Buhari

Buhari’s Principled Tenacity

Peter Opara

Nigeria is a moral, social and economic basket case today, because the last person of honor to head it was Muhammadu Buhari and that was for a brief moment and that was almost two decades ago.

Following the evil one – Ibrahim Babangida, who held sway from 1985-1993, and who brought Nigeria to its current state, was, Sani Abacha, who under the most ruckus of circumstances tried to steer Nigeria back to a semblance of Buhari period, even inviting Buhari himself to assist in his effort.

Just as Buhari’s, social and economic sanity – real sanity, not phony sanity - formed the cornerstone of Abacha’s reign, and that, in spite of all else – a pile of hocus pocus engineered against a dead man and his family - stood Abacha in good stead with yours truly.

Let the cowards and fair weather out there that chirp about “Abacha loot” or whatever else, explain to me what is happening in Nigeria today, where thieves reign as governors, ministers and chairmen. It is true that demagogues and professional rabble-rousers that created the ruckus of the Abacha era are today harping for a return to the helm of the evil one, the chief thief that rendered Nigeria a moral and economic basket case; it is the same sorry socialists and anarchists that are saying to Nigerians that Buhari is not fit to be president, that a thief – the evil one, Babangida, is preferred. That is Nigeria to hell in a hand basket.

Now, to Buhari’s tenacity, his determined search for remedy in the Olusegun Obasanjo 419 elections. This is the single most important pursuit by a Nigerian today. Citizens of Nigeria who are struggling under Obasanjo engendered grinding want and poverty do not realize this; the base, corrupt press do not harp it, and thieving, conniving Nigerian politicians do not acknowledge it. Buhari is the champion of the democracy that Nigerians want.

It remains mind boggling to any with a modicum of decency that Obasanjo sits atop a stolen franchise, whence from he pontificates to Nigerians on sundry issues of morality and citizen responsibility. Just the other day, Obasanjo’s spokesperson that seem to have a diarrhea of the mouth spoke up after what seems an eternal silence, not only lambasting Buhari, but claiming that God gave them victory – meaning Obasanjo’s “victory”. Listen to him, Femi Fani-Kayode: “The Lord gave us the victory in 2003 and by His grace and by the grace of the people, He will not take it from us one year later”.

Obasanjo himself once said in reference to contemporary Nigerians - “they look you in the face and lie and say God is my witness”. Like master like servant, Obasanjo steals election, and his spokesperson tells Nigerians that God gave them victory – that God is their witness. “We believe that we won that election fair and square”, maintained garrulous Fani-Kayode. The fantasyland inhabiting Fani-Kayode, in his 3-Monkey Ethics garb, then referred to Buhari as deluded for seeking legal remedy for Obasanjo election robbery. I see a deluded fellow here, Fani-Kayode; but more important, it takes a thief to grab and hold political office in Nigeria and it takes a liar to ensure that the thief stays in office. That is Nigeria today, for starters.

Why Fani-Kayode’s sudden emergence and invocation of God and people – Nigerian people that is, a people that have been abused by Obasanjo? Buhari’s lawyer, Mike Ahamba had made a sterling case before the elections tribunal hearing recently on the Obasanjo perpetrated fraud that netted him his so-called victory, presidential victory which Buhari stated, “was null and void for non-certification of election materials” among other frauds inherent in that “victory”.

Obasanjo and those around him seem rattled any time the humongous fraud they perpetrated on Nigerians is mentioned. And a mighty fraud it was….this even when it is difficult in the Nigeria of today to distinguish between fraud and honorable dealing for fraud is the order of the day in Nigeria; Nigeria, a prototype Orwellian entity where truth has no meaning; where facts are controvertible; where history is turned on its face….but here is the crux of Buhari’s contention, just one - excluding sundry allegations such as killing and maiming executed by Obasanjo’s thugs – soldiers, police and secret agents and the fact that elections from 14 states of Nigeria were declared invalid – contained in a 92-Page petition – that asked the court “to hold that the election was vitiated by substantial non-compliance with the provision of the Electoral Act of 2002”:

“ None certification of election materials – by agents of all political parties”.

I am not a lawyer, but I am tempted to help myself in lawyering always, when the need arises. Law is commonsense, and because I believe I have some commonsense, I choose always to go to court to present on my behalf, my thinking on any legal matter that affects me. So far, I have been successful at holding my own in court. For me lawyers are handy only when piles of papers are to be shuffled, otherwise filed – you have to file properly or the opposing lawyer has an opening on you. They have other little tricks they play - diversion - for which you must watch out else you play into it and risk losing or dismissal of your case.

I see from the outset, that Buhari has a case. But I am not sure of Buhari’s chances of success in Nigeria. But he should succeed. Where else in the world would unofficial documents, or none certified papers or either be used in the conduct of all-important exercise as elections?

The battle between Buhari’s lawyer and Obasanjo’s comes down to admissibility of evidence such as the above tendered by Buhari. Unless the judge in this case is a puppet of Aso Rock, there is not a need for Solomonic contemplation on the merit of Buhari’s case.

It would seem then that admissibility of evidence tendered by Buhari and judgment thereupon, would result in the nullification of Obasanjo’s 419 elections. Boy, would that give some a feeling of semblance of democracy in Nigeria. What on earth will Obasanjo base his so-called victory on which Fani-Kayode appears ready to stake his neck on the chopping block?

For those who believe there is democracy in Nigeria – yours truly is not among them – Buhari, in spite of all odds has pursued the wrongs against him and wrongs against Nigerians all – robbery of their franchise - in the most civil fashion – legally. Despite the odds, Buhari believes or he wants to believe that there is democracy in Nigeria. Buhari believes then that the democratic process needs nurturing, thus his determined pursuit for remedy. The tribunal judge(s) have a unique opportunity to demonstrate to Nigerians and to the world that there is democracy in Nigeria – a process that has free judiciary as its cornerstone - by ruling against a criminalized process that was the 419 elections.

Buhari’s case against the presidency that Obasanjo claims is clear; it is simple; it is sensible, it is logical and most important, Buhari has evidence. These elements are all that a judge needs - throw in proper paper filing by Buhari’s lawyers, and voila! Buhari has victory.

Beyond mere vindication of Buhari’s claim of clearly substantial fraud, irregularities and criminality in the 419 elections, is Buhari’s constant call on citizens to understand the importance of their electoral franchise, the value of their votes, what jewel each of their votes constitutes and the need for them to guide their votes jealously against robbery by any. If Nigerians heard Buhari and acted accordingly, Buhari would have achieved a quiet and dignified revolution.

We know that some intellectuals of politics including those who claim to have worked to install democracy in Nigeria are welcoming and receptive to vote robbery and sundry fraudulent acts, and they have a term for it - “environmental atmospherics” – apology to Professor Omo Omoruyi. Obasanjo’s own term and excuse for fraudulent elections is “Nigerian electoral culture”.

Buhari would have none of these. Indiscipline in election or any other human endeavor is antithetical to Buhari’s nature. The man believes, I believe, that if what he had engaged in the last exercise was a democratic process, then discipline has to play a part for it to work.

If Fani-Kayode thinks Buhari will throw in the towel at any point in his pursuit for remedy, he – Fani-Kayode is kidding himself. Buhari, cannot be bribed, not with Obasanjos a-dime-a-dozen GFCRS(?) honors, not with his declaration of state of emergency, such that has snared to his corner the likes of Wada Nas – Obasanjo’s one time critique. Buhari is solid, he is as constant as his co-patriot and senior Chukwuemeka Odumegwu-Ojukwu, and that is a good thing for a country in which many have lost faith and that includes yours truly. Thus this piece of mine is for the sake of humanity.

Let it be known that Buhari’s victory will be victory for ordinary Nigerians, and for the democracy they think they have.

Democracy will be believed to exist in Nigeria should the tribunal judges decide on the merit of Buhari’s case and annul Obasanjo’s fraudulent victory. Should Obasanjo’s fraudulent victory be annulled, leaders of APGA and ANPP, that were tagged “stalematist” – again apology to Omoruyi, will then re-contest the presidency, and right there will be the opportunity for Nigerian people to repudiate Fani-Kayode and his boss and retire both of them especially Obasanjo to Ota or Atlanta, Georgia, U.S.A.

Epilogue – Talking about lawyers and diversionary tactics, I am sure I am not alone in observing that Obasanjo is now adept at diversionary tactics. Recall “Security Breach” for which he bundled Major Mustafa and a host of others away to wherever.

Today, he informed some visiting northern Nigerian dignitaries that some forces have plans afoot “to disintegrate Nigeria”; that these forces have realized that Nigeria is big and has potential, and so they want “to disintegrate Nigeria”.

Well, Aremu, you are dealing with idiots, “total idiots” to borrow your phrase; the idiots are in the main everyone who hangs around you, brief and/or advise you everyday.

Peter Opara is a communications consultant and author.

July 6, 2004