A CASE FOR BUHARIS PRESIDENCY Many people, so many Nigerians have been of the opinion that the era of old and recycled politicians directing the affairs of our nation should have come to a halt. That many people has included me. To an extent, we have been right in our clamor. But to some greater extent, we have been wrong. We have been right if we consider the state of our nation since independence, having been ruled by the same set of generation. Has our nation enjoyed any benefit of being continually ruled by the same set of people in the same set of generation? Your guess is as right as mine. What is clear, or should be made clear to all Nigerians is that most of the old cargoes still trying to rule us are doing so, not out of their love for the fatherland, rather, they are doing so for their own benefit and that of their children. That is the sad part of the whole story. A federal minister back in 1979, or a permanent Secretary during the same era who still wants to come back and serve in todays political dispensation should be asked what he forgot in the office that hes coming back to retrieve. Such a person, having served for a period of at least three years without any positive results to show for it is not patriotic. He is a selfish soul. And to have him or her come back and serve in whatever capacity amounts to stupidity on our own parts. That is why I said that people frowning at old and recycled politicians are right to some extent. That being said, I will like to proffer reasons why we have been wrong in our stand against old politicians. While there is a larger percentage of these old politicians who only care about their own pockets, it should also be considered that some of them still have the love of their nation at heart. I wouldnt think twice to vote the likes of Christopher Kolade, if he chooses to run for elective office. If the likes of late Pa Adekunle Ajasin is still alive, I would still vote for him if he chooses to contest. If people like late Ibrahim Waziri, late Aminu Kano, late Nnamdi Azikwe, late Obafemi Awolowo, and late M.C.K Ajuluchukwu were to be alive today, and wish to contest in this era, I would still have voted for them. Old politicians like Balarabe Musa and Senator Banji Akintoye, to mention just a few of them that are still alive would have won my votes if they choose to contest. So, based on the foregoing, it will be completely wrong to have demonized all old politicians, and banned them from contesting offices. Another reason why we should not blankly rule out old politicians is the fact that our youths have not lived up to the expectations of people we can call future leaders. How do we rate youths whose philosophy is If I get there I would take mine? Are these set of people who we want as our nations leaders? The generation which should brainstorm on how to better the lot of Nigeria and Nigerians, but which only thinks of serving the nation for what is in there for them to steal! Most of Nigerian youths are even worse than their old politician fathers. I will not mention names here, but their examples are abound around the country. It is in the light of this ambiguity I want to support the candidacy of Buhari, as a part of the old and recycled politicians, who I think still got some iota of love for the country. Having ruled once as a military head of state (albeit illegally), General Buhari still has the experience in the art of ruling. He had formulated policies; some of them bad, and some of the good, and he has a lasting legacy in the art of discipline among Nigerians. We should allow this man to come back again to right what the current government has messed up. I am not advocating vendetta when he comes back; rather, I want him to put a human face to governance one more time. He has the charisma to do it. He has the resources to do it. He has human support to do it. He has experience to do it. Before I conclude, I like to point out that Jonathan belongs to a generation we can call youth, in a way. He is in his 50s. How better has he fared as a young generation? How well has he projected our image as a young generation? Not in any meaningful and proud way. If anything, Jonathan becomes the epitome of all that is wrong with young generation of Nigerians. Therefore, we, as a young generation has no moral impetus to castigate the old and recycled politicians, when we, ourselves are found wanting in the area of responsibility and setting our priorities right. My hope, and like the hopes of millions of Nigerian youths is that Buhari, when becoming President come May, 2015, by the grace of God, will work hard to pave ways for youths in finding satisfaction in serving the people, rather than serving their own interests. That would be the beginning of a new Nigeria, vibrant, respected, and highly esteemed among the comity of nations. Our land can be great again. It only takes collective efforts and eschewing of selfishness. Copyright Wola Akangbe-Durodola 2015
Posted on: Fri, 23 Jan 2015 09:25:14 +0000
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