Reporting for the influential New York Times front page on January 2, 1984 after Gen Buhari assumed the reins of government and addressed the diplomatic corps in Lagos, Nigeria with a catchy caption: A Nationalist for Nigerians, Clyde H. Farnsworth , the papers Special Correspondent wrote the following about Gen. Muhammadu Buhari: Maj. Gen. Mohammed Buhari, who announced today that he had assumed power in the aftermath of Saturdays military coup in Nigeria, is described by diplomats as an ardent nationalist who is tough, self-assured and somewhat austere. If anyone was going to take things over, it would have been him, said an American diplomat who knows him. He has a lot of drive and a lot of interest in doing something for his country….Carey Winfrey, a former foreign correspondent for The New York Times who interviewed the general in 1979, recalled a very cool customer. I was impressed by how laid back he was and at the same time how precise he was, Mr. Winfrey said. Hes a man very much in control of himself. Earlier this year, General Buhari commanded a Nigerian unit at Jos, in the north. A border dispute had erupted in the northeast, near Lake Chad, and there had been skirmishes with troops from Chad. The area is also a favorite of smugglers. A Washington foreign affairs analyst who followed that campaign said that he took a pretty tough line up there. It wasnt a big operation, the analyst said, but he closed the border for a while and kept things under very tight control. One could conclude that he is a staunch representative of the Nigerian military. Not Your Typical Strongman A former high-ranking diplomat who served in Nigeria said he was impressed by General Buharis thoughtfulness. He thinks about what he says before he says it, the diplomat said, and doesnt say things carelessly. He is a worldly, disciplined man, not your typical strongman. If you had to go into battle with somebody, the diplomat added, youd be delighted to go with him. You could count on him for sound judgment and disciplined leadership. Similarly, reporting from Lagos, Nigeria for the Boston-based The Christian Science Monitor on the papers front page of January 23, 1984, with the caption: Nigerians Applaud as Buhari fills Cabinet with Nonpoliticians, David Winder wrote: The impression here is that General Buhari, who became Nigerias head of state after a Dec. 31 military coup, has passed his first critical test: the appointment of a Cabinet of responsible and trusted officials that balances the military with considerable civilian input. He has earned public approval along the way. Its a good start, says Clara Osinulu, a Lagos anthropologist who is well connected in Nigerian political life. From The Guardian of London, The Los Angeles Times to The Guardian & Mail, Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and several newspapers across the globe, Nigeria received positive press reviews and commendations for the new Buhari leadership. That is the type of leadership Nigeria needs right now in Africa and the global arena. These are important historical facts that Nigerians should know so as to correct any hagiographer bent on skewing historical facts on the records of the two presidential contenders for Nigerian votes in the forthcoming February 14, 2015 Nigerian Presidential Election.
Posted on: Thu, 15 Jan 2015 10:26:02 +0000
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