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