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Bugaje: Ideological Bankruptcy Or Political Suicide? (1) By Usman Mohammed
I am taking on my adversary from vantage position which suits me. I have always been saying that, the problem of the North (Hausa/ Fulani) is grass vindictiveness. It is absolute “Politics with (out) bitterness”. While in the Western civilizations, philosophers are kings at least for constituting to be “think tanks” and reservoirs of knowledge seeking truth and avoiding lies, blackmails, and prejudices, for patriotic reasons, the developing countries are steel battling with ideological contradictions, arm chair professors, bankrupt utopia, lost in the sojourn seeking political power by all means necessary, all seeking for material benefits which inevitably becomes their waterloo.
Else, how could one ever contemplate on Dr Usman Bugaje’s assertion that Yaradua, Dr Abba Sayyadi Ruma and Governor Ibrahim Sherma played prominent role in what he purportedly described as “devil may care vote that took place in Katsina”?
One will understandably judge Bugaje from his position as the National Secretary of the Action Congress, who incidentally was defeated in Kastina by the president incumbent.
Be that as it may, his call for trial of President Umaru Musa Yaradua, along with Governor Ibrahim Shehu Shema and Honourable Minister of Agriculture for treason, sounds hollow and childish. This childish assertion is abuse on average intellectual minds of common sense that is not so common and logic. Hear him; that., “if you were in Katsina shortly before the election you will know what I am talking about, I am talking about Shema and the people who are now ministers from Katsina sort of gang around Yaradua as it were by telling people that, there was no going to be any elections. Don’t waste your time, don’t waste your wealth we are just going to write the result up, and they did exactly what they did say”, (Leadership 15th oct 2007) Haba Bugaje? This is intellectual bankruptcy for a PhD holder, and abuse of average Nigerian intelligence and absolute bunkum. I say so because I participated as independent observer in 2003 elections and incidentally in Katsina. I have witnessed Bujage’s arm twisting, manipulation and rigging of election by hook or crook for Bugaje to be “Honourable” House of Representative Member PDP then started it. As it were, my good secondary school mate Hon Musa Gafiya was denied the seat because of Bugage’s blind ambition to become NOT only Honourable House Member but speaker of Federal House of Representative. The favour Governor Umaru Musa Yaradua did to him because of Vice President Atiku as at then was to prevail on Hon. Musa Gafiya who was undoubtedly very popular with the masses as two term Jibia/Kaita local government chairman, and who was elected in 1999 to step down for Bugaje in 2003. As it were, Bugaje’s popularity was nothing to write home about. Against the popular will of Kaita/Jibia constituency and for peace to reign, Honourable Musa Gafiya, obliged to the humble request of his then governor Umaru Musa Yaradua and stepped down for Bugaje. Still, Honourable Musa’s supporters violently protested against the imposition of the candidature of Dr Bugaje.
Yaradua had to travel all the way from Katsina to Jibia/Kaita constituency to assuage the anger of his subjects by explaining that, he has promised to make Musa Gafiya Honourable Commissioner. The storm was hardly over at election time in 2003. I witnessed mass boycott of PDP members and protest votes in favour of the opposition, but as it was PDP, BUGAJE worn the election with wide margin.!!
His so called success into the House of Assembly was Akiku’s single handed project to check-mate Obasanjo because of the demise of Ghali Umar Na Abbah. No sooner had he assumed office that, crisis and deep seated rivalry and acrimony started emerging in the House for tussle of the speaker’s position. But Massari had advantages over him because he was “cheap of the old block” and is aged, more matured and has a gentle approach to House matters secondly he had the blessings of the Presidency, the old members who returned back by electoral victory again trusted Masari more than the less experienced and arrogant western elite.
Political behaviourist observed that, Dr Usman Bugaje was solely responsible for the deep hatred between Obasanjo and Atiku which they paid dearly and are still paying. Their clash with BABA, although made Atiku to have sympathy and more supporters, they actually lost the battle by the end of the day in every respect of political artistry.
It is against this background that they opted out of PDP Government to form a formidable force to sort of challenge existing order by forming Action Congress. Little wonder, that the cream ala cream of AC in the beginning were mostly elites, Business tycoons, and academics.
Bugaje’s grouse with Ibrahim Shema has been an old story that may not need be recounted here, but is discussed in context, for Dr. Abba Sayyadi Ruma, the nation witnessed his defence on the floor of the Senate before he was sworn for the second term. Dr Ruma’s brilliance and his meticulous nature added with analysis of scenarios to every angel of arguments leaves everyone in no doubt about his capability, ability and comprehension of events and society. Even before his Doctoral Degree, he already had been tested, and has been fortunate to be the political adviser of the Barda Administration way back, at a relatively young age, and the youngest Secretary to government of Governor Umaru Musa Yar adua from 2003-2007. His intellectual ability can not be marched with Bankrupt arm chair professors, who are desperate in damaging the very hard earned reputation of outstanding educated elites and elders of the North. Instead of the so called Dr Usman Bugaje to intellectually and logically put up a convincing comparative analysis of how the past government he actively benefited immensely is a better regime than the Present Yar adua’s seven point agenda, he selectively and with intent of vindictiveness, isolated three personalities and told us stories that don’t and can not just add up. This underscores his desperation, prejudices and unfortunately, exposed his intellectual bankruptcy and confused state of mind.
As a complete departure from the past unfashionable PDP of the Bugajes, and the realisation that “things in human endeavours could get worst to get better” is surely beginning to be a reality, the nation is gradually getting its bearings with the Yar Adua administration, even if it is “new wine in old bottle.” While the legal battle goes on, gutter utterances and reckless statements of prejudicial nature from arrogant Bugajes should not be condoned and most be challenged especially by the youths of this country and especially the intelligentsia whose representation is evidently witnessed like never before in the Yar adua administration it marked a turning point and a beginning of a new era in Nigeria’ political development.
Nigeria had witnessed “the year of the locusts” where errand boys like Bugajes were “Devil’s addition” who swam and ravaged billions of the country’s resources and foreign reserves and leave the ordinary Nigerian in abject poverty exploitation, depravation and continuous underdevelopment and backwardness which is daily manifesting in ethnic religious and regional conflicts such as the Niger Delta, with such individuals at the helm of affairs, a vicious circle of poverty, visionless unfocused, crisis ridden administration will surely be ensured with government on standstill or deadlock
Bugaje and his Boss Atiku, were the pioneers of colossal electoral rigging and forcefull imposition of unpopular candidates from the unholy 2003 elections which they termed CONTINUETY. As a beneficiary, while others are victims, it suites them but as victims, “a pasa kowa ya rasa!!! This to me and every rational mind is more of treasonable felony than the cry and shout of wolves where there is none. I stand to be corrected that what my NGO (Centre for Legislative Studies in Africa) witnessed in 2007, and have recorded with ample evidence to show; the three personalities were only seen at their poling stations, after voting they retreated to there various houses, awaiting the outcome of the results. I covered Katsina, Dutsinma, Daura Jibia and a host of places. I was even fortunate to be interviewed by a BBC Hausa reporter on the peaceful nature of the elections in Katsina before and after. Where I Witnessed violence was in Daura when the electoral materials were delayed by INEC and youths were mobilised to set aflame the INEC office, but with the timely intervention of the Former Head of State Muhammadu Buhari, things went smoothly.
For one thing about president Yaradua is his careful nature in handling public trust and welfare perhaps that informed these that shopped for him. He is an achiever and a performer, for all the years he did as governor, testimonies are on the ground not on the pages of newspapers and magazines spanning from education, health, Agriculture and general welfare of Katsina people. His dilemma was who to trust with vision, dedication to duty and honesty. Yar adua left in his kitty, about 11 billion naira as testified by the present Governor, this is at a time when we witnessed stupendous waste and stealings of wealth by the political elites in office that is unprecedented in the history of Nigeria, such a feat can only be done by pious and God fearing Leader in the likes of Umar Yaradu a, that is rare to find, no pretensions what so ever. As God almighty will have it, all the candidates that indicated interest did not make the list in PDP and he found a reliable dependable and articulate Barrister Ibrahim shehu Shema, reluctantly agreed andS was his former state Attorney1999-2003. He contested on free and fair ground and indeed worn.
He made his remarkable contribution by settling a legal battle for the Christians in Katsina to have a home and a place of worship. His detribalized nature, his live and let live posture and his humility are not only his strength but his weakness too. He has been tested with numerous public tasks the last being PDP Vice Chairman of the North West. He has friends all over the social strata of the federation and his style of leadership is rightly keeping the pace setter. With Educated Elites and undoubtedly beautiful but articulate Marshall plans for Katsina that had never been seen before.
For Bugaje and his likes to come out challenging these accomplished but very polished Educated and popular elites, that we are proud to identify with, and elder statesman and criticism that is Not constructive, while they are daily making their life scarifies with their bloodS and family, for all Nigerians fall short of expectations. Bugaje’s Boss and Obasanjo only yesterday Dragged each other to the public laundry over the PTDF saga and the remaining is history to the patient citizens of Nigeria. Bugaje’s own dossiers are very well a public material which will come sooner than latter for public consumption. But suffice it here for the general public to note that, the frustration and desperation of people like Bugajes are very well transferred aggression of the hangover of Baba’s terrorism on them. The sin of Baba now is visited on the Son and his children. The choice of Bugaje to come out in print (Leadership Monday 15th Oct 2007) media with such fallacious but vindictive assertions coinciding with a very important August visitor, the Indian Prime Minister is not by accident it is badly but carefully calculated and can well be analysed. This is a deliberate attempt to smear the image of a government seriously in need of legitimacy from especially her old and trusted friends such as India. Please accept my sympathy Bogaje, try another day. All meaningful citizens are solely behind the Yar adua administration and will continue to be very constructive in our criticisms, our prayers and contributions. FORWARDEVER !!
Dr Usman Muhaamad teaches political science in University of Abuja, and can be reached at;
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