Truely speaking, all the actors stand to be above reducing anything to the pages of Newspapers, especially if the matter involves sensitive issues that border on their integrity.

General Muhammadu Buhari, any day and time in this country, is a household name, cherished, respected, adored and exceedingly popular. He commands a lot of respect because of his astute and straight-forward nature. He has been known to be a very consistent believer of the project Nigeria and equally defends the plight of the down trodden. People look at him, and so much so, as a man living within his means, thereby earning to himself the enviable name of an incorruptible leader and best manager of resources. This trust and admiration being shown to Buhari is not just because he is what he is, but because he has continually demonstrated not only to Nigeria and its citizens, but also to the international community.

In the wake of the December, 31st, 1983 coup that ushered in Buhari as Head of the Military Junta that ruled Nigeria for a period of just twenty month, the nation and its citizenry hailed the change of Government as a heroic relief from the clutches of civil misrule. That Military was accepted by all as a corrective regime due to the programs it unveiled for the emancipation of the Country. The thrust then was to reawaken and re engineer Nigeria and its citizens from the position of not so serious people to proactive and agile lots. The rising cost of essential commodities was instantly checked and made affordable to the common man on the streets. Government and officials were made to account for all funds allocated to Ministires and Parastatals. Bribery and corruption was stopped as workers worked feeling as if Buhari was looking at them from over their shoulders. A high sense of discipline was instilled in all facets of national survival, and for once, the nation was moving in the right direction and firmly being restored to glory.

Those who looted the nation's Treasury were severely dealt with and illegally gotten wealth was retrieved and paid back into Government coppers. It was eveident then that Muhammadu Buhari and Late Babatunde Abdulbaki Idiagbon would never let go any culprit that enriched himself/herself from the public coppers. That was what endeared them to this day, in the hearts of Nigerians. At the height of their power, I still recall a friend of mine who proudly engraved on the wall in his room these wordings, " IDIAGBONIZE THEM BUHARICALLY" in bold letters. At that time, any official that has a skeleton in their cardboard ran away, and till today some are still away! Those good qualities, no doubt, endeared them to the hearts of the masses who saw them as a kind of gift from the Almighty to come and salvage them. It is in this regard that Buhari's admirers want him to keep his cool and shove aside any distraction that might drag his reputation in the murky waters of political demogoguery. He must avoid stooping to the level of the newly acquainted, presumptuos political players. He should comtinue to demonstrate that manly attitude of statesmanship and condour by being humble and ignoring flimsy rapsodies of dimunitive minds. There are absolutely few individuals that can wear his very large shoes when it comes to testing popularity.

As for his Excellency the Governor of Sokoto State, his reaction to Buhari's comments of lending a helping hand to kill the ANPP, I give him kudos for his being very much respectable in the choice of his wordings. However, the Governor would have done better by visiting Buhari in his home and iron out whatever his feelings were, as better form of respect, instead of resorting to the media channels. The saying that whenever two elephants fight, the grass suffers, is true. But if two flies fight, they loose their wings! May I crave the indulgence of their Excellencies, to please unite and speak with one voice so that whatever they do will be to the benefit of the Nigerian masses.

The crux of the matter now is that democracy should be sustained fully for us to be delivered from a civilian regime to another safely, without rancour and acrimony,as we transit into the political future of our nation, the citizenry is becoming more and more aware that individuals who merit occupying any elective office, are elected, rather than the Parties they belong to. The days when a Party will field an unpopular candidate for election and the electorates vote for that Party are almost gone. This is indeed a welcome development since the best material, inspite of the party he belongs to, will eventually emerge as the winner. In developed countries, especially in the U.S. whose mode of politics we copy, any office contestant must work hard and convince the electorate before he or she wins. The electorates are free to assess contestants fielded by the Parties and to vote for the candidate they feel will satisfy their wish. Let us all pray for a prosperous and resounding outing come 2007.

Mohammed Bala, Bajoga, Gombe State.