How my father’s jailer can offer Nigeria a fresh start by Lola Shoneyin

Possibly the worst year of my life was 1984. I was 10 years old and blissfully unaware of the changing face of Nigeria’s political landscape. And a rather unyielding face it was – that of Muhammadu Buhari who had recently overthrown Shehu Shagari, a democratically elected president. For Buhari, this was a necessary coup d’etat because Nigeria was being overrun by corrupt politicians. However, his regime would have a devastating impact on my family’s fortunes.


For the first time, at the close of the school term in Edinburgh, my father wasn’t there to pick us up. My older brother, aged 15, took charge and we made our way to Heathrow. Touching down in Nigeria, it was my mother who met us at the airport. She didn’t smile, perhaps couldn’t; her mouth was turned down at the corners like she was being flattened by existence. Something was wrong, clearly. I waited until we were settled in the car and piped up: “Where’s Daddy?” Without turning to glance at me, my mother answered: “He’s in jail.” She always had an aversion to bullshit but even, for her, that was pretty cold. For the rest of the journey, I thought about my Daddy who returned the cash to the phone company when our account was credited with thousands of naira; Daddy who, born into abject poverty, personified what it meant to work really hard and make your own dreams come true, in a hopefully new meritocratic Nigeria.

On getting home, one of my older brothers explained that Buhari’s deputy, the uncompromising, much-feared Colonel Tunde Idiagbon, had commanded that all government contractors in Ogun state had received a notice to appear before a special committee. My dad honoured the invitation and presented all the papers to show that it was in fact the government that owed his company money. He was given two options: to pay a large amount (that no one quite understood how they arrived at) or go to jail. On principle, my dad said he wasn’t going to pay money that he didn’t owe. He was not alone. I have a group of friends with whom I am forever bound by this shared ordeal of seeing our fathers treated like criminals. And as it was for many, this period signified the beginning of financial ruin.


My father spent six months in jail and came out a different man. For one, he started clapping at our solemn family devotion in the mornings, something we never did. He explained that that was what they did in prison. He was never a big talker but seeing him work at adjusting to normal life was painful for everyone around him.

Before his release, the two giant crushers and all the machinery and equipment that belonged to his civil engineering firm were liquidated. As children, our lives changed too. We were placed in state schools and said goodbye to our privileged lifestyles.

My dad is 87 now and he’s an active member of the local advisory board of the All Progressive party, the opposition party that has recently adopted Buhari as the presidential flag-bearer, 30 years after his first outing as a military head of state. Like many Nigerians, my father was saddened when he heard President Goodluck Jonathan claim that “stealing is not corruption”. With 24% unemployment, there are limited opportunities for young people, making them easy fodder for militants in the southernmost parts of the country and dreaded religious fundamentalists in the north. People clamour for leadership.

For the last three weeks, I have been travelling with the presidential campaign team and I have had the opportunity to listen to people and interview them. I have also had a personal need to understand this man Buhari who has run for the highest office a record three times. At the beginning, I admit I had doubts and misgivings. It’s hard not to when you’ve been stung before. But after several conversations with him, I have come to understand what the mass hysteria is all about and why Nigerians would vote for this soft-spoken but highly principled 72-year-old.

It’s quite simple and, having worked as a schoolteacher for years, I can use a school setting in my analogy. Kids like a teacher to whom they can give the runaround but when it’s crunch time, they favour an environment where the teacher is firm, one where clear boundaries have been set. Having a president who is widely described as “clueless” may have seemed to many like an opportunity, but the goodwill that Jonathan enjoyed in 2011 has been frittered away. These days, governors in the opposition parties are starved of funds and harassed when they don’t do the bidding of a first lady who campaigns for her personal candidates. Many Nigerians believe that it is time to return to one of the few faces of anti-corruption in Nigeria’s political history. Even my wrongly-imprisoned Dad would recognise that Buhari’s ambition was to stem corruption.

Unlike many Nigerian past presidents, Major-General Buhari does not have a huge mansion. You won’t hear about him owning a bank or sitting on the board of banks. Neither does he own expansive farmland. In fact, he wrote to the minister of finance requesting that he only receive 10% of the allowance that all past presidents receive on a monthly basis. Overwhelmingly, his lack of greed and personal venality means people trust him. Within a democratic dispensation, whatever excesses Buhari’s singlemindedness at tackling corruption might have shown 30 years ago can and will be curbed.

He has surrounded himself with a brilliant, savvy team of young Nigerians and I much enjoy the passion with which he talks about his three main priorities: unemployment, insecurity and education. For some Nigerians, he might not be an ideal candidate but for many more, people want anything but Jonathan. And even better it’s someone that they feel they can believe in.

Lola Shoneyin is a Nigerian novelist and poet


http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2015/jan/31/nigeria-elections-president-muhammadu-buhari-lola-shoneyin?CMP=share_btn_tw

Well said. "Anything but Jonathan..."

I think one of the greatest mistake made by PDP is fielding GEJ as their flag-bearer. They could have atleast field somebody else from the Niger Delta (since it's a big factor) who is percieved to be more competent either in Govt or private sector.

The "CHANGE" APC is preaching today is as a result of the huge failure by GEJ's administration. Had he been more responsive, responsible, prudent and truthful (to an extent) in governing this country, APC would not have enjoyed the much popularity we are witnessing today as their may not be need for "CHANGE".

He had enjoyed 6 solid years of our trust, believe and hope, anxiously waiting for him to come out of his shell and do the needful as the C in C. By my calculation, 6+2 equals 8. 2years more it will be said that GEJ has spent 2complete terms in office and 4more years he would have spent 2terms and 2years.

This is not about APC or PDP, it is about competence and trust (I am one of those that belive JIMI AGBAJE is a better candidate for Lagos). It is about GEJ (tested and incompetent) and GMB (tested,trusted and willing to work with competent hands).

Some say he is a man of 72years Old, some say he is weak, frail and old. Some say he has a bad dialet, some say he is not as educated as GEJ. Some say he is too tall, some say he is too thin.

I say Nigerians want anything but GEJ

Bad news for the Jonathanians and the SamBarbarians...

SeverusSnape:

*In Stereoman's voice*
E dey pain you oo.. Gan Gan.

God bless you lola. She is doing a fantastic job on the buhari campaign trail, i wish i had her strength.

GARRIx7:


*In Stereoman's voice*
E dey pain you oo.. Gan Gan.

Hehehehehehe... e dey sweet me o
Gan ga...
Space booking on point.

Buhari is just another specially created human being. You can't just but be fascinated by his gentility and simple nature.

A whole former Minister of Petroleum for 3 years and Head of State for 20months without a single oil bloc to his name and babangida's wife fashion designer is today the richest black woman in the world courtesy of the donation of an oil bloc by a "caring and kind " president who pushed buhari aside for hating prosperity and not allowing the boys steal.

God will bless ans reward you here and in the hereafter GMB.

The family of late Group Captain Usman Jibrin has
declared
as untrue the statement in an anti-General Muhammadu
Buhari documentary currently running on national TV
stations , which claimed that the late captain had
described
Muhammadu Buhari as corrupt.
A statement signed by Alhaji Imran Jibrin, Alhaji Marwan
Jibrin and Simwal Jibrin for the Jibrin family said “We
want
to unequivocally state that it is 100% untrue, misleading
and
totally unfair to the memory of our father.”
The release read in part: “The attention of the Late Group
Captain Usman Jibrin family has been drawn to a
mischievous advertorial running on some national
dailies,notably Punch Newspapers,and some TV stations
like AIT, quoting our late father as calling General
Muhammadu Buhari as corrupt.
“Our late father lived a simple, non partisan and scandal
free
life, he was a statesman and nationalist.
“He was a father to all and maintained a cordial
relationship
with General Muhammadu Buhari from when they were
young officers until his death a few years ago.”
The family said it served the disclaimer “as a cease and
desist notice to all the desperate people trying to drag his
name into politics.
“If this lie continues, we will be left with no option but to
instruct our lawyers to institute a legal action against any
newspaper or TV station using our Father's name to
promote their devilish agenda.
https://www.dailytrust.com.ng/daily/top-stories/45445-
late-usman-jibrin-family-disowns-anti-buhari-
documentary

This surely is a front page material

Seun Obnoscoly Mynd44 and others pls do justice

Nice write up...... But one thing I don't agree with is convicting your father without guilt. We 've known Nigerian contractors for one thing from eternity; collaborating with politician in increasing cost of project, just like 30,000 capacity Akwa Ibom stadium was built with 96 million dollars. Your Dad must have been involved in this. Don't tell me your Dad is a sain't. Daughters of Alameighsia, Ibori, Lawan, Okonjo, Oduah, GEJ, Madueke, Babangida, Abacha, etc will say the same thing

He Killed my Pa, he killed my ma

but i will still vote for him.

- Charles Taylor's campaign slogan

I fear for this country.

GBTYO:
He Killed my Pa, he killed my ma

but i will still vote for him.

- Charles Taylor's campaign slogan

We are very much aware of these their cheap propaganda to sell a bad market to Nigerians......every other Nigerian can buy their lies but we here in the Niger Delta will never buy that fraud of a lie.This is our last bus stop and it is decision time.

Truckpusher:
We are very much aware of these their cheap propaganda to sell a bad market to Nigerians......every other Nigerian can buy their lies but we here in the Niger Delta will never buy that fraud of a lie.This is our last bus stop and it is decision time.

Funny thing is that this is not just mere propaganda but fanatical support.

So called educated people will foregoe all reasonable judgement and not see this man as a fraud.

This is madness.

Nobody said they should vote Goodluck but this Buhari nonsense is mind boggling and it is all anchored on unreasonable hatred for Goodluck and the Niger Delta people.

This is looking with each passing day like 1933 Germany.

GBTYO:


Funny thing is that this is not just mere propaganda but fanatical support.

So called educated people will foregoe all reasonable judgement and not see this man as a fraud.

This is madness.

Nobody said they should vote Goodluck but this Buhari nonsense is mind boggling and it is all anchored on unreasonable hatred for Goodluck and the Niger Delta people.

This is looking with each passing day like 1933 Germany.

Their animosity for the Niger Delta people was never a hidden thing but whatever they are cooking it is in their own best interest to behave as they would come out as the greatest loser of all time .

General buhari wrote to the minister of finance requesting that he only receive 10% of the allowance that all past presidents receive on a monthly basis.

Now compare that selflessness to that of a president who, in the face of austerity measures in the country wants another presidential jet when more than 60% in his country live below the poverty line. A president that unrepetantly steals and sells more than 400,000 barrels of oil everyday, refuses to declare his assets despite the constitution explicitly stating that he does. etc.

I'v always said that the supporters of GEJ's re-election are majorly unbelievers, enemies and haters of the idea of a better Nigeria. The few minorities are the uninformed/misinformed lot and it is the responsibility of well-meaning citizens to try and educate this ones (as many as possible) about the dangers of another four years of misrule.

A better Nigeria is achievable, Stable electricity is possible, Corruption is not unstoppable and a terror-free country is very attainable.

Vote wisely. Save Nigeria.

Truckpusher:
Their animosity for the Niger Delta people was never a hidden thing but whatever they are cooking it is in their own best interest to behave as they would come out as the greatest loser of all time .

Their greedy lust for Niger Delta oil is what this nonsense is all about.

austinvsb1:
You just can't hate the general

Pleb

I dont understand this article at all

Exactly! A veteran surrounded by young intelligent administrators who are more than capable to drive this nation to it rightful place.
God bless Tinubu!
God bless Fashola!
God bless Prof Osibanjo!
God bless Buhari!
God bless APC
#changeWeWant
#NoRegret

dayo23:
Exactly! A veteran surrounded by young intelligent administrators who are more than capable to drive

And what experience did this your Obama bring into the office of the presidency?

This is a man of zero achievements who veered from his humble legal career to become a career politician

The only reason you would forgive and pretend you love BUHARI is if your father actually stole. And, I believe he did.

I rather be led by a firm, sincere and someone trust-worthy THAN a very dubious criminal who is also clueless and weak.

Nigeria needs Buhari to restore our nation from damination. Sai Buhari 2015.

GBTYO:


And what experience did this your Obama bring into the office of the presidency?

This is a man of zero achievements who veered from his humble legal career to become a career politician

stop ranting bro, go and read about the history of America, you will thank me later! Cheers

FEBUHARI 14 history will be made where the first incumbent President will be oust through ballot in Nigeria, TANoids have run out of propagandas & no hiding place for Mr stealing is not corruption.