(Wait. Before you start, can I have your attention for a minute, please? This is a time when the Nigerian nation is deeply polarized between Buhari and GEJ camps and their fans are ready to insult or call anyone unprintable names. I am not for either, so do not get it twisted thinking this piece is pro- or anti- whoever. This piece is mainly a story of the life of General Buhari as one of .com's series on Nigeria's leaders. This clarification has to be made because there are some readers who may be harbouring some funny thoughts. I write it as it is. Don't waste your time labelling me as pro-Lagbaja or anti-Lakasegbe, I don't have time for that. I am not impressed by any of our so-called politicians. So please, read this with an open mind and your contributions will be warmly appreciated. Thank you. ™ )


He is bamboo-rod straight, his body frame is slenderized, he is of a meager weight, he is fair and in terms of height, he towers as one of the tallest of Nigerian leaders. His milky voice evokes no fear but do not be deceived, his uncompromising stance on issues stands him out. Millions of Nigerians adore and practically worship him as the only Saviour of the Nation, while millions despise him and see him as nothing but a reincarnation of the Devil. This man is held in great esteem by a vast swathe of the Nigerian population while some others seethe with scary bitterness and violent hatred at the mere mention of his name. But hate him or love him, you will agree that Major General MUHAMMADU BUHARI, Dogo Dan Daura, is the strictest Nigerian leader.

His regime was one of an unprecedented clampdown on indiscipline, corruption and corrupt people. Even his sworn foes agree he has an extremely inflexible stand and an incorrigible will against corruption - which ironically led to his overthrow. Today, 's lenses will zoom in on the life of this Daura-born Fulani general, a man many love with fanatical zeal, many hate with unspeakable fervour while many are not too sure whether to spew caustic hatred on him or shower him with adoration. Ladies and Gentlemen, General Muhammadu 'Leko' Buhari.

BIRTH AND EARLY DAYS
He was born on a Thursday, the 17th of December, 1942, (that makes him 70 years even though he doesn't look it). Unlike many other northerners who were born into aristocratic backgrounds and climbed up using the prestige of their families and the influence of their fathers, Buhari was born into a humble family, what we call pako background in my area. He lost his father at a very tender age (he was just four), both parents pampered him like a pet as he was their last child but he had about 20 other siblings whom his father sired with other women in previous marriages. His mum had given birth to a set of twins before Buhari but they both died shortly after birth. That explains one of his nicknames 'Leko' which means 'someone born after twins who died', something like 'Idowu' in Yorubaland.

His father was Alhaji Hardo Adamu and Hajiya Zulhatu (nee Musa) was his mother, the daughter of the Sarkin Dogarai, what can be translated as the head of the infantry who was in turn the son of the Kauran Daura Lawal, head of the Daura military forces. His paternal grandfather was a typical Fulani who lived the nomadic life but later settled for a life of farming in Daura, Katsina State. His mother would later die on the 14th of December, 1988, a few days to his birthday. Buhari, who had just been released from prison, got to Daura a few hours after the burial of his mother. He was not fortunate enough to witness her being buried. Please note that Buhari's mother was not Fulani but Hausa (Habe) and she was already a widow with seven children when she married Buhari's father who was the Fulani chief of the Dumurkol Village, near Daura.

As a child, he played round the dusty roads of the town and remembers clearly the time he fell of a horse during one of his recreational periods.

GROWING UP AND EDUCATION
A proper Katsina boy, he attended the Katsina Middle School and later proceeded to the Katsina Provincial Secondary School for his high education. From there, he went off to start his military education, like many boys of the north at that time.

IN THE MILITARY
In becoming a soldier, he attended the following institutions:

-Nigerian Military Training College (NMTC), 1962
-Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, United Kingdom (1962-1963). Generals Sani Abacha (read about him here>>>http://.com/sani-abacha-nigerias-most-enigmatic-ruler/ and Obasanjo also attended this academy).
-Defence Services Staff College (DSSC), Wellington, Tamil Nadu, India (1973), Obasanjo also attended this college (see picture).
-US Army War College (1979-1980)

In the year 1962, he joined the Nigerian Army and rose steadily through the ranks.

-Commissioned 2nd Lieutenant, 1963
-Platoon Commander, United Nations Peacekeeping Force, Congo, early 1960s.
-Platoon Commander, 2nd Infantry Battalion, Abeokuta, Ogun State, 1963.
-Commander, 2nd Infantry Battalion, 1965-1967 (during the Nigerian Civil War too).
-Appointed Brigade Major, 2 Sector, 1st Infantry Division, April 1967.
-Brigade Major and Commander, 31st Infantry Brigade, 1970-1971
-Assistant Adjutant-General, 1st Infantry Division Headquarters, 1971-1972
-Acting Director, Transport and Supply, Nigerian Army Corps of Supply and Transport Headquarters, 1974-1975.
-Military Secretary, Army Headquarters, 1978-1979
-Member, Supreme Military Council, 1978-1979
-General Officer Commanding, Ibadan, Oyo State.
-General Officer Commanding, Jos, Plateau State.

From July 1975 to February 1976, he served as the newly-created Governor of the North-Eastern State under the regime of the late General Murtala Muhammed (read all about Murtala here>>>http://.com/murtala-muhammed-nigerias-most-popular-leader/ ). The North-Eastern State is what we know as Yobe, Borno, Adamawa, Bauchi, Gombe and Taraba States. Mehn, that's huge! See the picture below.

Later, after the assassination of Murtala Muhammed, he served as the Federal Commissioner (now Minister) for Petroleum, Energy and Natural Resources under General Olusegun Obasanjo. He was appointed to that post in 1976 and was there till 1978.

On the 1st of April, 1977, the Federal Ministry of Mines and Steel and the Nigerian National Oil Corporation were both merged together to form what is now the ultimate ATM machine for Nigerian leaders -the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Buhari was appointed as the head of the NNPC in 1978 and was there till 1979. (The NNPC states that it's vision is to become a world-class oil and gas company driven by shared commitment to excellence while its mission as an integrated Oil and Gas Company is to be engaged in adding value to the nation's hydrocarbon resources for the benefit of all Nigerians and other stakeholders. I think that 'all Nigerians' should be rewritten as 'some Nigerians' while the 'other stakeholders' should be edited and become 'the cabal'. As an 'ordinary Nigerian', ayam yet to feel the full benefit o. Sorry for the 'digreson', e dey pain me for body ni, we were on Buhari shey....lol! )

Watch a video of Buhari swearing in the new governors here>>>
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z_JjYG-ef8M

THE COUP & BECOMING HEAD OF STATE
On the last day of the year 1983, a coup was in operation to overthrow the democratically-elected government of President Shehu Shagari. The most interesting thing about the coup was that even though it was neatly orchestrated by middle-cadre and top brass in the military, Buhari was not initially the person to become the Head of State. The person that was expected to become the new HOS after the coup was Brigadier Ibrahim Bako. Bako and his boys stormed the President's residence to overthrow him. Shagari was woken up by his security team and alerted that Bako and his men were on their way to the State House to arrest him.

Quickly, President Shagari was evacuated to a safer location and the stage was set for one of the most dramatic gunfights in Nigeria's political history. To guard, protect and defend the Nigerian President then was the Brigade of Guards, headed by Captain Augustine A. Anyogo, an elite presidential bodyguard made up of some of the best-trained hands in the Armed Forces. They fought to the last and in the ensuing battle and under circumstances that are still not very clear, Bako, who was supposed to be the new Head of State was hit (IBB denies that Bako was to be the new HOS but agreed he was a chief plotter). He died. On Bako's death, IBB would later say that maybe it was due to an accidental discharge. Hear him:

Question:“…What really happened to General Bako?”
Babangida: “..….when they went to Abuja for that operation, ….this thing happened in the night… you see, from the experiences we had from the civil war, we found out that soldiers sometimes panic and when they panic, there are dire consequences. So, it was in the night and there was what you could call accidental discharge and the first reaction of the soldiers was that they were being attacked and in situations like that, you could shoot anyway. It happened to us I remember, during the civil war. You get shot at in the front and the sound reverberates behind so the soldiers at the back believes that the person shooting is right there then they forgot that some 500 meters away are what we refer to as own troops, your own forces. Because of no adequate training, a soldier would just cork his riffle and start shooting only to discover that he is shooting his own people. During the civil war, we sustained lots of casualties as a result of this situation. So, my suspicion is that a similar situation must have played out during that operation in Abuja and a bullet hit the late Ibrahim (Bako).”

Question: “So, claims that General Tunde Ogbeha may have pulled the trigger on Bako are not correct after all?”
Babangida: “I would not like to say he did it, no. It was the situation they found themselves; it was dark and everybody was shooting anyhow.”

In short, no one really knows exactly how Bako died.

As at the time of the coup and following Bako's death, General Buhari was commanding the Third Armoured Division of the Nigerian Army in Jos, Plateau State and he was far from the center of action in Lagos State. An agreement was reached and Buhari was selected to become the head. A jet was on to Jos to later bring Buhari who was not in the meeting. But during one of the meetings to choose him, a mild drama played itself out. Some of the military officers wanted to select IBB as the new head of state but in a fit of fury, Mustapha Jokolo drew out his gun and said no one would leave that place alive if Buhari was not crowned the head of state, that IBB would become the Head of State over his dead body.

Jokolo would later become the aide-de-camp (ADC) of Buhari and later the Emir of Gwandu in Kebbi State before he was deposed and banished from his own kingdom (Jokolo and Colonel Sabo Aliyu, who was heading the Brigade of Guard were captured the day Buhari was overthrown and were beaten to a state of stupor, the beating was so intense that rumours initially flew out that Jokolo was dead).

To cut long story short...lol, Buhari was 'elected' as the Head of State and the Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces and his appointment was formalized on the 1st of January, 1984. It would last until the 27th of August, 1985 when Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida and his cohorts like Abacha dem took over. The Supreme Military Council (SMC) was formed (see the full cabinet list below).


LOVE, ROMANCE AND MARRIAGE

General Buhari’s first wife was the late Hajiya Safinatu (nee Yusuf) Buhari. He courted her when she was fourteen and married her at the age of eighteen. A very shy and conservative Muslim woman, she was not too visible on the social radar. They married in 1971 and the marriage was blessed with four children, all girls (Zulaiha Magajiya (the first daughter, and she was named after Buhari’s mother) Fatima, Hadizatu Nana, and Safinatu Lami). Buhari was so focused on salvaging Nigeria that he preferred to remain single throughout the Nigerian Civil War (1967-1970) and it was not until the war ended that he got married to his sweetheart, Safinatu. Although he was so passionate about his job that he was said to have being ‘married to the Army’, he always called his wife on the phone on a regular basis. As the First Lady of Nigeria, Hajiya Safinatu was not in the spotlight. Actually, she avoided the limelight for religious and cultural reasons, and coupled with the fact that her husband led a life free of ostentation, Nigerians do not know much about her.

After Buhari was released from jail, he divorced Safinatu for reportedly receiving financial assistance from IBB while he was in prison. Later in December 1989, he got married to Hajiya Aisha Halilu, a Fulani lady from Adamawa State.
Hajiya Safinatu later died in February 2006 from the complications of diabetes. The Hajiya Safinatu Buhari Foundation (HSB) was created by her late daughter, Zulaiha, in her honour. The foundation caters for destitutes suffering from diabetes (now, that’s a noble idea).

FAMILY AND CHILDREN
General Buhari’s children – Fatima, Hadiza, Zulaiha, Aisha, Safina, Halima, Yusuf and Zarah.

-On Friday, the 30th of November, 2012, the death was announced of Zulaiha, Buhari’s eldest daughter. Described as a most humble and gentle person by her friends, she was born on the 5th of December, 1972 and had her nursery school education in the United States where her parents were based then. Later, she attended the Air Force Primary School (AFPS) in Lagos and then to the prestigious Queens College, Lagos. In 1985, she continued in the second year at the Federal Government College, Kaduna and finished in 1990. For her university education, she attended the Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria where she bagged a degree in economics.

Later, she finished her postgraduate studies in management in the same school and got a diploma. She worked at the Ministry of Solid Minerals and Steel in Kaduna until her demise shortly after delivery. Before her death, she was also the Treasurer of the Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM). An active community worker, she worked without making any noise in other non-governmental organizations in the country despite the fact that she had a long-running battle with sickle cell anaemia. Her sisters fondly called her ‘Yaya Babba’ and she is survived by her husband, Captain Junaid Abdullahi, three kids: Halima, Muhammad Buhari and the baby girl after whose delivery breathed her last at a private clinic in Kaduna.


HIS WORDS

-No nation can survive without a decent judiciary and effective law enforcement agencies. (2nd September, 2011).

-On why he did not promote himself General, retiring with the rank of a Major-General:

“It was the conviction of our regime that, being the Head of State and Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces, does not mean that you are the overall General. My ultimate goal as at then was to ensure integrity, justice, equity, accountability and transparency in the system. That was why I did away with unnecessarily promoting myself to General.” At the launching of two books: “Nigerian Military in Politics: 1966-2011 and Politics of Transition to Civil Rule in Nigeria” in Zaria, Kaduna State, 5th July 2013.

WHAT OTHERS SAY ABOUT HIM
-Truth, like cork, cannot sink. It cannot be sunk. It always floats. Time will vindicate him. -Professor Tam David-West, Buhari’s minister of petroleum and energy.

-Buhari is a very likeable and honest person. You can always know where you stand with him on any issues, he is very straightforward. He is a man who adheres to principle. -General DOMKAT BALI.

JOINING POLITICS
A former military dictator, General Buhari has molded himself into a democrat and remains one of the most dominant figures in Nigerian politics. He has contested for the nation’s highest office three times -1999, 2003 and 2011 but lost even though the facts be stated, these elections were marred by all sorts of irregularities, and sure, that includes all the political parties involved in the race. So maybe, it is a matter of one outrigging the other. But, worefa…lolz! General Buhari is now of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) and from all indications, he will be pitching his tent against the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan come 2015. As for me, I really don’t care who wins (okay, don’t let me lie, I actually do care and I will say let the best and most progressive team win even if I am yet to see one), all I want is for the politicians not to set the entire nation ablaze because one party has decided to fakekori and reject the results. This one that we are hearing all sorts of threats from the north to the south (is it Professor Ango Abdullahi’s own venomous vituperations now or Mujahid Asari-Dokubo’s obese statements?). We don’t want another civil war and it will be in everybody’s interest that these politicians give themselves brain. Ki won fun ra won lopolo gidi. Nigeria is greater than the aspiration of any single man, and that applies to all of them, including the incumbent and all those who will be doing the Presidential Olympic Games with him.


HONOURS, AWARDS AND LEGACIES
In 2003, after the presidential elections were conducted, which Buhari has lost to General Obasanjo, Buhari was awarded the highest national honour, the Grand Commander of the the Federal Republic (GCFR) but he did not show up at the award ceremony and he stated that the Obasanjo government was an illegitimate one and it would be improper for him to accept an award from such a regime.

CFR Commander of the Federal Republic
DSM Defence Service Medal
NSM National Service Medal
GSM General Service Medal
LSGCM Loyal Service and Good Conduct Medal
FSS Force Service Staff
CD The Congo Medal
-Doctor of Laws, (Honoris causa), University of Calabar, Cross River State.
-Doctor of Laws, (Honoris causa) Benue State University
-Doctor of Laws, (Honoris causa) Enugu State University
-Doctor of Letters (Honoris causa) (D.Litt), University of Ilorin
-Doctor of Science (Honoris causa), Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University, Bauchi

BUHARI TODAY & CONCLUSION
Today, the stage is set for a final showdown in 2015 between the old warhorse General Buhari and incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan. Buhari is generally perceived as a honest leader capable of stemming the tide of nonsense in Nigeria but some people are afraid and are not really sure if Nigeria will retain its secularity under a Buhari presidency. Some analysts also feel that his base is mainly in the North and he has to do his homework well in penetrating the south if he is to win. As for the other camp of GEJ, whether the Sun likes, it can rise in the west and set in the east, Jonathan will still win. They count on various factors like his achievements while others harp on his power of incumbency and others. But whatever will happen, I have just one prayer: may the Federal Republic of Nigeria survive 2015 and beyond -onto greater heights.

READ ALL AND SEE MORE PICTURES HERE>>>http://.com/muhammadu-buhari-nigerias-strictest-leader/

BUHARI IS A BLOODY TERRORIST AND HE SHOULD BE TREATED AS SUCH

Strict until he turned around and started supporting terrorists

Anyways...am still indifferent about the personality of this man. But love the way and manner he treated the West(European Countries). His foreign policies were the ones that drew its essence from national interest.

Interesting read.

However, I think he needs to give up on ruling the country again. A country of over 160 million people should have more than enough astute technocrats, who can turn their fortunes around.

Aside that, after taking time out to read about him and his achievements - I have nothing but utmost respect for him as a man, and for what he stands for.

ShyM-X:
Interesting read.

However, I think he needs to give up on ruling the country again. A country of over 160 million people should have more than enough astute technocrats, who can turn their fortunes around.

Aside that, after taking time out to read about him and his achievements - I have nothing but utmost respect for him as a man, and for what he stands for.

Age is not on his side. But it's not a bad idea if he's prepared to do the Mandela option.

BUHARI, THE GENERALS' GENERAL!

DUFF MY HAT FOR YOU SIR!!

SAI BUHARI 2015!

Abiyamọ: (

THE COUP & BECOMING HEAD OF STATE
Buhari is a seasoned coup plotter. He was involved in some of the most crucial coups in Nigeria (with Abacha, IBB, Jeremiah Useni, Shehu Musa Yar'adua, Ibrahim Bako, Joshua Dogonyaro and Aliyu Mohammed, they all plotted the downfall of Shagari)

I have a serious problem with the highlighted line, mainly because you provided no evidence to support this.

For anyone who has taken time to understand or appreciate military matters, plotting a coup and being involved in a coup are two entirely different things. In fact they can be mutualy exclusive in both ways. Take for example a simple foot soldier who is ordered by his superior officer to guard a location (which could be a politician's residence) and not let anyone in or out (which funnily was exactly how my admired hero Major CK Nzeogwu got Northern soldiers to kill and arrest popular Northern personalities). If you know anything about the military that soldier will not question his superior officer and do as he is told. Whether he likes it or not he has been involved in a coup which he did not plan nor plot.

Same can factually be said for so many leaders in our history, Ironsi did not plot his coup but was ultimately involved in it. Overwhelming evidence shows the same Great Zik of Africa was involved in the plotting of that same coup but was not involved in the execution. If I am right few historians have found any evidence to prove Buhari plotted his coup but I have heard some rumblings that he might have been one of those who plotted Murtala's coup.

Anyway I look forward to your rebuttal. Another great thread

Thank you very much for pointing that out. I didn't define it well. Making correction right away! Thanks once again

samstradam:

I have a serious problem with the highlighted line, mainly because you provided no evidence to support this.

For anyone who has taken time to understand or appreciate military matters, plotting a coup and being involved in a coup are two entirely different things. In fact they can be mutualy exclusive in both ways. Take for example a simple foot soldier who is ordered by his superior officer to guard a location (which could be a politician's residence) and not let anyone in or out (which funnily was exactly how my admired hero Major CK Nzeogwu got Northern soldiers to kill and arrest popular Northern personalities). If you know anything about the military that soldier will not question his superior officer and do as he is told. Whether he likes it or not he has been involved in a coup which he did not plan nor plot.

Same can factually be said for so many leaders in our history, Ironsi did not plot his coup but was ultimately involved in it. Overwhelming evidence shows the same Great Zik of Africa was involved in the plotting of that same coup but was not involved in the execution. If I am right few historians have found any evidence to prove Buhari plotted his coup but I have heard some rumblings that he might have been one of those who plotted Murtala's coup.

Anyway I look forward to your rebuttal. Another great thread

May God bless Nigeria!

May God bless General Buhari!

The present day elites of Nigeria knowing well that Nigerian youths don't read history n were definitely not aware of our past as to who did what,have carefully n consistently orchestrated a well oiled campaign of calumny against d personality of GMB in order to obliterate any trace of his integrity but they have consistently failed in d face of threads like dis which d OP has done justice to

I likened d travails of General Buhari to d issue of our Lord Jesus christ whom d Isrealites stil never considers as d Messiah thinking dat there is yet another one coming!

Until dis man does drop dead,I wil continue to adore u n support yr aspiration 4a better Nigeria. D latter days Nigerian youths didn't kno wat travail n persecution buffeted Nelson Mandela wen he was agitating 4a free Black South Africa,as he was called a Dangerous fellow/Terrorist even by d Former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher owing 2d sustained attack on him by d white racists

Those who refer 2 Gen Buhari as a Terrorist,Boko Haram Sponsor,Extremist,Stubborn,Loathsome n all dat yet will not as much as arrest nor sue him to be liquidated once n 4 all but are just very okay with a newspaper n internet trial n mockery of him wil burn in d hottest part of Hell fire in due course

I like GenBuhari but I don't want him as PRESIDENT


I'm tired of old goon but freshmen !!!!

Which is why I keep telling you to contest, Da Don, you've got my vote!

donroxy: I like GenBuhari but I don't want him as PRESIDENT


I'm tired of old goon but freshmen !!!!

donroxy: I like GenBuhari but I don't want him as PRESIDENT


I'm tired of old goon but freshmen !!!!

A strict and incorruptible old goon is better than an incompetent and clueless freshman. I hope you are enjoying the fresh air our freshman is giving us.

@op,thanks for the write.u have a good blog aswell.but I must say that buhari has never ever been a good man.that's certain and no preaching will change that.no one is yet to accuse wole soyinka of lying about the issues he raised about ur "strictest ruler".

@Ms(or Mrs) , please I'd want you to hastily make the clarification in the comment the other man made which you've acknowledged cos it's both contrary and contradictory as well critical.
@Topic, I've listened to great debates about the person and persona of GMB. I think those who support him are being rather too fanatical about the man, and those who loathe him are being mischieviously scandalous knowing that their allegations are only but desperation to conquer their fear.
But however, the man's two greatest discredits are his part and patrimony in the Shagari coup, and his recent ill-informed and ill-timed, unsensible and insensitive stance on the Boko Haram issue. For me as a person, what turns me off most is that in 2007 when he lost an election against his kinsman, Yar'adua in an election the whole world even the beneficiary said it was corrupt, he (GMB) took to court. I watched the live ruling on that case. The evidence presented were stupifying and mortifying but he accepted it in good faith (no pyrotechnique/banger knockouts sounded). But just when he lost against another man from the 'enemies' region' in another election that was adjudged fair and free (to a large extent) his supporters took to destruction of lives and property shouting 'Sai Buhari'--that which we still suffer uptill now as a nation.
He might not have ordered that but his statements made him complicit. He definitely has a lot of image redeeming to do here. He might be a good man, but he needs to make the man in him good.

Abiyamọ: Which is why I keep telling you to contest, Da Don, you've got my vote!

, ahahaha !!!

(I believe) We shall get there and I really believed We Gat 's Back !!!


WatchOut !!!!

hmmmn, if I talk now I go offend '', ***tomakint heaves a sigh of relief as he stayed at the sidelines reading funny comments***

berem: A strict and incorruptible old goon is better than an incompetent and clueless freshman. I hope you are enjoying the fresh air our freshman is giving us.

I wonder what your definition of strict and incorruptible is when you associate General Buhari with such CHARACTER qualities. Have you considered that:

* He allowed his ADC bring in 53 suitcases of money when all airports were closed during the changing of naira notes?
* He allowed his Deputy, Tunde Idiagbon travel to Mecca with his children despite a law against such practice?
* He locked up Fela Anikulapo Kuti for trumped up forex charges because his brother, Beko Kuti was a pain in the a'ss for Buhari's DICTATORIAL regime?
* He executed three young Nigerians on RETROACTIVE laws, which normally he Buhari should be charged for judicial murder?
* He jailed all the southern progressive governors and the VP, Dr. Alex Ekwueme while keeping his brother President Shehu Shagari in cosy house arrest in Ikoyi?
* He built a federal government guest house in his village, Daura as Head of State.

Corruption in not simply about stealing money, of which General Buhari stole his fair share despite pretending otherwise, but also about RESPECTING the rule of law at ALL times!!!

berem: A strict and incorruptible old goon is better than an incompetent and clueless freshman. I hope you are enjoying the fresh air our freshman is giving us.

Beremole,

A Nation is not administered by mere being ''strict'' and incorruptible ; they are just part of the xtics a Good leader should posses!!!


A sound leader must posses beyond strictness and incorruptible ; ability to make informed decisions as at when DUE economically and politically in relation to Global trends is also of utmost importance ; A Leader with sound democratic culture,value and norms NOT someone with ''Organic Military Mentality'' !!!


Such Responsibility is beyond GenBuhari in relation to his age and record as a dictator!!!


I still believe in a man who is not part of those 60s-90s abi is Nigerian President exclusive to These Retired Generals with Military BackGround and Mentality only deceiving us by ''Agbada'' !!!


All of them should Go and queue Up and learn how to take orders from bloody civilians and also,form the BackBone for Upliftment of Democracy.


Am not saying A retired Soldier should not become president but One who was tutored in the democratic dispensations/Regime NOT one with ONLY military regime sense/mentality!!!



As much as I love GenBuHari,I would like to be sincere with myself and Nigeria(as a nation), recycling the leaders of 70s and Early 90s won't translate into our anticipated development


As for FreshAir, Sister,No be small thing ooo, but the breeze still dey blow sha and till 2015 and I hope we gonna have True democrats/progressives enthroned !!!


In my own dictionary ''Strictness'' =Firmness any thing beyond such is negativity against GenBuhari !!!

ShyM-X:
Interesting read.

However, I think he needs to give up on ruling the country again. A country of over 160 million people should have more than enough astute technocrats, who can turn their fortunes around.

Aside that, after taking time out to read about him and his achievements - I have nothing but utmost respect for him as a man, and for what he stands for.

I am convinced that if Buhari's regime had lasted any more than the 2 years it did, Nigerians would have experienced a tyranny far worse than that of Abacha's. It should come as no surprise that he does not even acknowledge the excesses nor the wanton corruption which characterised the later regime.

It is one thing to clamour for a leader who can tame the scourge of corruption but quite another to knowingly embrace someone whose irredentism bubbles to the surface every so often.

Lest I be misunderstood, I accept that Buhari does posses some positive qualities which set him apart from most of his contemporaries. While I have nothing against him contributing his quota to nation building in some other capacity, it is my considered view that there has not been enough contrition or atonement to merit another shot at the Presidency.

The grounds on which General Buhari is being promoted as the alternative choice are not only shaky, but pitifully naive. History matters. Records are not kept simply to assist the weakness of memory, but to operate as guides to the future. Of course, we know that human beings change. What the claims of personality change or transformation impose on us is a rigorous inspection of the evidence, not wishful speculation or behind-the-scenes assurances. Public offence, crimes against a polity, must be answered in the public space, not in caucuses of bargaining. In Buhari, we have been offered no evidence of the sheerest prospect of change. On the contrary, all evident suggests that this is one individual who remains convinced that this is one ex-ruler that the nation cannot call to order.

Soyinka's reminder about the importance of history in 2007

God bless GMB, i really wish he becomes president and set this country back on course to greatness, clean up the mess and set ball rolling for younger ones.

Let's tell ourselves the truth a young and naive guy can't turn around this nation just yet, we need someone that can handle the monsters holding us to ransom.

I hope we do the right thing before its too late.

God bless Nigeria.

donroxy: Beremole,

A Nation is not administered by mere being ''strict'' and incorruptible ; they are just part of the xtics a Good leader should posses!!!


A sound leader must posses beyond strictness and incorruptible ; ability to make informed decisions as at when DUE economically and politically in relation to Global trends is also of utmost importance ; A Leader with sound democratic culture,value and norms NOT someone with ''Organic Military Mentality'' !!!


Such Responsibility is beyond GenBuhari in relation to his age and record as a dictator!!!


I still believe in a man who is not part of those 60s-90s abi is Nigerian President exclusive to These Retired Generals with Military BackGround and Mentality only deceiving us by ''Agbada'' !!!


All of them should Go and queue Up and learn how to take orders from bloody civilians and also,form the BackBone for Upliftment of Democracy.


Am not saying A retired Soldier should not become president but One who was tutored in the democratic dispensations/Regime NOT one with ONLY military regime sense/mentality!!!



As much as I love GenBuHari,I would like to be sincere with myself and Nigeria(as a nation), recycling the leaders of 70s and Early 90s won't translate into our anticipated development


As for FreshAir, Sister,No be small thing ooo, but the breeze still dey blow sha and till 2015 and I hope we gonna have True democrats/progressives enthroned !!!


In my own dictionary ''Strictness'' =Firmness any thing beyond such is negativity against GenBuhari !!!

If you are talking about right judgement then buhari has it, inflation rate was lowered by more than 18 points, from 23.2% in
1983 to 5.5% in 1985!

Obiagelli:
If you are talking about right judgement then buhari has it, inflation rate was lowered by more than 18 points, from 23.2% in
1983 to 5.5% in 1985!

Like most Buharites on these boards, you are not even advancing arguments that can be sustained.
Never mind the fact that we now operate a different style of government or that we have done away with the command-driven economy of the military era; as far as you are concerned, all it takes to fix Nigeria's problems is the election of this one individual.

In some climes, your refusal to critically appraise Buhari's reign would mark you out as a member of his personality cult. Just saying...

The oil glut from 1981, that resulted into balance of payment deficits also led to foreign exchange crises that necessitated various measures of import restrictions. These restrictions reduced raw materials for domestic production and spare parts for machinery operation. The resultant shortage of goods and services for local consumption spurred the inflation rate to rise from 20% in 1981 to 39.1% in 1984 (Itua, 2000). With the adoption of the Structural Adjustment Programme (SAP) in 1986, there was a temporal reduction in fiscal deficits as government removed subsidies and reduced her involvement in the economy.

Source: Determinants of Inflation in Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis

eGuerrilla:

Like most Buharites on these boards, you are not even advancing arguments that can be sustained.
Never mind the fact that we now operate a different style of government or that we have done away with the command-driven economy of the military era; as far as you are concerned, all it takes to fix Nigeria's problems is the election of this one individual.

In some climes, your refusal to critically appraise Buhari's reign would mark you out as a member of his personality cult. Just saying...



Source: Determinants of Inflation in Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis

Table 1: Inflation episodes in Nigeria
Period Average
1960–1972 5.01
1973–1985 17.96
1986–1995 31.30
1986–2002 13.34

www.studymode.com/mobile/essays/Modelling-The-Inflation-Process-In-Nigeria-331616.html

eGuerrilla:

Like most Buharites on these boards, you are not even advancing arguments that can be sustained.
Never mind the fact that we now operate a different style of government or that we have done away with the command-driven economy of the military era; as far as you are concerned, all it takes to fix Nigeria's problems is the election of this one individual.

In some climes, your refusal to critically appraise Buhari's reign would mark you out as a member of his personality cult. Just saying...



Source: Determinants of Inflation in Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis

Table 1: Inflation episodes in Nigeria
Period Average
1960–1972 5.01
1973–1985 17.96
1986–1995 31.30
1986–2002 13.34

www.studymode.com/mobile/essays/Modelling-The-Inflation-Process-In-Nigeria-331616.html

Rapid inflation, 20 percent yearly between 1973 and
1980 and more than 20 percent per year between 1980
and 1984 (as measured by the consumer price index),
dropped to 5.5 percent in 1985, 5.4 percent in 1986
(years of good harvests), and 10.2 percent in 1987,


www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/nigeria/ECONOMY.html

Obiagelli:

Table 1: Inflation episodes in Nigeria
Period Average
1960–1972 5.01
1973–1985 17.96
1986–1995 31.30
1986–2002 13.34

www.studymode.com/mobile/essays/Modelling-The-Inflation-Process-In-Nigeria-331616.html

I don't want to take a piece-meal approach to this discussion, by negating the historical context of his earlier reign.
This would be unfair and uncharitable. It is therefore in this spirit of magnanimity that I would ignore your studymode reference which, at face value, belies your previous comment.

eGuerrilla:

I don't want to take a piece-meal approach to this discussion, by negating the historical context of his earlier reign.
This would be unfair and uncharitable. It is therefore in this spirit of magnanimity that I would ignore your studymode reference which, at face value, belies your previous comment.

I respect your decision, I am only stating my own facts with links for confirmation, you can also visit any national or federal university libraries for more articles and books on Buhari's reign

Rapid inflation, 20 percent yearly between 1973 and
1980 and more than 20 percent per year between 1980
and 1984 (as measured by the consumer price index),
dropped to 5.5 percent in 1985, 5.4 percent in 1986
(years of good harvests), and 10.2 percent in 1987,
www.mongabay.com/reference/country_studies/nigeria/
ECONOMY.html

As I stated earlier, I would rather not get into a circuitous argument about a singular issue which require requires me to take snapshots in time (T). GEJites do exactly the same on these boards when they tout variable indices likely to change from one financial quarter to another as a sign of growth, and in a manner devoid of any regard for underlying trends.

Although I can easily debunk those figures using more authoritative sources, other than the satisfaction to be derived from indulging in an academic exercise, I see little point in doing so.

I understand your commitment to Buhari and wish you the best of luck in your quest, so long as your revisionism is keep to a bare minimum.

Haahahaha....lol! I never said he was a good man or a bad person na. I just wrote, reflecting both sides. The decision is left to the reader. Well, Professor Soyinka has actually been challenged especially over the execution of convicts. That aside jare, I thank you very much for your time and kind words

Itoroetti :
@op,thanks for the write.u have a good blog aswell.but I must say that buhari has never ever been a good man.that's certain and no preaching will change that.no one is yet to accuse wole soyinka of lying about the issues he raised about ur "strictest ruler".

eGuerrilla: As I stated earlier, I would rather not get into a circuitous argument about a singular issue which require requires me to take snapshots in time (T). GEJites do exactly the same on these boards when they tout variable indices likely to change from one financial quarter to another as a sign of growth, and in a manner devoid of any regard for underlying trends.

Although I can easily debunk those figures using more authoritative sources, other than the satisfaction to be derived from indulging in an academic exercise, I see little point in doing so.

I understand your commitment to Buhari and wish you the best of luck in your quest, so long as your revisionism is keep to a bare minimum.

I take very strong exception to the use of the word revisionism, i only stated my views on the man, do not paint a picture of Marxism here. Please be informed