Buhari: Three scores and twelve By: Mukhtar Jarmajo Soon after the 2011 presidential election which General Muhammadu Buhari amongst others lost to President Goodluck Jonathan, the General`s political future became a topic of debate amongst his friends, political associates and supporters. All agreed that Buhari lost that election and those of 2003 and 2007 not on a level playing ground. In 2003, they opined, the Abel Guobadia led INEC connived with the presidency to organize a joke then named it election. They went further to assert that the presidential election supervised by Maurice Iwu in 2007 witnessed unprecedented rigging that even the ultimate beneficiary of the maneuver, late Umaru Yaradua had to acknowledge before the United Nations Assembly of the irregularities involved in it. And for the election supervised by Attahiru Jega in 2011, the rigging involved a lot of sophistication culminating in figures doctoring at polling units and collation centers, both schools of thought noted emphatically. On whether or not Buhari should remain in active politics however, two schools of thought emerged. Some were of the conviction that having lost presidential contest three times, the tooth-gapped General should quit active politics but should remain on the nation`s political turf to motivate the masses work against injustice. Contrarily, believing Buhari remains the last option if matters were to change for the better in Nigeria, others argued he should remain in active politics stressing that if he should quit, the pages of history may not record another Abraham Lincoln in contemporary times. This thought held that all the Daura born General needed was a better political platform with trustworthy cohabitants who in the long run will not sale Nigeria`s future to the People of Deception and Prestidigitation (PDP). Quite alright, apart from the fact that the nation`s election umpire – the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has been subservient to the powers that be, Buhari has also suffered political setbacks as a result of party leaderships who in the cause of time metamorphose the party to a mere extension of the ruling Peoples` Democratic Party (PDP). Thence, with a more reliable political platform, the retired General can expect a successful political outing. Meanwhile, in the cause of his campaigns ahead of the 2011 elections, Buhari at a point mentioned that that was going to be his last political outing. With this and being a man many see to always mean what he says and says only what he means, the latter school of thought may not have that requisite confidence to confront Buhari with its proposition. In the end however, perhaps hearkening to the Hausa mantra that says “magana biyu ce dattijo”, he returned to the trenches. The mantra literally implies that a gentleman should always have two decisions to consider, first his and then very importantly that of his people. For, all one is doing is for the interest of the generality of the people. Therefore it is gentlemanly to take a second position when the people say no to yours. Thus, in a manner that suggested he hearkened to the gospel of the latter school of thought, Buhari involved himself in efforts aimed at creating a formidable opposition political party in Nigeria. In the end, the defunct All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP), Alliance Congress Of Nigeria (ACN), his Congress for Progressives Change (CPC) and factions of some political parties merged together to form the now major opposition political party, the All Progressives Congress (APC). And that he joined and won in a manner that was reminiscent of a political coup-de-grace the race to pick the APC presidential ticket is no news. Today he poses the greatest challenge the ruling PDP has ever encountered. Whilst President Jonathan has not been able to handle the baton of leadership with the requisite courage, sincerity and competence, Buhari`s credentials are a synopsis of leadership ability, altruism, sincerity and dedication. Within and without the Army, he carried out all his assignments with diligence and willingness and as if he was blessed with a Midas touch, all projects he laid his hands on, end up a success. As Military Administrator of the defunct Northeastern state and later that of the former Borno state, Buhari administered public trust incorruptibly. And as Federal Commissioner for Petroleum Resources, Buhari constituted the NNPC Board thus became its first Chairman. He gave the institution a solid foundation as a result of which until recently when money thirsty politicians came on board, the oil and gas sector of the economy was a bit healthy. And here we must remember that fine civil servant, the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi, Aro of Mopa, who as his Permanent Secretary gave him the needed support. When Buhari came in as Head of state at the eve of 1983, he sought to give the nation`s façade a new rendering. Fully aware of the fact that the economy of a nation means everything to its people, his government began making meaningful economic policies which though were radical both in theory and practice. But in all ramifications, the policies were very realistic in that the same approach was used in taking countries like Taiwan, Thailand and Indonesia to great heights. Nigeria`s former economic czar, now Emir Of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi had this to say in 2002 in his article captioned “Buharism: Economic Theory and Political Economy”; “Buharism represented a two-way struggle: with Global capitalism (externally) and with its parasitic and unpatriotic agents and spokespersons (internally). The struggle against global capital as represented by the unholy trinity of IMF, the World Bank and the multilateral “trade” organizations as well that against the entrenched domestic class of contractors, commission agents and corrupt public officers were vicious and thus required extreme measures.” “Draconian policies” Sanusi continued “were a necessary component of this struggle for transformation and this has been the case with all such epochs in history…..To this extent Buharism was a despotic regime but its despotism was historically determined, necessitated by the historical task of dismantling the structures of dependency and launching the nation on to a path beyond primitive accumulation.” Ever since he joined the Army in 1962 till August 1985 when his regime was truncated in a bloodless coup, Muhammadu Buhari worked enthusiastically and patriotically towards defining better paths for enhanced development and liberating the people from the shackles of post-colonial slavery. He was to later again prove this when he was made the Executive Chairman of the defunct Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF). In 1994, the PTF was established to manage “monies received from the sale of petroleum products less the approved production cost per liter…” to improve the sectors of education, health, food supply, road and road transportation, water supply, security services “and such other sectors as may be approved from time to time.” Buhari was picked to chair the PTF Board and as usual, he performed creditably well. Fifteen years after it has been scrapped, there are projects of the PTF that are still standing today and that was to tell of the success the PTF recorded. Indeed, it raises no eyebrows that he was successful at the PTF for as seen earlier, through dint of hard work and diligence, Buhari gets the best results. And now that he is in the race to the presidency with these credentials, Nigeria and Nigerians have our hopes for better days ahead rekindled. But to ensure this dream comes true, we must unite as a nation to support this rare gem who last week celebrated his seventy-second birthday. Thus, whilst wishing him success in next years election, here is also wishing Buhari a happy birthday! Jarmajo is on Twitter: @mukhtarjarmajo
Posted on: Thu, 25 Dec 2014 09:22:42 +0000