A Reply to Dr. Abubakar A. Muhammad “General Muhammadu Buhari is My Choice to be the Next President of Nigeria”

By

Usman Yerima

usmanyerima_mantu@yahoo.com

 

I have to agree with Ben Oghre's observation and analysis of General Buhari. Quite frankly, I am not sure Buhari is qualified to fill a local govt councillorship position. Dr. Abubakar Mohammed is obviously confused or completely clueless as to what leadership really entails in the 21st century. I think majority of the northern people are just as confused as Dr. Mohammed, who despite his percieved enlightenment and education, can actually present Gen. Buhari as the best Choice for Nigeria .

 

The northern people need to take one hard look at themselves, and ask why they are hell bent on having an indegene of the region in leadership. Is it because the past northerners that have ruled the country have done such a superb job? Is it because the northern leaders of past decades have so richly elevated the north above the rest of the country in terms of education, opportunity, jobs, standard of living, quality of life, health care, etc?  The persistent clamour for Buhari at the helm of leadership is simply ridiculous. This is a man who has demonstrated an extreme inability to communicate his agenda to the Nigerian people. He shys away from press (Gee!!! I wonder why. He once jailed nearly all Journalists in the nation), and then he refuses to answer questions. Here is a man that cannot tell Nigerians why he wants to be their President. How difficult is that? Does he not owe the citizens that much?

 

In the last Presidential elections, it was reported that Buhari campaign jamboree focused their campaign efforts in the north. Buhari himself campaigned mainly in the north, yet he somehow imagined he could win a national election. Such campaign strategy coming from someone who hopes to manage a country the size and make up of Nigeria gives one a clear sense of such individual's sense of leadership.

 

Aside from any reservations I have, I have given Buhari the benefit of a doubt because I really wanted to take hard look at the General and what he brings to the table. One thing that remains constant is the fact that he himself cannot explain in clarity why he should be President, and why people like me should vote for him. I had shifted my focus then to his supporters hoping that they can tell me what his (Buhari's) vision for Nigeria is. They too do not know, but the puzzling thing is that they just want him as President anyway. When I point out that their candidate has not explained any of his initiativees or vision well enough for me to throw my support behind him, their response was even more puzzling. They said that he is too noble to speak, and as such, others speak on his behalf. Such sentiments explain why a segment of the country remains in perpertual darkness.

 

Other pro Buhari supporters defended his inability to articulate his vision and initiatives by reminding people that "action speaks louder that words". I could not help but laugh at the response.

 

In all honesty, leadership in the 21st century demands that any nation, especially developing ones, elect their very best minds to help move the country out of its current state, to a situation of hope, opporunity, and promise. African nations in particular suffer greatly today because of repeating the same mistakes of electing mediocre characters into public offices. We seem to forget that our leaders while in office will be "sparing" intellectually and otherwise with World leaders who are all after interests. As a citizen, I would feel better that my President is just as educated, intelligent, smart, enlightened, and savy as his counterparts in developed nations. That way, I am assured that he is not being walked over during complex negotiations, or tough policy issues such as trade agreements. I would want to have full confidence that my President will fight for the very best interest of his people and be able to hold his/her own against World leaders and their economic power houses.

 

Judging from Buhari's credentials and track record, there is no indication of intelligence or ability that I can draw from. As Ben Oghre put it, he moved from one office to another in his entire military career then landed as the Head of State. Buhari got moved around a lot within the transportation division in the Army. There are no special commendations in his service in the Army. He never made any reforms to his unit in all his years of service. He never changed the face of the Army by heading any kind of special project, or by taking the Army to a whole new level in combat readiness, training development, deployment readiness, weapons development, intelligence overhaul, personnel re-training, strategic operations, etc. So I do not see a pattern of 'can do' attitude here. I also do not see a leadership trait here either. What I see is a man whose Military career involved being shuffled around, and then selected by coup planners to head an illegitimate government.  

 

For the sake of our future, and the future of the younger generation, unqualified men like Gen. Buhari, and other ex-soldiers need not advertise themselves further. There are far better men and women who are more competent, able, and in-tune with the challenges facing a fourth World society like ours.

 

For the record, I still would want to know why Buhari refused to appear before Justice Oputa commission who summoned him to testify before a grand Jury. Is that not contempt of court? -A crime that carries a jail term. So by placing himself above the law, what type of message is he sending to the Nigerian people? Therefore, how can a man who places himself above the law aspire to be the chief law enforcement officer of the nation?