkutu area of Maiduguri. When he became the Head of State, a rump of the Maitatsine group that escaped to Jimeta in Yola, in 1984, exploded in another orgy of attacks on Christians and moderate Muslims. Their agenda was exactly the same as that of Boko Haram. Buhari sent a military expedition and defeated the uprising, with heavy toll on civilian targets.
Musa Makaniki, the leader of the Jihadists, fled to his hometown in Gombe and Buhari pursued him there, eliminated him and stamped out the insurgency.
It is hypocritical and unpatriotic for Buhari, after this track record, to blame the Federal Government for finally taking the right steps to secure the North. Buhari has joined those using Boko Haram as a tool of blackmail against the federal government; something most Nigerians had felt was below his contempt.
Perhaps, the frustration of failing three times to win the presidential election, coupled with age, is exerting a heavy toll on him. Condition is forcing the crawfish to bend. Buhari has handed his opponents another weapon to use against him should he file again to contest for president in 2015.
By Ochereome Nnanna
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The General has lost his integrity. Let him go and sleep his time is over.
ReplyDeleteMr Oche Nnanna, thank you for exposing your hidden Hypocrisy. You are the biggest Hypocrite. Atleast the art of journalism requires some some sense of balancing of facts and fairness in reportage. That you have blatantly refused to exhibit. Why did you refuse to state that General Muhammad Buhari also picked a christian, a core pastor at that, for a running mate??? Oohhh! I guessed it escaped your memory right? Well, that was just some 2 years ago, but you were sharp enough to remember the profile of his deputy in the 80's. In simple term, you have told us that your head is covered by sentiments and pure hatred for the amiable general. Well, sorry because in this you've woefully failed. We know history too well to be intimidated by amateur writers like you. Advise: go back to school you still have a lot to learn. Your mates are in JSS 2. This arena is not for your types!
ReplyDeleteIt's Suraj
Better face reality and don't deceive yourself. If you want to depend on Buhari to be the next president, then you are living in a fool's paradise,for it would never happen, not in Nigeria. To unseat the incumbent, better present another candidate.Buhari cannot be a president in Nigeria again. IBB saw the handwritting on the wall and finally stepped aside forever. Buhari should be wise enough to follow suit.
DeleteSeems the posts to display is only the ones that aligned with the editor's opinion. Why have u not posted my reply to this man that still lives in a fool's paradise. If he likes let him jump into a dry and bottomless pit. Buhari cannot rule this country again. He is a sectional and religious bigot. Let him follow IBB' s example and step aside finally. No to buhari presidency. The owner of makind has spoken!
DeleteYes! I agree am living in Fool's paradise but as for you, you are living in Fool's Hell and it seems you will abide therein forever unless you get your acts right. It's only intelligently-deprived mean guys that can be awashed by the twisted speech of Mr Okupe and Mr Abati including the mis-representation of the media on the person of Buhari. It seems you are still basking in the euphoria of ignorance at this age when the dawn has appeared and people are civilized. You have absorbed all the political lies spoon fed on you and you have the effontry to come here and be making noise. For, the sake of those who use their reasoning, I must tell you that I love Nigeria simply because it is a country where you can not eat your cake and have it! If Buhari is guilty of any of these blackmails attributed to him, what then is stopping the government of the day from arresting and convicting him in a court of law?. Why did they just sit and watch him helplessly as if they are not holding the reins of power? Media war is not the answer!!! Act if you've got some guts. A mouse cannot dance before the cat and sleep alive! Its that simple. But for the fact that they know GMB to be an upright man, a no-nonsense man, a highly disciplined man, they are trying every possible best to dent his image. Sadly, some ignoramuses are buying into the trap. Sheer lack of foresightedness! I pity Nigeria. I pity Nigerians!!! People have said worst than what GMB has said but nobody is talking abt them. Some ppl recently vowed to declare war on the nation if their 'son' is not re-elected. They even went further to call Security Operatives 'cowards' if they are not arrested, yet neither Abati nor Okupe, nor the likes of this commentator feels there's anything to condemn about that. As long as we don't realise what is best for us as a nation, we are heading towards destruction. I don't care, who becomes the president tomorrow, I don't know Buhari and I don't have anytin to do with Buhari, but if Buhari should contest 1000 times I'll vote for him 1000 and 1 times because as far as Iam concerned, the stage we are now its only a person like him that can steer the ship safely to harbour! The Nigerian ship is at the verge of going aground. Only a competent Captain can patiently wait for high water to deliver it to safety! It is clear that being a Niger Deltan does not make anyone that Captain!!! Nigeria is not a speed boat. Nevertheless, I'm also ever ready to support any candidate who possess the character and qualities to face the rising challenges of Nigeria regardless of his background, ethnicity, religion or geographical location! I don't care. But for now, the types of Buhari are extinct and its the last breed of him that we got. Therefore, let's not toy with this golden opportunity!!!
DeleteIt's Suraj
seriously bro, his time don pass tey tey!
ReplyDeleteMr Anonymous, is a Shame that by this time and age you still believe that it is a man like Buhari that must lead a Civilized and well exposed people like Southern Nigerians,, a sectional leader who once said that Muslim's should vote for a Muslim candidate..
ReplyDeleteOnly Hopeless people will spend time typing to convince people about Buhari,,Even if he likes let him take the Pop of Catholic as his running mate he will still fail.
D fact remains dat d reporter has lost focus and fundamentals of journalism. Dis is d main reason y som pple dont believe nd rely on nigerian media.Its full of personal nd edited opinion. Frm Ola
ReplyDeleteBoko haram menace is in the north. the same north still say they like their son Buhari, then why are you southerners complaining? can you cry more than the owner of the corpse? The only patriotic democratic people are the northerners. they massively vote any candidate even though is not their son but the rest region normally vote their own alone. therefore if the north wants Buhari to rule this country he will. In the first place they had been the one frustrating him. the north still remain the president maker. they formed the PDP, If they all leave PDP today, the party will break simpler than an egg will...lets remove sentiments and pray for the best. Buhari is not whom presidency is showing through Ruben Abbati, Gulak, Okupe and the rest. if he is, they would have arrested him since. they know that Buhari is the only old timer that knows the secret of the country that is opposed to the treatment this selected gangster(PDP) is meting to the great people of this country, that is why he remain their arch enemy hence all this blackmail.
ReplyDeleteThe writer failed to mention that buhari picked a pastor as his running mate in the last general election,let me say for the umpteenth time that buhari is the solution to our problems in nigeria cos what we are experiencing is corruption and he is d only man who can tackle it.
ReplyDeleteI quite agree with Gbenga. The bedrock of the numerous challenges currently facing Nigeria is CORRUPTION. And until we have a leader who is ready to tackle this, our problems will go from bad to worse. The youths are actually the class of people I pity most in this country. Robbery, militancy, drugs & prostitution, mostly perpetrated by youths, are all as a result of joblessness which still boils down to corruption. Sentiments, religion and tribalism apart, I think Buhari is still the only the past leader so far the had proved himself capable of the task. I am a Christian and I love Jonathan. But with the crop of people around him, he's not up to the task 'cos he's being misguided. We need the military experience and the incorruptible mind of Buhari which translates to DISCIPLINE. As long as we have a President who's ready to deal with corruption without fear or favour, in no time, the whole Nigeria system will become sanitized 'cos what happens to the head gets to affect the whole body. Jonathan still have grace 'cos he's in power now. If he can just make up his mind to deal squarely with corruption, he will succeed in writing his name in gold. God bless Nigeria! Kjoe
ReplyDeleteMy only pray is dat God should d man who will fight corruption 2 d latter in this country. Cos to me that is all we need for this country to move forward.
ReplyDelete