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2011 Election Debacles: Options Available To General Mahammadu Buhari By Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega
INTRODUCTION
The returned of democracy in 1999 was a watershed in the political history of the Nigerian state. Democracy has a strong appeal among Nigerians, who see it’s as the best system that guaranteed their individual liberty and foster development. The democratic transition was embraced by all Nigerians leading to the final disengagement of the military from active politic.
The democratic journey has not been a smooth one as the promised dividend of democracy has not only become illusive but also portrait the double standard, Nigerian elites have always treated their subject over the years. The entrance of General Muhammed Buhari has not only electrified the political atmosphere but has added another sound of warning to the oppressors that there is a man who the masses believe in and are ready to rally around him to achieve electoral victory. Although he tries twice and was rigged out by the awesome power of the state; but one thing is certain today that General Muhaamadu Buhari and his TBO family has remained the leading light and the opposition camp in contemporary political situation in Nigeria.
Against this aforementioned fact we the concern admirers of the General felt compel to write formally, to him to consider option available to him towards reorganization of his political machinery come 2011. It is believe that the ANPP has been hijacked by bandits and political robbers, so the party has become a worthless tissue that need to been discarded into the dustbin of history. This is our finding from various interactions with stakeholders and various segments of the Nigerian public.
BACKGROUND
The emergence of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as the democratically elected President was greeted with fanfares among some certain section of the country; because it is believe that the Chief as a former Head of State and the first military Head of State to handover to democratically elected President in 1979 is best suitor for the job of steering the Country into yet another journey towards development.
The democratic journey was faced with a lot of confusion and misfortune, as the old man seems to be a bad student of history. His incarceration has not thought him a lesson about life. The old man seems to have lost touched with the yearning and aspiration of an average Nigerian whose hope were built on this shaking foundation under the Lilliputian leadership of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo. Eight years in and out of office the government came to be characterize with political acrobatism, intolerance to opposition, disregard to rule of law, corruption and general underdevelopment.
However within the horizon of bewildness, Nigerians began to image afterall it was not a revolution, neither a change of government but an outright transmutation of clothing from military to civilian Agbada. For the first four years Nigerians lost hope on any meaningful development on their country; as the promised divided of democracy was not only imaginary but a total betrayal of collective destinies of Nigerians by the new crops of leaders.
Amidst this confusion and frustration Nigerians were bent on changing their destinies through the power of the ballot box but the question that remained at the back of their mind was on whom will they give their trust to? among the various political jokers and pretendance? Within this confusion came the rising sun from Daura who glitters the political landscape of the country. The entrance of the leaders of the Talakawas General Muhammed Buhari did not only electrify the whole country but also serve as a source of hope for the hopeless masses. The Buhari fever not only galvanized the people towards a common cause but it energized the Nigeria people to rally around the General who they saw as an apostle sent by God Almighty to redeemed them from confusion, frustration and underdevelopment.
No sooner was the announcement made that the houses of the oppressors, looters and economic bandits began shaken because of the awesome powers of the peoples’ leaders. The entrance of the General not only re-enforces confusion, fears and intimidation in the hearts of the oppressors but also re-surface the general insecurity this class of bandits were subjected to since that faithful announcement. There was never a time that this country was almost subjected to these populist appeals across ethnic and religious line than when the peoples’ leader made his in-road into the political landscape of the country.
Although the two elections, 2003 and 2007 were massively rigged in favour of the ruling party (PDP), but one thing is scenting that the entrance of General Muhammed Buhari electrified and galvanized the people into a vanguard of change and future revolution, as experienced in Kano, Bauchi and Lagos.
THE SITUATION IN THE ANPP: THE NEED FOR CAUTION AND REDIRECTION
There is no doubt the entrance of our benefactor General Muhamadu Buhari has had a serious political development to the growth and development of the ANPP as a political party over the years; which resulted to the change of the name of the party from All Peoples Party (ANPP) to All Nigerian People Party (ANPP).This development seriously impacted on the success of the party over the years? The Buhari Phenomena became the major credentials that make politicians to win election in their respective constitutiecy and state. Most ANPP Governors droved on the general acceptance and popularity of the General to clichéd their various position today; as most of them are unpopular and lack the political temperaments to win elections in their states.
With all this hard work, generosity and sacrifices by the General the Party he labour for have today betrayed that trust and left our benefactor on the cold by siding with the oppressors. The fears on what remain of the political future of our benefactor General Muhammed Buhari is a major concern to us the lovers of this country.
As ANPP stand today, it will be suicidal for the General to remain in the party to pursuit his presidential dream come 2011. the ANPP has only remained the shadow of it former self, as a party that parade political prostitute as party Executives and a national chairman whose hunger and frustration has just been exposed in the court of public domains. A party chairman who ditched his presidential running mate to alleys with the oppressors and fulfilled what he was sent to do as agent of destabilization from his pay masters in the PDP; the old man is seriously ravage by the growing poverty and couldn’t afford the luxury of sacrificing his luxury for his country men and women who saw in him hope and aspirations. Today the ANPP secretariat has become an extension of WADATA house; that house the PDP secretariat; Chief Ume Uzeoke and the secretary of the party Alh Suleiman Kumo have become mega billionaires through the vampirism of the Party.
Furthermore, we read and listen to your comment as regards to your future political move and your decision to stayed in the ANPP and discipline all those who goes against the constitution of the party. We have never questioned nor doubt your sense of judgement but to remain in the ANPP as currently constituted under the bandit and the PDP man Chief UME Uzeoke will be suicidal. There is need to open bridge of communication and alliance with other political parties of likeminds to build a large spectrums/coalition of opposition against the monster the PDP.
OPTIONS AVAILABLE
2011 Election is around the corner and the need to begin building structures and alliances is of paramount importance. The growing recklessness and arrogance of the ruling party called for sober reflection by all stakeholders in Nigerian project, especially the only opposition in the country General Muhammed Buhari and his committed organization (TBO). To many Nigerians you (General Muhammadu Buhari) is their source of inspiration, courage and determination; the only hope for a better future for themselves and their children. That is why there is serious panic among your teeming supporters on the next option available towards the realization of your presidential dream come 2011.
As the PDP and the president begin to putting in place structures and machineries that will secured second term ticket for their benefactor amidst confusion in government, lack of political will, corruption, insensitivity to Nigerian flights, bed ridden president, Baba go slow style of leadership, policy somersault and acrobatic reversal of policies. It is not only an insult to collective will of Nigerians for President Umar Musa Yar’adua to even contemplate second term in office after two (2) years of inaction, lack of vision and the colourless Seven Point Agenda that lack the political will and prerequisite to execute any meaningful development.
That is why we believe that the time to weight our option and re-strategies to confront the monster the PDP is now. The 52 political parties as currently constituted offers us an opportunity to re-assert our political future through building alliance and counter alliance, towards a better future. The following are the possible options available to the peoples’ General according to our finding and interactions with stakeholders on the Nigerian project:
Firstly, the Action Congress (AC); AC as it stand today has about two state under its control (Lagos and Edo State). The party has well built structures around the nation and gained acceptance especially in South Western Nigeria. Although the party was formed by some disgruntled elements whom were frustrated out of their various party prior to the 2007 election it has some element of formidable force to confront the ruling party come 2011 election. But unfortunately realizing the General’s dream will be a mirage because the party lacks cohesion and political maturity. As of today the party chieftains have began to return to their former party (PDP) and also the leaders of the party Alh Atiku Abubakar is also on the move back to the party. So the destiny and life spam is dwindling which make it unfavourable for General’s political future.
Secondly, the Progressive Peoples’ Alliance (PPA), as a political party has the where without and the structures to serve as a platform for future political consideration. The PPA has some vibrant ideology that is intedum with the General’s ideals on how Nigeria should be restructure and administer. Currently the PPA controls two (2) states (Imo and Abia), some members in the National Assembly and the activities of its founder Chief Orji Uzor Kalu the former Governor of Abia State makes it a veritable tool for future engagement. The in-road the party is making in South Eastern Nigeria is an added advantage towards political conquest of the South East. The PPA almost resembles the Igbo political party, which serve as an advantage for the General Enroute into the heart of Igbo land. It current merger talk with the Peoples’ Redemption Party (PRP) is an added advantage for supra-progressive party in Nigeria. Unfortunately, the party lack cohesion and the corruption charges hanging on the neck of its founder Dr Orji Kalu make its vulnerable for political manipulation by the oppressors.
Thirdly, the Labour Party (LP) is veritable platform for the realization of General Muhammadu BUhari’s aspiration come 2011. The party has clear cut ideology and a manifesto that is in consonant with the yearning and aspiration of the masses; which is intedum with the political and economic philosophy of the General. The party is well grounded and recently gained another landslide victory in Ondo state. The endorsement of the Nigeria Labour Congress is an added advantage to the political hegemony of the party.
Currently the party lack national spread and structures in all the 36 state of the federation; it is argued that if by peradventure the General decide to join the party it will be easier to reorganize and galvanize the helpless masses into a vanguard of revolution and change towards a better future for this country. The Labour Party is the best platform according to political watchers and commentators because of its pro-people policies which goes in line with the political and spiritual philosophy of the general.
Finally, the All Nigerian peoples’ Party (ANPP), the ANPP offers little hope for the actualization of the General’s dreams because of the contradictions within the party. Anytime I look at the party I see little hope and any meaningful development coming out from the centrifugal confusion. ANPP by all standards ought to have provided the much needed opposition to the PDP led government because of the structures and its national appeals among the masses who saw leadership qualities in their Presidential candidate.
Unfortunately, the party has been saddled with terrible leadership, vampires and hungry hawks who rushed into a unity government before even been invited. These prostitutes decided to join the government while their presidential candidate was in court challenging the outcome of the election that produces the current government. This is not only blaspheming but a betrayal of trust by mortgaging the destinies of all those who believe in the party and have made sacrifices towards electoral victory. Today the Party is an extension of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). So long General Muhammadu Buhari will decide to stay in the party to pursuit his Presidential ambition; the more these PDP prostitutes will continue to frustrate his efforts; so the time to leave the party is now without any delay and choose among the options mention above.
The recent declaration of endorsement to Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau the Executive Governor of Kano state by these prostitutes is another factor to contain with. Although where the people’s General will stand, hundreds of Shekarau will not dare steps there foots. But just like power play, politics is built on deception and conspiracy, so the need to redress our steps and forecast a veritable political future is sacrosanct to the actualization of the dream come 2011.
The need to built alliances and counter alliances among the various stakeholders from the civil societies, NGOs, Electoral institutions, political parties, students’ bodies and well meaning Nigerians in order to build a super-national coalition against the monster PDP come 2011 is very important. The time for planning is now; General most extend handshake across river Niger and Benue towards rallying these groups into a vanguard of change. With the way things are going there is no alternative strategy on ground from the opposition to counter the recklessness and arrogance of the PDP.
CONCLUSION
General you are a man of destiny, your country men and women are yearning and aspiring for change. An average Nigerian is looking towards you to salvage this nation from the threshold of destitution, confusion, frustration, corruption, unemployment, diseases, illiteracy, and poverty, lack of basic amenities and falling standards of morality in the country. General must build a vanguard and structures around the federation that will guarantee success at the poll. This vanguard should be able to serve as vigilante group that will monitor and protect people’s mandate; thereby reducing rigging on Election Day. From our finding Nigerians are disposed to you joining the Labour Party because of its populist agenda and its general acceptance among Nigerians workers and masses alike. But other political parties can also form alliance towards the realization of the 2011 project and the ouster of the monster PDP out of power.
We pray as you ponder on all this recommendation and the challenges that lie ahead; it is our hope that you will make your political decision known and your next line of action so that we the political admirers will begin preparation for the daunting tasks ahead and for the development of our nation. We pray Allah to provide you with good health and longer life so that you will witness the greatness of this country under God; where the peoples’ welfare will be of paramount importance to those at the helm of affairs. I have this conviction just like you have asserted 26 years ago, we have no country order than Nigeria and we shall stay here and salvage it together; whether the vampires, hawks, treasure looters, bandits and agents of destabilization like or not. UP NIGERIA
Long live the Peoples’ General
Long live The Buhari Organization (TBO)
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria
Bukhari Muhammed Bello Jega National Secretary Progressive Youth Association For A Better Society Abuja. |