As Buhari Seeks Reelection
By Kenneth Jude
President Muhammadu Buhari's declaration the other day to seek reelection has understandably generated a wave of mixed reactions from Nigerians.
The ascetic General, at a NEC meeting of the APC told a startled party faithful that he is going to take another shot at the presidency. Reports say pin-drop silence enveloped the arena following the declaration.
Back here, the torrential downpour that came down sameday was attributed to the declaration by Buhari. According to those who circulated this tale, heaven, like most Nigerians, was angry with Buhari's declaration.
Frankly, I don't know when rain started falling in anger. Does the heavens not open when it wishes? When did rainfall become a sign that all is not well? The only one known to humankind was orchestrated by God as recorded in the Holy Book when the heavens opened with rage on account of a sinful generation. If there's another, only those who hold this position can rescue us from this conundrum.
Many maintain that Buhari's age doesn't support his ambition. Others talk of incompetence, fitness. Another school of thought is of the opinion that his first term has been near disastrous hence he should go back home honourably.
But power does not know honour especially in this part. In our clime, when one seeks power, decency, morality and everything noble and legal is thrown to the dogs.
Buhari does not look at his age but how to edge his opponents; neither does the letter written by the rambunctious Olusegun Obasanjo sway him at all. He looks at power. The sweetness of it. The allure and majesty of being the Aso Rock Chief. The cheering crowd that waves passionately as he mounts and dismounts the airplane. The military he orders with a quaky voice and feeble knuckles. The red carpet reception he receives when visiting other lands. The litany of overzealous aides always at his beck and call. The convoy of royalty and the sheer mangnificence of office.
Nigerians, always adept in history have dug up a newspaper where Buhari said his age won't allow him work as he would have loved to. Others say he promised a one term presidency. But in that paper, Buhari said his age will slow him down. He didn't say it'll stop him from recontesting. A clear distinction must be made here. Being slow in power and seeking another shot at power are two different propositions.
On declaring to run again, Buhari says it's a response to the clamour by Nigerians for him to seek a second term. We've heard several clamours. When seven Northern governors, led by the diminutive and capricious governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, along with his opportunistic and subservient counterpart in Kogi State, Yahaya Bello visited Buhari in Aso Rock, they subtly clamoured for him to run. El-Rufai said: “We are politicians and those of us you see here want the President to contest the 2019 election, we have no apologies for that. We believe in Mr. President. We want him to continue running the country in the right direction. People can speculate about 2019, we have no apologies."
To the loquacious governor and his counterparts, Buhari remains the best option for Nigeria. You can't blame them. We are all used to this grandstanding and executive sycophancy.
But there have also been other clamours contrary to the one canvassed by the aforenamed governors and their co-travellers in the Buhari must run campaign. Ex President Olusegun Obasanjo is the leader of this group. At several fora, he has warned Buhari not to contest.
To make good his position, the 'letter loving' Owu Chief fired Buhari a longish but powerfully worded missive to the effect that he should leave the stage for a younger fellow.
The letter let off a firestorm across the nation. Politicians, religious leaders, emergency activists, opposition forces and their allied partners flew into rage. Some applauded the letter, others censured the letter. A long debate ensued. Questions were asked. Was the letter necessary? Even if it was necessary, was the writer the right person to write the letter? Some hugged the message but discarded the messenger.
Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), on his part, also served Buhari a letter. The letter swarm in controversy. But the content was clear. Like Obasanjo, the man who is famous for annulling what has generally been described as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria won by billionaire business man, Abiola on June 12, '93, advised Buhari to leave the stage for a younger mind. "Don't seek reelection,"he said.
As if on queue, revered playwright, Prof. Wole Soyinka, urged Buhari to come out of trance.
Despite all of these unsolicited interventions, Buhari, who was derisively christened "baba go-slow" in the pristine days of his administration, has made his intentions clear: he wants to run again. "There are lots to be done," he said.
But away from Buhari's declaration and the fuss it has generated, there are some very pertinent issues that should preoccupy the minds of Nigerians other than whether somebody is running, walking or sitting.
Having made his plans clear, it is doubtful that Buhari will change his mind. While it is advisable not to say never, other parties, especially the seemingly contrite and faintly repented PDP must get to work, cleanse their house, put it in order and put forward a young, fresh and untainted presidential candidate that will command mass support and followership if they really want to dislodge Buhari and the APC from the throne.
Instead of dissipating energy attacking Buhari every other day and APC for not loving Nigerians enough by coming out again with an 'old man', why not focus on your house and think of the right, perhaps, pan-Nigerian candidate that will have Nigerians defy party, tribe, and primordial leanings to vote for him?
Talking about Buhari's manifest foibles every minute will only make an already popular Buhari extra popular. Fact is, the Daura man remains a demigod in his native enclave. You can't deny that. Forget Atiku Abubakar. I've always maintained and still do that the Turaki Adamawa cannot trump Buhari in any election. PDP will shoot itself in the foot if they hand him their ticket. If you're looking for a young, fresh, popular candidate, Atiku does not fit the bill. With all due respect, Atiku cuts the ignoble image of a desperado. An unfaithful party man who will jump ship if things don't go his way. In party matters, he's a nomadic speedster. Unstable and power hungry. Unless bread is buttered to his taste, his emergency romance with PDP will melt away like ice scream caving in to the harshnesses of a scorching african sun.
PDP and others must think beyond just grabbing power. This was APC's guiding ideology as they sought to yank off PDP from their 16 years stranglehold on power. Today, the scales have fallen and the party that promised us Eldorado have since realised that there is a chasm between campaign promises and democratic deliverables.
We are still gropping in the the dark alleys of epileptic, if not non existent power supply. Buying fuel is still a big thing here despite nature blessing us with black gold. Young Nigerians have found solace in betting centres for lack of jobs, some federal roads remain highways to the grave, we suffer brain drain as our best medical doctors jet off to foreign lands to practise their trade, leaving our eternally ill equipped hospitals to rot away.
Poor Nigerians make do with the hospitals described by many as mere referral centres while those who should fix them seek medical attention abroad when headache knocks.
our education system is crying for much more attention than the pedestrian attention we give it. All these are pressing national malaises that should engage our time and not whether Buhari will run or not.
Why we have remained a sleeping giant on broken limbs should get us thinking and worried. It's not about power and all its appurtenances. Nigerians are sick and tired of empty promises. Our disillusionment has reached its tipping point. The nation is on a cliff hanger. Politics of nepotism, favouritism and deception has ruined this blessed contraption. We've suffered for far too long in this nation owing to insincere leaders and saboteurs who loathe the progress of this country.
What special, unique thing that set a good template for the nation to fly did those calling for Buhari's head do when the levers of power was theirs? Is it a Nigerian thing that one receives sense in excess when out of power? The idea here is not to defend Buhari because, for me, I don't think his health, age and mental alertness support his aspiration. But will other parties, especially the leading opposition, PDP, present a better alternative or will they pander to such worn out sentiments of who can beat Buhari despite the person's pedigree, age and capacity to the detriment of a young, dynamic, 21st Century Nigerian brimming with vim, vigour, and workable ideas to change the sad narrative of a beleaguered nation perpetually at war with itself?
As the clock ticks towards the next polls, it is germane for the APC and Buhari to tell us, in clear terms, why the Daura man should be voted again as was the case in 2015 and
why we should believe them.
On their part, the Peoples Democratic Party whose expedient apology the other day remains a matter of hot debate in political circles, pepper soup joints and beer parlours, in concert with other opposition forces, having known who will likely fly the ruling party's flag, must devise ways of beating them at their game, get a vibrant, sound and youthful presidential candidate that Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion, will vote for en masse like it was with Buhari and APC in 2015.
We need a stainless technocrat not tied to the apron strings of our perpetual godfathers and political buccaneers to salvage this nation from its many troubles.
Will they?
Kenneth Jude, a Public Affairs Analyst and two-time AKS NUJ Best Columnist of the Year!
08065998880
By Kenneth Jude
President Muhammadu Buhari's declaration the other day to seek reelection has understandably generated a wave of mixed reactions from Nigerians.
The ascetic General, at a NEC meeting of the APC told a startled party faithful that he is going to take another shot at the presidency. Reports say pin-drop silence enveloped the arena following the declaration.
Back here, the torrential downpour that came down sameday was attributed to the declaration by Buhari. According to those who circulated this tale, heaven, like most Nigerians, was angry with Buhari's declaration.
Frankly, I don't know when rain started falling in anger. Does the heavens not open when it wishes? When did rainfall become a sign that all is not well? The only one known to humankind was orchestrated by God as recorded in the Holy Book when the heavens opened with rage on account of a sinful generation. If there's another, only those who hold this position can rescue us from this conundrum.
Many maintain that Buhari's age doesn't support his ambition. Others talk of incompetence, fitness. Another school of thought is of the opinion that his first term has been near disastrous hence he should go back home honourably.
But power does not know honour especially in this part. In our clime, when one seeks power, decency, morality and everything noble and legal is thrown to the dogs.
Buhari does not look at his age but how to edge his opponents; neither does the letter written by the rambunctious Olusegun Obasanjo sway him at all. He looks at power. The sweetness of it. The allure and majesty of being the Aso Rock Chief. The cheering crowd that waves passionately as he mounts and dismounts the airplane. The military he orders with a quaky voice and feeble knuckles. The red carpet reception he receives when visiting other lands. The litany of overzealous aides always at his beck and call. The convoy of royalty and the sheer mangnificence of office.
Nigerians, always adept in history have dug up a newspaper where Buhari said his age won't allow him work as he would have loved to. Others say he promised a one term presidency. But in that paper, Buhari said his age will slow him down. He didn't say it'll stop him from recontesting. A clear distinction must be made here. Being slow in power and seeking another shot at power are two different propositions.
On declaring to run again, Buhari says it's a response to the clamour by Nigerians for him to seek a second term. We've heard several clamours. When seven Northern governors, led by the diminutive and capricious governor of Kaduna State, Nasir El-Rufai, along with his opportunistic and subservient counterpart in Kogi State, Yahaya Bello visited Buhari in Aso Rock, they subtly clamoured for him to run. El-Rufai said: “We are politicians and those of us you see here want the President to contest the 2019 election, we have no apologies for that. We believe in Mr. President. We want him to continue running the country in the right direction. People can speculate about 2019, we have no apologies."
To the loquacious governor and his counterparts, Buhari remains the best option for Nigeria. You can't blame them. We are all used to this grandstanding and executive sycophancy.
But there have also been other clamours contrary to the one canvassed by the aforenamed governors and their co-travellers in the Buhari must run campaign. Ex President Olusegun Obasanjo is the leader of this group. At several fora, he has warned Buhari not to contest.
To make good his position, the 'letter loving' Owu Chief fired Buhari a longish but powerfully worded missive to the effect that he should leave the stage for a younger fellow.
The letter let off a firestorm across the nation. Politicians, religious leaders, emergency activists, opposition forces and their allied partners flew into rage. Some applauded the letter, others censured the letter. A long debate ensued. Questions were asked. Was the letter necessary? Even if it was necessary, was the writer the right person to write the letter? Some hugged the message but discarded the messenger.
Ibrahim Babangida (IBB), on his part, also served Buhari a letter. The letter swarm in controversy. But the content was clear. Like Obasanjo, the man who is famous for annulling what has generally been described as the freest and fairest election in Nigeria won by billionaire business man, Abiola on June 12, '93, advised Buhari to leave the stage for a younger mind. "Don't seek reelection,"he said.
As if on queue, revered playwright, Prof. Wole Soyinka, urged Buhari to come out of trance.
Despite all of these unsolicited interventions, Buhari, who was derisively christened "baba go-slow" in the pristine days of his administration, has made his intentions clear: he wants to run again. "There are lots to be done," he said.
But away from Buhari's declaration and the fuss it has generated, there are some very pertinent issues that should preoccupy the minds of Nigerians other than whether somebody is running, walking or sitting.
Having made his plans clear, it is doubtful that Buhari will change his mind. While it is advisable not to say never, other parties, especially the seemingly contrite and faintly repented PDP must get to work, cleanse their house, put it in order and put forward a young, fresh and untainted presidential candidate that will command mass support and followership if they really want to dislodge Buhari and the APC from the throne.
Instead of dissipating energy attacking Buhari every other day and APC for not loving Nigerians enough by coming out again with an 'old man', why not focus on your house and think of the right, perhaps, pan-Nigerian candidate that will have Nigerians defy party, tribe, and primordial leanings to vote for him?
Talking about Buhari's manifest foibles every minute will only make an already popular Buhari extra popular. Fact is, the Daura man remains a demigod in his native enclave. You can't deny that. Forget Atiku Abubakar. I've always maintained and still do that the Turaki Adamawa cannot trump Buhari in any election. PDP will shoot itself in the foot if they hand him their ticket. If you're looking for a young, fresh, popular candidate, Atiku does not fit the bill. With all due respect, Atiku cuts the ignoble image of a desperado. An unfaithful party man who will jump ship if things don't go his way. In party matters, he's a nomadic speedster. Unstable and power hungry. Unless bread is buttered to his taste, his emergency romance with PDP will melt away like ice scream caving in to the harshnesses of a scorching african sun.
PDP and others must think beyond just grabbing power. This was APC's guiding ideology as they sought to yank off PDP from their 16 years stranglehold on power. Today, the scales have fallen and the party that promised us Eldorado have since realised that there is a chasm between campaign promises and democratic deliverables.
We are still gropping in the the dark alleys of epileptic, if not non existent power supply. Buying fuel is still a big thing here despite nature blessing us with black gold. Young Nigerians have found solace in betting centres for lack of jobs, some federal roads remain highways to the grave, we suffer brain drain as our best medical doctors jet off to foreign lands to practise their trade, leaving our eternally ill equipped hospitals to rot away.
Poor Nigerians make do with the hospitals described by many as mere referral centres while those who should fix them seek medical attention abroad when headache knocks.
our education system is crying for much more attention than the pedestrian attention we give it. All these are pressing national malaises that should engage our time and not whether Buhari will run or not.
Why we have remained a sleeping giant on broken limbs should get us thinking and worried. It's not about power and all its appurtenances. Nigerians are sick and tired of empty promises. Our disillusionment has reached its tipping point. The nation is on a cliff hanger. Politics of nepotism, favouritism and deception has ruined this blessed contraption. We've suffered for far too long in this nation owing to insincere leaders and saboteurs who loathe the progress of this country.
What special, unique thing that set a good template for the nation to fly did those calling for Buhari's head do when the levers of power was theirs? Is it a Nigerian thing that one receives sense in excess when out of power? The idea here is not to defend Buhari because, for me, I don't think his health, age and mental alertness support his aspiration. But will other parties, especially the leading opposition, PDP, present a better alternative or will they pander to such worn out sentiments of who can beat Buhari despite the person's pedigree, age and capacity to the detriment of a young, dynamic, 21st Century Nigerian brimming with vim, vigour, and workable ideas to change the sad narrative of a beleaguered nation perpetually at war with itself?
As the clock ticks towards the next polls, it is germane for the APC and Buhari to tell us, in clear terms, why the Daura man should be voted again as was the case in 2015 and
why we should believe them.
On their part, the Peoples Democratic Party whose expedient apology the other day remains a matter of hot debate in political circles, pepper soup joints and beer parlours, in concert with other opposition forces, having known who will likely fly the ruling party's flag, must devise ways of beating them at their game, get a vibrant, sound and youthful presidential candidate that Nigerians, irrespective of tribe, religion, will vote for en masse like it was with Buhari and APC in 2015.
We need a stainless technocrat not tied to the apron strings of our perpetual godfathers and political buccaneers to salvage this nation from its many troubles.
Will they?
Kenneth Jude, a Public Affairs Analyst and two-time AKS NUJ Best Columnist of the Year!
08065998880
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