Welcome, Guest: Register On Nairaland / LOGIN! / Trending / Recent / New
Stats: 3,150,768 members, 7,809,958 topics. Date: Friday, 26 April 2024 at 05:49 PM

Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 - Politics (11) - Nairaland

Nairaland Forum / Nairaland / General / Politics / Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 (121304 Views)

Buhari, Nigeria's President-Elect's Convoy (Photo) / Jonathan Lied: Arms Export To Nigeria From 1983-1985 Facts And Figures / Graduate Employment Data 1983 - 1985 Under Buhari (pic) (2) (3) (4)

(1) (2) (3) ... (8) (9) (10) (11) (Reply) (Go Down)

Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by enny5: 1:30am On Sep 04, 2013
what is this now? Buhari's campaign? please go and make fliers and posters.
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 3:05am On Sep 04, 2013
smiley
enny5: what is this now? Buhari's campaign? please go and make fliers and posters.
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 6:50pm On Sep 11, 2013
GenBuhari: smiley
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by ssii: 9:35pm On Sep 11, 2013
We need change desperately in this country.
How long are we going to continue complaining about bad leadership, corruption and lack of basic amenities.
Obj made efforts but the strong hold of corruption made a mess of his efforts . This present govt is neck deep in corruption, it has no moral standing to fight it. There has been so much wastage and looting of our treasury, truly the average nigerians is greedy. Every one is waiting for their turn to "eat from the national cake " while corruption rules in every sector.
Most of those that voted the present govt regret doing so. I think its high time we give Buhari a chance come 2015.
He's one Nigerians who has served in the past with intergrity. He sure will lead without fear or favour, and tackle corruption.
What exactly do people have against Buhari?
Some say he is a Muslim extremist, but he has a christrian wife and chose a pastor as a running mate. Will a real religious bigot do that?
For those that say he is sponsoring BH , do they have any proof? Does Buhari have the money to sponsor BH
I'm tired of us going round the circles, I hope we will not come after 2015 complaining again. We can not trust most of these politicians, PDP has failed us. Lets make the right choice for once, it is in our hands.
And before any attacks me, its my personal opinion ( am entitled to it is) and am a Christian from south south
nation.
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 11:25pm On Sep 11, 2013
Part of our problem is that young people like you have no accurate knowledge of even very recent Nigerian history.
This is why you are so misguided as to say that Obasanjo - Thief Obasanjo, who almost completely destroyed Nigeria, had tried for Nigeria.
Thief Obasanjo , as I call him, was an unmitigated disaster for Nigeria.

You are however very correct on your views about Buhari being the type of leader that the country requires to rid us of corruption.

ssii: We need change desperately in this country.
How long are we going to continue complaining about bad leadership, corruption and lack of basic amenities.
Obj made efforts but the strong hold of corruption made a mess of his efforts . This present govt is neck deep in corruption, it has no moral standing to fight it. There has been so much wastage and looting of our treasury, truly the average nigerians is greedy. Every one is waiting for their turn to "eat from the national cake " while corruption rules in every sector.
Most of those that voted the present govt regret doing so. I think its high time we give Buhari a chance come 2015.
He's one Nigerians who has served in the past with intergrity. He sure will lead without fear or favour, and tackle corruption.
What exactly do people have against Buhari?
Some say he is a Muslim extremist, but he has a christrian wife and chose a pastor as a running mate. Will a real religious bigot do that?
For those that say he is sponsoring BH , do they have any proof? Does Buhari have the money to sponsor BH
I'm tired of us going round the circles, I hope we will not come after 2015 complaining again. We can not trust most of these politicians, PDP has failed us. Lets make the right choice for once, it is in our hands.
And before any attacks me, its my personal opinion ( am entitled to it is) and am a Christian from south south
nation.

1 Like

Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 2:37pm On Sep 17, 2013
smiley
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 8:19pm On Sep 21, 2013
Viva Buhari !!
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 5:23pm On Sep 24, 2013
GenBuhari: Viva Buhari !!

1 Like

Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 11:32pm On Sep 28, 2013

1 Like

Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 12:52pm On Oct 27, 2013
[size=20pt]Buhari Bares It All In New Interview (final part)[/size]

You are a respected former head of state. What is your relationship with others, Obasanjo, your former boss and at a point, your political opponent, General Babangida, the man who took over from you and then, Shagari…

- He took over from me and I took over from Shagari.


What is your relationship with them? I see some parts of patching up here and there, but when a man is 70, you say it the way it is. What is your relationship with all these people I have mentioned now, deep down?

- I think the worst thing anybody can do to oneself is to have either hatred or grudge on daily basis. One thing will happen and you better forget.

Have you forgiven Babangida now? You once said you felt betrayed over the coup against your government?

- I did. Publicly, I did.

You have?

- I have and some of your papers published it. I said as a Muslim, I have forgiven him.

But during that period it happened, you must have been really angry?

- Of course, I was angry because I can’t recall what I had done for him to mobilise the military to overthrow me and detain me for more than three years. Yeah, it is natural for me to be upset.

Were you going to retire him before your overthrow, as has been alleged? This is an opportunity to lay it because we have heard those speculations that you were going to retire him and he moved against you quickly.

- Something like that happened but not him. I moved to retire his Director of Military Intelligence.

Akilu?

- General Aliyu Gusau, not Akilu.

You were going to retire him?

- Yes. I took a paper to Army Council. Babangida was there…

As the Chief of Army Staff.

- Yes. Idiagbon was there, Bali was there as Minister of Defence, and I was there as the head of state and commander-in-chief. And reasons for him to be removed was in that memo. Go and find out from him or from Babangida. They are both alive.

Not against Babangida per se?

- No.

But if you touched Gusau, his intelligence chief, invariably, you were going to inch towards the Chief of Army Staff, Babangida. Eventually, he might have been touched.

- I didn’t know but at that point, it was Aliyu Gusau.

You were inching closer?

- Yes, we were inching closer. You could say that.

But you have forgiven him for all that happened.

- I have forgiven him. I said it and it was printed by some of your colleagues. But I didn’t say it will be forgotten. It cannot be forgotten. If I say I forget about it, I will be lying. But I have forgiven him, just as I expect Shagari to forgive me as the one who succeeded him.

But Shagari said you detained him and then…

- I too, was detained [laughter].

Ok, what of Obasanjo? What kind of relationship do you have?

- Obasanjo; he mobilized Nigerian voters against me.

But you have forgiven him?

- No, I haven’t forgiven him [laughter].

If the end comes, how do you want Nigerians to remember you, if you have the chance to write your epitaph?

- I want Nigerians to be fair to me. Like this case of 53, 55 suitcases, like the case of N2.8billion. I want Nigerians to be fair and to be fair, all these documents are in the Nigerian archives. As I said, I didn’t do anything important outside the three organs of government: the Supreme Military Council, Council of States and Council of Ministers. On serious issues, Nigerians should do some research. That is why I always make emphasis on investigative journalism. If you want to be fair and impartial, I am sure you can have the capacity, both intellectual and resource to make an in-depth investigation.

Nigerians should be fair to you?

- They should be fair to me.

Your daughter just passed on?

- She would have been 40 before she died.

Oh, when life was just beginning.

- Yes.

What was the circumstance? Some said she was a sickler; she had sickle cell anemia.

- She was a sickler and she had complication when she was delivered by Caesarian.

And that remains a very sad incident for you.

- Yes.

Thank you, General.

- You are always welcome.
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 10:53pm On Jan 09, 2014
Hail Buhari
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 5:22am On Jan 10, 2014
[size=18pt]Buharinomics - General Buhari’s economic program marshaled out to salvage the nation in 1984 [/size]

http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5720:is-general-buhari-the-problem-with-nigeria&catid=36:pointblank&Itemid=83

Buharinomics was General Buhari’s economic program marshaled out to salvage the nation in 1984. He summarized the objective of his economic policy (as articulated in the 1984 budget) as follows: "To arrest the decline in the economy, to put the economy on a proper course of recovery and solvency, and to chart a future course for economic stability and prosperity" (West Africa, May 14, 1984).

He had previously done similarly, in March while receiving the visiting Sudanese President, Gaafar Nimeiri. Upon his inquiring of what the new military government had in mind for the nation it then ruled, Buhari said to him: "The priority [of his administration] is for economic recovery, providing employment opportunities, improving people's living conditions, consolidating internal security and ensuring foreign respect" (Africa Now, March 1984).

In a nutshell, Buharinomics set out to arrest the decline in the economy and refocus it towards recovery. Buharinomics was to wean the nation off consumerism and profligacy, while channeling it towards frugality and productivity.

To accomplish this, the government was to cut down on its expenditure, engage in more efficient restricting and controlling of foreign exchange outflow, undertake the revival of the country's productive capacity (concentration was on agriculture), and broaden government's revenue base.
www.nairaland.com/attachments/635156_Buhari_jpgd50be5e2308ebe86c9271391021b0a5f
The first test of Buharinomics was implemented to revive the comatose banking industry and arrest local currency hoarding. In April 1984, the government ordered a change in the color of the Naira. This action was dubbed the “real coup” by unscrupulous business men and politicians who had almost eliminated the need for commercial banking in Nigeria by keeping their moneys under their mattresses or by trafficking them into neighboring West African countries.

This currency change, which forced all holders of the Naira notes into exchanging them for the new naira notes at commercial banks, infused billions that had remained unaccounted for into the banking industry and eliminated counterfeited currencies, which had inflicted inflationary and other nefarious effects on the economy.

This measure had an immediate revitalizing effect in the banking industry and was an unqualified success. Banks that were close to collapsing became vibrant again, to the extent that some of them began to hire hitherto unemployed Nigerians.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/635893_Gen__Buhari_jpg3932850d15a62856c902dd8cc516cff9
To cut down on government expenses, the federal work force was cut by 30% and imports for 1984 pegged at 4 billion pounds (mostly on basic foodstuffs, spare parts, and raw materials for local industries), against 14 billion pounds spent in 1983. To ensure that Nigeria remained respectable on the international business world, Buhari committed to honoring Nigeria’s debt payment schedule irrespective of the limited earning potential of Nigeria.

In August 1984, Buhari was on one of his meet-the-people nationwide tours, which he began as soon as the administration got on its feet. Everywhere he went, the people embraced him, coming out en mass and ushering him tumultuous cheers and unreserved applause.

In one of his speeches to the people (this one in Owerri), he reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to honoring its debts, the dire economic situation notwithstanding. "The task of this administration is how to persuade Nigerians to understand that for a number of years to come, we would be paying debts, the roads may be long and thorny but we believe that on our shoulders lies the responsibility to save our fatherland from devastation that has resulted from mismanagement" (Newswatch, February 18, 1985).
[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/635886_Gen__Buhari_-_Armed_Forces_Day_jpgae96a40b5e2050b6d582cd44f4943800[/img]
Buhari could not have been any more correct in his statement above. Assuming Nigeria took no further loans, its breakdown of loan repayments was as follows: 3.9 billion naira ($4.4 billion) in 1985, 3.7 billion naira ($4.19 billion) in 1986, 2.8 billion naira ($3.2 billion) in 1987, until a decrease to 703 million in 1991 (Concord Weekly, May 6, 1985).

Nigeria’s precarious financial situation made it impossible for it to finance capital projects and meet up its balance of payment obligations. With oil export pegged at 1.3 million barrels per day by OPEC, borrowing from external sources became necessary. To this effect, Nigeria proposed borrowing 1.795m naira to finance its capital project from the IMF. The patriotism with which General Buhari handled Nigeria’s dealings with the IMF was the highlight and beauty of Buharinomics.

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/635887_General_Muhammadu-Buhari-1984_jpg807fb78f1366f42744d90196f32d264e[/img]
In order to qualify for the loan, IMF gave Nigeria certain conditions which must be met. In 1984 when the naira exchanged for $1.34, the IMF demanded a minimum of 60% devaluation of it. Buhari refused, agreeing only to a "crawling peg"—a mechanism whereby government would realign the currency gradually, forestalling or minimizing economic and social dislocations because of such drastic devaluation of its currency.

In addition to the devaluation of the naira, IMF demanded that government took other drastic actions: (a) The government must remove its subsidy on petroleum. (b) It must curtail its expenditure. (c) Government must rationalize its tariff structures. (d) It must put a freeze on its wages. (e) It must put a total end of non-statutory transfers to State governments, (f) Government must at least institute a 30% raise on interest rates—government resisted this because the decline in its revenue earnings and its debt obligations made it almost impossible to raise interest rates without triggering inflation (West Africa, May 14, 1984).
www.nairaland.com/attachments/908607_Gen_Buhari_jpg680f0e3cee55a5a2432551406739fb8e
The Nigerian government and veteran economists in Nigeria (like Aluko, Onosade, Okigbo, etc) could not make sense of being asked to devalue its currency when Nigeria’s imports were in dollar and its export (fixed quantity of oil) was also in dollar.

The implication of devaluation was that Nigeria would pay more to import lesser quantity of goods than it did prior to any devaluation. It would also export the same amount of oil it exported before any devaluation and derive lesser revenue than it received before any devaluation The impacts of it debt payment would have harsher effect on the citizenry if the naira was devalued.

This did not make any economic sense to Buhari; it struck him as an insult on the intelligence of the African. Finance Minister Onaolapo Soleye and Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji who led the Nigerian delegation to the last negotiation in Washington were chewed out by US Federal Reserve Chairman, Paul Volcker, for presenting the Nigerian governments rejection of most of these recommendations. For rejecting the IMF conditions and the loan, the Buhari administration got into the black book of Washington.

Already, it had earned the dislike of 10 Downing Street for cutting down Nigeria’s imports from the UK by about 350%. In any case, without the IMF loan, government was still in a bind as to how to finance capital projects and pay for imports, especially spare parts for local industries, food items, etc.

At this juncture, the genius and resourcefulness of Buharinomics illuminated to the delight of the African.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/686219_buhari_parade_jpgcf420c430ac5cdb9a5c0fadf1e0fb509
First, the administration sent Oil Minister Tam David West to OPEC to seek a raise in the quantity of oil that Nigeria could export. If OPEC agreed, Nigeria would expect to generate extra revenue in the long run from any increase of its oil quota and this would assist tremendously in augmenting the shortfall in the nation’s purse.

Professor West came back empty handed—the US and Britain had put pressure on their puppets in OPEC (like Saudi Arabia) to refuse Nigeria’s request.
www.nairaland.com/attachments/710787_buhari_pic_gif0b92a71a0ffa3f1da9713778c0f7a2f0
To counter OPEC’s bluff, the Buhari administration entered into a $2 billion barter trade agreement with four countries. Nigeria daily bartered 200,000 barrels of oil as follows: (a) completely knocked down parts for automobiles from Brazil. (b) Construction equipment from Italy (c) Engineering equipment from France, and (d) Capital goods from Austria.

This barter trade took care of the administration’s need to have borrowed money but it intensified the ill will the US and Britain had for Nigeria. By bartering this oil, Nigeria was: (a) solving those needs which the proposed IMF loan was geared toward. Doing so without borrowing or feeling the pains of spending the meager amount generated from its OPEC approved 1.3 billion a day oil export is the stuff an economic wizard is made of. (b) Britain had been cut off as Nigeria’s major supplier of the goods which the countries in the barter agreement sent to Nigeria. (c) The US usurious money lenders were denied the chance to suck Nigeria dry through the IMF loan. (d) American and British oil companies were irate that the oil being bartered would flood the oil market, cutting in on their profits. (e) The oil being bartered was oil that used to be illegally bunkered before Buhari put illegal oil bunkering artist out of business.

For once, an African country had put positive economic mechanism in place to salvage its ailing economy without swallowing IMF’s poison pills.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/726098_Buhari_jpgd50be5e2308ebe86c9271391021b0a5f
As far as America and Britain were concerned, there was a price to be paid by this Buhari, who thought he was smart enough not to accept subservience to their authority.

To begin with, a London newspaper (The Financial Times) published Nigeria’s barter trade agreement with Brazil (which, in truth, was done in secrecy because Buhari treated some aspects of his economic policy as State secret). The British thought it was going to incite OPEC against Nigeria since OPEC as a body did not support oil bartering.

Oil Minister Tam David West, in a press conference, said, “If a nation believes it is part of its strategy for national survival to do this [barter trade], why not?” To assure OPEC that Nigeria was not indulging in barter trade in order to pull out of OPEC, he added ”Our strategy is to stay in OPEC and make its presence felt, and work together on programs that will be for the economic interest of all” (Concord Weekly, May 6, 1985).

There is more to this barter trade than time will permit one to detail in this piece. For now, it is worth noting that it was the major reason for which Britain and America wanted the Buhari administration overthrown.
www.nairaland.com/attachments/754009_Gen__Buhari_jpg3932850d15a62856c902dd8cc516cff9
The counter trade showcased Buhari as a visionary. He made America and Britain feel silly and they swore to get him out of office.

When Babangida took over, on his maiden speech to the nation he promised to revisit the counter trade agreements. Within two weeks in office, September 17, 1985, he setup a panel to review it and recommend to his administration how to revive the economy without the use of counter trade.

Babangida rolled back counter trade at the behest of his imperialist masters and at the detriment of the Nigerian nation and people.

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/754008_Gen__Buhari_-_Armed_Forces_Day_jpgae96a40b5e2050b6d582cd44f4943800[/img]
By the time the Buhari administration was overthrown in August of 1985, Buharinomics was beginning to yield dividends. For example, the inflationary rate had fallen from 23.2% in 1983 to 5.5% in 1985.

Nigeria did not regret rejecting the IMF loan because it was meeting its obligation of prompt debt payment and the bartered goods were, to some extent, holding up within the austerity measure which had been in place since the Shagari days.

Food was becoming reasonably available for two reasons: (a) The emphasis paid to agriculture had resulted in abundant food harvests, especially yam tubers. (b) The border closure made it impossible for unscrupulous business men to continue smuggling food items into neighboring countries where they sold for twice their value in Nigeria.

Had Buharinomics continued for at least five years, Nigeria would have joined the Asian tigers in economic growth and self reliance. We know that to be true because Babangida came into office and did everything the IMF asked and the Nigerian economy took a dive into the gutter and has not recovered yet.
[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/754010_General_Muhammadu-Buhari-1984_jpg807fb78f1366f42744d90196f32d264e[/img]





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0HQQaZtBT0
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 2:49pm On Oct 05, 2014
GenBuhari:

[size=18pt]Buharinomics - General Buhari’s economic program marshaled out to salvage the nation in 1984 [/size]

http://www.elombah.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=5720:is-general-buhari-the-problem-with-nigeria&catid=36:pointblank&Itemid=83

Buharinomics was General Buhari’s economic program marshaled out to salvage the nation in 1984. He summarized the objective of his economic policy (as articulated in the 1984 budget) as follows: "To arrest the decline in the economy, to put the economy on a proper course of recovery and solvency, and to chart a future course for economic stability and prosperity" (West Africa, May 14, 1984).

He had previously done similarly, in March while receiving the visiting Sudanese President, Gaafar Nimeiri. Upon his inquiring of what the new military government had in mind for the nation it then ruled, Buhari said to him: "The priority [of his administration] is for economic recovery, providing employment opportunities, improving people's living conditions, consolidating internal security and ensuring foreign respect" (Africa Now, March 1984).

In a nutshell, Buharinomics set out to arrest the decline in the economy and refocus it towards recovery. Buharinomics was to wean the nation off consumerism and profligacy, while channeling it towards frugality and productivity.

To accomplish this, the government was to cut down on its expenditure, engage in more efficient restricting and controlling of foreign exchange outflow, undertake the revival of the country's productive capacity (concentration was on agriculture), and broaden government's revenue base.
www.nairaland.com/attachments/635156_Buhari_jpgd50be5e2308ebe86c9271391021b0a5f
The first test of Buharinomics was implemented to revive the comatose banking industry and arrest local currency hoarding. In April 1984, the government ordered a change in the color of the Naira. This action was dubbed the “real coup” by unscrupulous business men and politicians who had almost eliminated the need for commercial banking in Nigeria by keeping their moneys under their mattresses or by trafficking them into neighboring West African countries.

This currency change, which forced all holders of the Naira notes into exchanging them for the new naira notes at commercial banks, infused billions that had remained unaccounted for into the banking industry and eliminated counterfeited currencies, which had inflicted inflationary and other nefarious effects on the economy.

This measure had an immediate revitalizing effect in the banking industry and was an unqualified success. Banks that were close to collapsing became vibrant again, to the extent that some of them began to hire hitherto unemployed Nigerians.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/635893_Gen__Buhari_jpg3932850d15a62856c902dd8cc516cff9
To cut down on government expenses, the federal work force was cut by 30% and imports for 1984 pegged at 4 billion pounds (mostly on basic foodstuffs, spare parts, and raw materials for local industries), against 14 billion pounds spent in 1983. To ensure that Nigeria remained respectable on the international business world, Buhari committed to honoring Nigeria’s debt payment schedule irrespective of the limited earning potential of Nigeria.

In August 1984, Buhari was on one of his meet-the-people nationwide tours, which he began as soon as the administration got on its feet. Everywhere he went, the people embraced him, coming out en mass and ushering him tumultuous cheers and unreserved applause.

In one of his speeches to the people (this one in Owerri), he reiterated Nigeria’s commitment to honoring its debts, the dire economic situation notwithstanding. "The task of this administration is how to persuade Nigerians to understand that for a number of years to come, we would be paying debts, the roads may be long and thorny but we believe that on our shoulders lies the responsibility to save our fatherland from devastation that has resulted from mismanagement" (Newswatch, February 18, 1985).
[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/635886_Gen__Buhari_-_Armed_Forces_Day_jpgae96a40b5e2050b6d582cd44f4943800[/img]
Buhari could not have been any more correct in his statement above. Assuming Nigeria took no further loans, its breakdown of loan repayments was as follows: 3.9 billion naira ($4.4 billion) in 1985, 3.7 billion naira ($4.19 billion) in 1986, 2.8 billion naira ($3.2 billion) in 1987, until a decrease to 703 million in 1991 (Concord Weekly, May 6, 1985).

Nigeria’s precarious financial situation made it impossible for it to finance capital projects and meet up its balance of payment obligations. With oil export pegged at 1.3 million barrels per day by OPEC, borrowing from external sources became necessary. To this effect, Nigeria proposed borrowing 1.795m naira to finance its capital project from the IMF. The patriotism with which General Buhari handled Nigeria’s dealings with the IMF was the highlight and beauty of Buharinomics.

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/635887_General_Muhammadu-Buhari-1984_jpg807fb78f1366f42744d90196f32d264e[/img]
In order to qualify for the loan, IMF gave Nigeria certain conditions which must be met. In 1984 when the naira exchanged for $1.34, the IMF demanded a minimum of 60% devaluation of it. Buhari refused, agreeing only to a "crawling peg"—a mechanism whereby government would realign the currency gradually, forestalling or minimizing economic and social dislocations because of such drastic devaluation of its currency.

In addition to the devaluation of the naira, IMF demanded that government took other drastic actions: (a) The government must remove its subsidy on petroleum. (b) It must curtail its expenditure. (c) Government must rationalize its tariff structures. (d) It must put a freeze on its wages. (e) It must put a total end of non-statutory transfers to State governments, (f) Government must at least institute a 30% raise on interest rates—government resisted this because the decline in its revenue earnings and its debt obligations made it almost impossible to raise interest rates without triggering inflation (West Africa, May 14, 1984).
www.nairaland.com/attachments/908607_Gen_Buhari_jpg680f0e3cee55a5a2432551406739fb8e
The Nigerian government and veteran economists in Nigeria (like Aluko, Onosade, Okigbo, etc) could not make sense of being asked to devalue its currency when Nigeria’s imports were in dollar and its export (fixed quantity of oil) was also in dollar.

The implication of devaluation was that Nigeria would pay more to import lesser quantity of goods than it did prior to any devaluation. It would also export the same amount of oil it exported before any devaluation and derive lesser revenue than it received before any devaluation The impacts of it debt payment would have harsher effect on the citizenry if the naira was devalued.

This did not make any economic sense to Buhari; it struck him as an insult on the intelligence of the African. Finance Minister Onaolapo Soleye and Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji who led the Nigerian delegation to the last negotiation in Washington were chewed out by US Federal Reserve Chairman, Paul Volcker, for presenting the Nigerian governments rejection of most of these recommendations. For rejecting the IMF conditions and the loan, the Buhari administration got into the black book of Washington.

Already, it had earned the dislike of 10 Downing Street for cutting down Nigeria’s imports from the UK by about 350%. In any case, without the IMF loan, government was still in a bind as to how to finance capital projects and pay for imports, especially spare parts for local industries, food items, etc.

At this juncture, the genius and resourcefulness of Buharinomics illuminated to the delight of the African.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/686219_buhari_parade_jpgcf420c430ac5cdb9a5c0fadf1e0fb509
First, the administration sent Oil Minister Tam David West to OPEC to seek a raise in the quantity of oil that Nigeria could export. If OPEC agreed, Nigeria would expect to generate extra revenue in the long run from any increase of its oil quota and this would assist tremendously in augmenting the shortfall in the nation’s purse.

Professor West came back empty handed—the US and Britain had put pressure on their puppets in OPEC (like Saudi Arabia) to refuse Nigeria’s request.
www.nairaland.com/attachments/710787_buhari_pic_gif0b92a71a0ffa3f1da9713778c0f7a2f0
To counter OPEC’s bluff, the Buhari administration entered into a $2 billion barter trade agreement with four countries. Nigeria daily bartered 200,000 barrels of oil as follows: (a) completely knocked down parts for automobiles from Brazil. (b) Construction equipment from Italy (c) Engineering equipment from France, and (d) Capital goods from Austria.

This barter trade took care of the administration’s need to have borrowed money but it intensified the ill will the US and Britain had for Nigeria. By bartering this oil, Nigeria was: (a) solving those needs which the proposed IMF loan was geared toward. Doing so without borrowing or feeling the pains of spending the meager amount generated from its OPEC approved 1.3 billion a day oil export is the stuff an economic wizard is made of. (b) Britain had been cut off as Nigeria’s major supplier of the goods which the countries in the barter agreement sent to Nigeria. (c) The US usurious money lenders were denied the chance to suck Nigeria dry through the IMF loan. (d) American and British oil companies were irate that the oil being bartered would flood the oil market, cutting in on their profits. (e) The oil being bartered was oil that used to be illegally bunkered before Buhari put illegal oil bunkering artist out of business.

For once, an African country had put positive economic mechanism in place to salvage its ailing economy without swallowing IMF’s poison pills.

www.nairaland.com/attachments/726098_Buhari_jpgd50be5e2308ebe86c9271391021b0a5f
As far as America and Britain were concerned, there was a price to be paid by this Buhari, who thought he was smart enough not to accept subservience to their authority.

To begin with, a London newspaper (The Financial Times) published Nigeria’s barter trade agreement with Brazil (which, in truth, was done in secrecy because Buhari treated some aspects of his economic policy as State secret). The British thought it was going to incite OPEC against Nigeria since OPEC as a body did not support oil bartering.

Oil Minister Tam David West, in a press conference, said, “If a nation believes it is part of its strategy for national survival to do this [barter trade], why not?” To assure OPEC that Nigeria was not indulging in barter trade in order to pull out of OPEC, he added ”Our strategy is to stay in OPEC and make its presence felt, and work together on programs that will be for the economic interest of all” (Concord Weekly, May 6, 1985).

There is more to this barter trade than time will permit one to detail in this piece. For now, it is worth noting that it was the major reason for which Britain and America wanted the Buhari administration overthrown.
www.nairaland.com/attachments/754009_Gen__Buhari_jpg3932850d15a62856c902dd8cc516cff9
The counter trade showcased Buhari as a visionary. He made America and Britain feel silly and they swore to get him out of office.

When Babangida took over, on his maiden speech to the nation he promised to revisit the counter trade agreements. Within two weeks in office, September 17, 1985, he setup a panel to review it and recommend to his administration how to revive the economy without the use of counter trade.

Babangida rolled back counter trade at the behest of his imperialist masters and at the detriment of the Nigerian nation and people.

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/754008_Gen__Buhari_-_Armed_Forces_Day_jpgae96a40b5e2050b6d582cd44f4943800[/img]
By the time the Buhari administration was overthrown in August of 1985, Buharinomics was beginning to yield dividends. For example, the inflationary rate had fallen from 23.2% in 1983 to 5.5% in 1985.

Nigeria did not regret rejecting the IMF loan because it was meeting its obligation of prompt debt payment and the bartered goods were, to some extent, holding up within the austerity measure which had been in place since the Shagari days.

Food was becoming reasonably available for two reasons: (a) The emphasis paid to agriculture had resulted in abundant food harvests, especially yam tubers. (b) The border closure made it impossible for unscrupulous business men to continue smuggling food items into neighboring countries where they sold for twice their value in Nigeria.

Had Buharinomics continued for at least five years, Nigeria would have joined the Asian tigers in economic growth and self reliance. We know that to be true because Babangida came into office and did everything the IMF asked and the Nigerian economy took a dive into the gutter and has not recovered yet.
[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/754010_General_Muhammadu-Buhari-1984_jpg807fb78f1366f42744d90196f32d264e[/img]





https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h0HQQaZtBT0
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by isalegan2: 9:40pm On Oct 05, 2014
Good job, GenBuhari. cool Hope family's doing well. smiley
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 10:29pm On Oct 05, 2014
[size=18pt]why Buhari was removed by IBB[/size]

Text of General Ibrahim Babangida's Coup Speech
againstbabangida.com .August 27 , 1985

Fellow Nigerians,
When in December 1983, the former military leadership, headed by Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, assumed the reins of government, its accession was heralded in the history of this country. With the nation at the mercy of political misdirection and on the brink of economic collapse, a new sense of hope was created in the minds of every Nigerian.




Since January 1984, however, we have witnessed a systematic denigration of that hope. It was stated then that mismanagement of political leadership and a general deterioration in the standard of living, which had subjected the common man to intolerable suffering, were the reasons for the intervention.


Nigerians have since then been under a regime that continued with those trends. Events today indicate that most of the reasons which justified the military takeover of government from the civilians still persist.


The initial objectives were betrayed and fundamental changes do not appear on the horizon. Because the present state of uncertainty, suppression and stagnation resulted from the perpetration of a small group, the Nigerian Armed Forces could not as a part of that government be unfairly committed to take responsibility for failure. Our dedication to the cause of ensuring that our nation remains a united entity worthy of respect and capable of functioning as a viable and credible part of the international community dictated the need to arrest the situation.


Let me at this point attempt to make you understand the premise upon which it became necessary to change the leadership. The principles of discussions, consultation and co-operation which should have guided decision-making process of the Supreme Military Council and the Federal Executive Council were disregarded soon after the government settled down in 1984. Where some of us thought it appropriate to give a little more time, anticipating a conducive atmosphere that would develop, in which affairs of state could be attended to with greater sense of responsibility, it became increasingly clear that such expectations could not be fulfilled.


Regrettably, it turned out that Major-General Muhammadu Buhari was too rigid and uncompromising in his attitudes to issues of national significance. Efforts to make him understand that a diverse polity like Nigeria required recognition and appreciation of differences in both cultural and individual perceptions, only served to aggravate these attitudes.


Major-General Tunde Idiagbon was similarly inclined in that respect. As Chief of Staff, Supreme Headquarters, he failed to exhibit the appropriate disposition demanded by his position. He arrogated to himself absolute knowledge of problems and solutions, and acted in accordance with what was convenient to him, using the machinery of government as his tool.


A combination of these characteristics in the two most important persons holding the nation's vital offices became impossible to content with. The situation was made worse by a number of other government functionaries and organisations, chief among which is the Nigerian Security Organisation (NSO). In fact, this body will be overhauled and re-organized.


And so it came to be that the same government which received the tumultuous welcome now became alienated from the people. To prevent a complete erosion of our given mandate therefore, we had to act so that hope may be rebuilt.


Let me now address your attention to the major issues that confront us, so that we may, as one people, chart a future direction for our dear country. We do not pretend to have all the answers to the questions which our present problems have put before our nation. We have come with the strongest determination to create an atmosphere in which positive efforts shall be given the necessary support for lasting solutions.


For matters of the moment which require immediate resolutions, we intend to pursue a determined programme of action. Major issues falling into this category have been identified and decisions taken on what should be done.


Firstly, the issue of political detainees or convicts of special military tribunals. The history of our nation had never recorded the degree of indiscipline and corruption as in the period between October 1979 and December 1983.


While this government recognises the bitterness created by the irresponsible excesses of the politicians, we consider it unfortunate that methods of such nature as to cause more bitterness were applied to deal with past misdeeds. We must never allow ourselves to lose our sense of natural justice. The innocent cannot suffer the crimes of the guilty. The guilty should be punished only as a lesson for the future. In line with this government's intention to uphold fundamental human rights, the issue of detainees will be looked into with despatch.


As we do not intend to lead a country where individuals are under the fear of expressing themselves, the Public Officers Protection Against False Accusation Decree 4 of 1984 is hereby repealed. And finally, those who have been in detention under this decree are hereby unconditionally released. The responsibility of the media to disseminate information shall be exercised without undue hindrance. In that process, those responsible are expected to be forthright and to have the nation's interest as their primary consideration.


The issue of decrees has generated a lot of controversies. It is the intention of this government to review all other decrees.


The last twenty months have not witnessed any significant changes in the national economy. Contrary to expectations, we have so far been subjected to a steady deterioration in the general standard of living; and intolerable suffering by the ordinary Nigerians have risen higher, scarcity of commodities has increased, hospitals still remain mere consulting clinics, while educational institutions are on the brink of decay. Unemployment has stretched to critical dimensions.


Due to the stalemate, which arose in negotiation with the International Monetary Fund, the former government embarked on a series of counter-trade agreements. Under the counter-trade agreements, Nigerians were forced to buy goods and commodities at higher prices than obtained in the international market. The government intends to review the whole issue of counter-trade.


A lot has been said and heard about our position with the International Monetary Fund. Although we formally applied to the fund in April 1983, no progress has as yet been made in the negotiation and a stalemate has existed for the last two years.


We shall break the deadlock that frustrated the negotiations with a view to evaluating more objectively both the negative and positive implications of reaching a mutual agreement with the Fund. At all times in the course of discussions, our representatives will be guided by the feelings and aspirations of the Nigerian people.


It is the view of this government that austerity without structural adjustment is not the solution to our economic predicament. The present situation whereby 44 per cent of our revenue earning is utilised to service debts is not realistic. To protect the danger this poses to the poor and the needy in our society, steps will be taken to ensure comprehensive strategy of economic reforms.


The crux of our economic problems has been identified to centre around four fundamental issues:


1. A decrease of our domestic production, while our population continues to increase.


2. Dependence on import for both consumer goods and raw materials for our industries.


3. A grossly unequal gap between the rich and the poor.


4. The large role played by the public sector in economic activity with hardly any concrete results to justify such a role.


These are the problems we must confront.


ON FOREIGN POLICY:


Nigeria's foreign policy in the last 20 months has been characterised by inconsistency and incoherence. It has lacked the clarity to make us know where we stood on matters of international concern to enable other countries relate to us with seriousness. Our role as Africa's spokesman has diminished because we have been unable to maintain the respect of African countries.


The ousted military government conducted our external relations by a policy of retaliatory reactions. Nigeria became a country that has reacted to given situations, rather than taking the initiative as it should and always been done. More so, vengeful considerations must not be the basis of our diplomacy. African problems and their solutions should constitute the premise of our foreign policy.


The realisation of the Organisation of African Unity of the Lagos Plan of Action for self-sufficiency and constructive co-operation in Africa shall be our primary pursuit.


The Economic Community of West African States must be reborn with the view to achieving the objective of regional integration. The problems of drought-stricken areas of Africa will be given more attention and sympathy, and our best efforts will be made to assist in their rehabilitation within the limits of our resources. Our membership of the United Nations Organisation will be made more practical and meaningful. The call for a new International Economic Order which lost its momentum in the face of the debt crisis will be made once again.


Nigeria hereby makes a renewed request to the Non-Aligned Movement to regroup and reinvigorate its determination to restructure the global economic system, while we appeal to the industrialized nations to positively consider the debt plight of the developing countries and assist in dealing with the dangers that face us. We shall remain members of the various multilateral institutions and inter-governmental organisations which we belong to and do what must be done to enhance the membership and participation within them.


Fellow Nigerians, this country has had since independence a history mixed with turbulence and fortune. We have witnessed our rise to greatness, followed with a decline to the state of a bewildered nation. Our human potentials have been neglected, our natural resources put to waste. A phenomenon of constant insecurity and overbearing uncertainty has become characteristic of our national existence.


My colleagues and I are determined to change the course of history. This government is determined to unite this country. We shall not allow anything to obstruct us. We recognise that a government, be it civilian or military, needs the consent of the people to govern if it is to reach its objective. We do not intend to rule by force. At the same time, we should not be expected to submit to unreasonable demands. Fundamental rights and civil liberties will be respected, but their exercise must not degenerate into irrational expression nor border on subversion.


The War Against Indiscipline will continue, but this time, in the minds and conduct of Nigerians, and not by way of symbolism or money-spending campaigns.


This government, on its part, will ensure that the leadership exhibits proper example. Criticisms of actions and decisions taken by us will be given necessary attention and where necessary changes made in accordance with what is expected of us.


Let me reiterate what we said in 1984: This generation of Nigerians and indeed future generations have no other country but Nigeria. We must all stay and salvage it together. This time it shall be pursued with deeper commitment and genuine sincerity.


There is a lot of work to be done by every single Nigerian. Let us all dedicate ourselves to the cause of building a strong, united and viable nation for the sake of our own lives and the benefits of posterity.

Finally, I wish to commend the members of the Armed Forces and the Nigeria Police for their mature conduct during the change.


I thank you all for your co-operation and understanding.


God bless Nigeria.
http://againstbabangida.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=140&Itemid=1
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by tit(f): 10:40pm On Oct 05, 2014
the only thing Buhari is good at is bar beach show!
he will ctach some Lagosians, drag them to bar beach, tie them to some empty drums and pour hot lead into them.
He does not care.
Once you are not Fulani, he will kill you.
But if you are Fulani, you can smuggle 500 suitcases.
He will stamp for you to do oil bunkering.
He was the one that started oil-bunkering in Nigeria in 1975 when he was oil minister.
He only gave it to Fulani and show another Fulani Rilwanu Lukman the way.
When Bonny people like Peremabiri Pietersen try to get into the business in 1979, he jail them.
the Pietersens all ran awy from the hometown in Bonny till this day.
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 11:12pm On Oct 12, 2014
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 11:18pm On Oct 12, 2014
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 12:32am On Oct 13, 2014
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by hardebounty(m): 1:25am On Oct 13, 2014
Sai Buhari!!!!!
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 1:14pm On Oct 13, 2014
Gbam!
hardebounty:
Sai Buhari!!!!!
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 12:23am On Oct 14, 2014
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 3:37pm On Oct 15, 2014
smiley
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 8:33pm On Dec 05, 2014
smiley smiley
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by 9jatriot(m): 11:31am On Dec 18, 2014
This speech could almost be used word for word next year.
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by W3xy1(m): 8:58am On Mar 29, 2015
wonderful. y am i just seeing this
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 10:11am On Apr 11, 2015
CarlosVent:
Never will a man who signed the killings of many that told him the truth. never will a man who is religiously bigoted and never will a man who doesn't hear advice or like suggestions in the Person of BUHARI rule Nigeria Again.

Pls Mods and Seun never allow this type of Topic to make front page again because they are disturbing me.

How do you like your Crow served? grin
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by atiku4President(m): 9:21pm On Jul 05, 2016
omoalaro:


When Nigeria was working, we had 15 Ministers, Now with over 40 ministers, Nigeria is not working. They have succeeded in planting deep hatred and divisions among us .

With what ur Buhari is now doing, hope u can bury ur head in shame. Is the country now united? Is everything alright
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 7:43pm On Dec 08, 2016
jamil2:
Mr carry go as I am with you now and forever! Haters could move on to the nearest transformer and gives an excellent clasp to it.


even till today?
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by Nobody: 7:44pm On Dec 08, 2016
GenBuhari:
God bless Buhari !

are u serious
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by godoluwa(m): 8:32pm On Dec 08, 2016
GenBuhari:
^^Did you know Buhari's wife is a christian?

His driver is also a christian

His running mate in recent presidential election was a christian pastor.

Nigerians can see through your lies smiley
Re: Buhari - Nigeria's Head of State 1983-1985 by godoluwa(m): 8:37pm On Dec 08, 2016
THUNDER FIRE ALL BUHARI ZOMBIES WHEREVER THEY ARE

(1) (2) (3) ... (8) (9) (10) (11) (Reply)

Sunday Igboho's Bullet Proof With Arabic Inscription On It (Pictures) / Police Capture, Neutralize Ahmed Gulak's Killers (Graphic Pictures) / Notable Nigerian Heroes We All Need To Emulate As Nigerians

(Go Up)

Sections: politics (1) business autos (1) jobs (1) career education (1) romance computers phones travel sports fashion health
religion celebs tv-movies music-radio literature webmasters programming techmarket

Links: (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) (6) (7) (8) (9) (10)

Nairaland - Copyright © 2005 - 2024 Oluwaseun Osewa. All rights reserved. See How To Advertise. 129
Disclaimer: Every Nairaland member is solely responsible for anything that he/she posts or uploads on Nairaland.