The least awful
A former dictator is a better choice than a failed president

SOMETIMES there are no good options. Nigeria goes to the polls on February 14th to elect the next president, who will face problems so large—from rampant corruption to a jihadist insurgency—that they could break the country apart, with dire consequences for Nigerians and the world.

And yet, as Africa’s biggest economy stages its most important election since the restoration of civilian rule in 1999, and perhaps since the civil war four decades ago, Nigerians must pick between the incumbent, Goodluck Jonathan, who has proved an utter failure, and the opposition leader, Muhammadu Buhari, a former military dictator with blood on his hands (see article). The candidates stand as symbols of a broken political system that makes all Nigeria’s problems even more intractable.

Start with Mr Jonathan, whose People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has run the country since 1999 and who stumbled into the presidency on the death of his predecessor in 2010. The PDP’s reign has been a sorry one. Mr Jonathan has shown little willingness to tackle endemic corruption. When the governor of the central bank reported that $20 billion had been stolen, his reward was to be sacked.

Worse, on Mr Jonathan’s watch much of the north of the country has been in flames. About 18,000 people have died in political violence in recent years, thousands of them in January in several brutal attacks by Boko Haram, a jihadist group that claims to have established its “caliphate” in territory as large as Belgium. Another 1.5m people have fled their homes. The insurgency is far from Mr Jonathan’s southern political heartland and afflicts people more likely to vote for the opposition. He has shown little enthusiasm for tackling it, and even less competence. Quick to offer condolences to France after the attack on Charlie Hedbo, Mr Jonathan waited almost two weeks before speaking up about a Boko Haram attack that killed hundreds, perhaps thousands, of his compatriots.

The single bright spot of his rule has been Nigeria’s economy, one of the world’s fastest-growing. Yet that is largely despite the government rather than because of it, and falling oil prices will temper the boom. The prosperity has not been broadly shared: under Mr Jonathan poverty has increased. Nigerians typically die eight years younger than their poorer neighbours in nearby Ghana.

Goodbye Jonathan
Voters have ample cause to send Mr Jonathan packing. In a country where power has often changed through the barrel of a gun, the opposition All Progressives Congress has a real chance of winning through the ballot box. Yet its candidate, Mr Buhari, is an ex-general who, three decades ago, came to power in a coup. His rule was nasty, brutish and mercifully short. Declaring a “war against indiscipline”, he ordered whip-wielding soldiers to ensure that Nigerians formed orderly queues. His economics, known as Buharism, was destructive. Instead of letting the currency depreciate in the face of a trade deficit, he tried to fix prices and ban “unnecessary” imports. He expelled 700,000 migrants in the delusion that this would create jobs for Nigerians. He banned political meetings and free speech. He detained thousands, used secret tribunals and executed people for crimes that were not capital offences.

Should a former dictator with such a record be offered another chance? Surprisingly, many Nigerians think he should. One reason is that, in a country where ministers routinely wear wristwatches worth many times their annual salary, Mr Buhari is a sandal-wearing ascetic with a record of fighting corruption. Few nowadays question his commitment to democracy or expect him to turn autocratic: he has repeatedly stood for election and accepted the outcome when he lost. He would probably do a better job of running the country, and in particular of tackling Boko Haram. As a northerner and Muslim, he will have greater legitimacy among villagers whose help he will need to isolate the insurgents. As a military man, he is more likely to win the respect of a demoralised army.

We are relieved not to have a vote in this election. But were we offered one we would—with a heavy heart—choose Mr Buhari. Mr Jonathan risks presiding over Nigeria’s bloody fragmentation. If Mr Buhari can save Nigeria, history might even be kind to him.

http://www.economist.com/news/leaders/21642168-former-dictator-better-choice-failed-president-least-awful

Wow...what a write up

kallmemrB:
Wow...what a write up

Balanced piece

Goodbye d clueless zoologist, it is finish.buhari till .......

front page............

The whole world is tired of Mr. Clueless' Cluelessness.

Buhari's regime wasn't perfect but was far more effective. Whatever mistakes he made was out of being over ambitious to rescue Nigeria and not for any personal gains.

As a democratic president, he cannot be as brutish as a military head of state with all the checks and balances in place. And once corruption is cut to the barest level we will soon begin to see progress in every aspect of our economy.

Let them stop deceiving themselves, Buhari wasn't just a dictator, he was also a failed head of state.
What problem can Buhari beat his chest and say he solved in his tenure?
Their criticism of Mr. President is heavily centered around boko haram, how is Buhari (who insisted that Boko haram members should be pampered like ND militants and that killing them is anti-north) supposed to be the solution?

tbaba1234:


Balanced piece

Tbaba! Who did you sold your impartiality mind to?

Balanced piece ko, balanced pieces ni.




MeanWhile


www.buhariproduceyourcertificate.com

Collynzo9:
Let them stop deceiving themselves, Buhari wasn't just a dictator, he was also a failed head of state.

Yes,we have heard.
Now,what say you about this piece from the economist?.Were they bribed to write this too?.

Great piece by the Economist, very unbiased and balanced views. Majority of Nigerians also express the same sentiment.

A very poor written biased piece . . . . .A quick glance reveals obvious flaws from the author . . . .

Meanwhile, i saw something interesting . . . . .

HNosegbe:
But why should I vote for a president who has given up territory the size of Belgium to Boko Haram?

https://www.nairaland.com/2121275/discussion-between-pdp-apc-supporter#30273318

a jihadist group that claims to have established its “caliphate” in territory as large as Belgium

modhream:

Yes,we have heard.
Now,what say you about this piece from the economist?.Were they bribed to write this too?.

The GEJites will say The Economist is an arm of APC.

modhream:

Yes,we have heard.
Now,what say you about this piece from the economist?.Were they bribed to write this too?.

What is special about the piece? It is still the usual rant about boko haram. Buhari who was unhappy when the Nigerian army was dealing with them brutally is now the one promising to fight them.
Very ironic.

...

jmaine:
A very poor written biased piece . . . . .A quick glance reveals obvious flaws from the author . . . .

Meanwhile, i saw something interesting . . .

Yes, I agree with you. It was too critical on GMB why just giving GEJ'S failure an ordinary stern look.

From available records, GMB's economic records were not as bad as they painted it. The report is obviously very biased and flawed.

Collynzo9:
Let them stop deceiving themselves, Buhari wasn't just a dictator, he was also a failed head of state.
What problem van Buhari beat his chest and say he solved in his tenure?
Their criticism of Mr. President is heavily centered around boko haram, how is Buhari (who insisted that Boko haram members should be pampered like ND militants and that killing them is anti-north) supposed to be the solution?

COUNTDOWN to Failbuhary 2015...

agabusta:


Yes, I agree with you. It was too critical on GMB why just giving GEJ'S failure an ordinary stern look.

We are obviously wearing different lenses here . . . . .

The economist, hahahhaha, they have a way of always supporting losers in elections. At least they acknowledge Nigeria's economy growth.

A pillow is better than GEJ

A university drop out is even Berra Dan him..

Men

We are relieved not to have a vote in this election. But were we offered one we would—with a heavy heart—choose Mr Buhari. Mr Jonathan risks presiding over Nigeria’s bloody fragmentation. If Mr Buhari can save Nigeria, history might even be kind to him....- The Economist 05/02/2015

This is a major blow and an indictment on Jonathan and his government.

If a reputable, internationally recognized outfit like the Economist can decide to endorse Buhari over Jonathan, then GEJ is in trouble

Sai Buhari

what is this one saying

Says who?

They just echoed my point. I should get paid. No wait...that would make me PDP.

Abi? For most people it is not about voting in Buhari, it is about voting out GEJ. It is about the realization that Nigeria simply can not afford another four years of GEJ.

the economist nails what i have been singing for aeons.

goodbye jonathan!
may the gods of otuoke be with you as you paddle your canoe back to your hamlet