Any government that is incapable of meeting up that basic responsibility should consider itself a huge failure; and rather than attempting to trade blames, should pack up and leave or brace up for the indignity of a colossal electoral defeat.
Since Nigeria’s return to democracy in 1999, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari has generously offered himself on three different occasions to serve the nation as President and Commander-in-Chief. Although the electoral umpire did not deem it fit to declare him victorious on any of these occasions amid highly contentious circumstances, I am constrained to explicitly dispel the barrage of mendacities and campaigns of calumny that the adversaries of truth, justice, equity and development in Nigeria have concocted over the years and fed Nigerians; with the aim of discrediting Gen. Buhari.
Without mincing words I wish to describe as utterly baseless and mischievous, the impression which the PDP and other antagonists of a united Nigeria have foisted on a strata of the citizenry; that General Buhari is a religious fanatic who is capable of Islamizing Nigeria if elected President. It is inconceivable to me, how any citizen that is privy to Gen. Buhari’s antecedent can be bamboozled by such meretricious allegations! Let us not forget in a hurry that when Buhari served as the Head of State in 1984, he had all the key instruments of the State at his disposal. yet he did not at any time contemplated to advance any policy or agenda that could infringe on the rights of Christians and members of other faiths in Nigeria.
On the contrary, it was his successor, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida (IBB) that attempted to make Nigeria a registered member of the Organization of Islamic Countries (OIC) in his tenure as Head of State between 1985-1993. I recall vividly that some confidential documents have been leaked that revealed IBB’s huge financial contributions to the OIC from the national purse. IBB is still a bigwig in the PDP today. So the question we should ask is, is it possible for Buhari to nurse a presidential ambition for over 12 years, only with the intent to Islamize Nigeria? I don’t think so!
The only reason why terrorism is flourishing in Nigeria is because of the increasing level of poverty and the brazen neglect of the masses. These factors are traceable to high profile corruption and indiscipline in official circles. The lip-service commitment of the incumbent PDP-led government to the fight against corruption is evident in the shoddy handling of the alleged missing $20billion from the coffers of the NNPC. Imagine how far that money could go in providing employment for Nigerians, visualize how many socio-infrastructural facilities, medical equipments and healthcare services, that magnitude of money can provide, then you will agree with me that corruption kills more Nigerians that terrorism.
Buhari, in all honesty, is a man of near impregnable integrity! His efforts in the fight against corruption in Nigeria are still unequalled. The efforts of the EFCC and ICPC pales in comparison to his War Against Indiscipline and Corruption (WAI-C) in the mid 80s. The Asian Tigers, as they are fondly called, were able to attain the socio-economic and technological heights they have reached today because they tackled corruption squarely with the death sentence. Till date, some of the structural works, facilities and buses donated to tertiary institutions across Nigeria by PTDF under Buhari’s tenure still adorn the campuses. So how can a man who abhors corruption like Buhari be responsible for the massacre of thousands of Nigerians under any guise?
I consider it a huge relief to know that every generation of Nigerians is blessed with people who are capable of charting the right course for the nation. But due to sentiments, political conspiracies or sheer complacency, we ignore these people until they are no more. For instance Chief Obafemi Awolowo, long after his death, remains a political colossus in Nigeria. Although he never had the opportunity to rule Nigeria as a monolithic state, Awolowo’s legacies in the South West speaks volumes for him, especially in the areas of educational development; raising the political consciousness of the people and of course, Press Freedom! A vibrant press and politically consciousness citizenry are necessary ingredients for development.
No wonder all the people that opposed Awolowo then, later made detours and eulogized him, calling him “the best president we never had”. We must not allow Buhari’s strength to wear out before we wish we elected him President!
However it is very likely that if Buhari decides to contest the 2015 presidential election, he will be the poorest among the contenders. Yet, he remains the only leader that can fully declare his assets before he contests. We must be determined to shun the allure of monetary inducements in the forthcoming general elections, in order to elect leaders that can be accountable to the people. Buhari is one leader that must be feared; not for his propensity for wickedness, but to do what is right and to stand up for justice.
Let me put in proper perspective that Buhari, by his pedigree, is an elder statesman and leader of the people. Much of his decisions and actions will not be to serve his personal interest, but the interest of his teeming followers and political supporters. Therefore the issue of whether he will contest the 2015 election or not is not entirely up to him to make. As the leader that he is, he will make his decision, taking into cognizance the wishes and aspirations of his followers.
In conclusion, I want to state unambiguously that as a former national student leader and frontline youth mobilizer, I am already mobilizing the youths for an unprecedented rally at the Kaduna residence of Gen. Buhari; where we intend to tarry for as long as it takes Buhari to come out and publicly declare his intention to contest the 2015 presidential election. I am writing this article with strong passion born out of conviction. I have taken my stand; and as they say, it is better to stand right, even if you stand alone!
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