Reading the interview Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) gave to Daily Trust which was published on Wednesday the 22nd of May 2013, I am compelled to raise historical issues that put the former military Head of State's words in perspective.

Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) blamed President Jonathan for the insurgency occasioned by the militant sect, Jamā'a Ahl al-sunnah li-da'wa wa al-jihād, commonly referred to as Boko Haram and asked President Jonathan to resign saying "Jonathan should vacate and give way to competent hand to govern the country".

Buhari further said "When the Niger Delta militants started their activities in the South-South, they were invited by the late President Umaru Yar'adua.

An aircraft was sent to them and their leaders met with the late President in Aso Rock and discussed issues. They were given money and a training scheme was introduced for their members. But when the Boko Haram emerged in the north members of the sect were killed".

Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) may wish to note that President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan never supported militancy and criminality in the Niger-Delta at any time in his political career. Furthermore, the administration of President Umaru Musa Yar'adua used a combination of carrot and stick to end the militancy in the Niger-Delta.

Stick was used in the form of heavy military intervention by way of the Joint Military Task Force (JTF) which routed the militants by way of ground attacks and aerial assault with the use of Nigerian Air Force Jets and helicopters. After this initial pacification, the carrot was introduced whereby the administration offered an olive branch for those wishing to embrace dialogue. Those who accepted the offer to dialogue came out of the creeks and dialogue took place leading to the conditional amnesty (militants were made to surrender their weapons and renounce violence before they could benefit from the amnesty).

Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) may or may not be aware that these same steps were taken by the current administration with regards to the insurgency occasioned by Jamā'a Ahl al-sunnah li-da'wa wa al-jihād or Boko Haram.

This administration in fulfillment of its constitutional responsibility to maintain law and order and enforce the laws of the Federal Republic of Nigeria empowered Nigeria's security forces to check the insurgency. As a democrat and listening leader, President Jonathan's ears were opened to the cries of the people in the affected areas and after meeting with different informed groups agreed to employ the dialogue option and called for the leaders of the Jamā'a Ahl al-sunnah li-da'wa wa al-jihād or Boko Haram to show themselves.

In furtherance of his desire to peacefully resolve the insurgency, President Jonathan inaugurated the Presidential Committee on Dialogue and Peaceful Resolution of Security Challenges in the North on Wednesday the 24th of April 2013 at the Presidential Villa Abuja under the leadership of a cabinet minister, Tanimu Turaki, Minister of Special Duties.

A week after the President's initiative, Jamā'a Ahl al-sunnah li-da'wa wa al-jihād or Boko Haram rejected the amnesty proposal yet the President kept faith with the Committee and met with them as recently as a week ago and in furtherance of that meeting he issued orders for the release of certain classes of detainees held in connection with the insurgency.

With the detailed historical TimeLines provided above, it is my considered opinion that Major General Muhammadu Buhari's (rtd) statement castigating President Goodluck Jonathan for not treating the Jamā'a Ahl al-sunnah li-da'wa wa al-jihād or Boko Haram as others were treated are not factual and are borne out of insufficient study of historical facts.

Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) also accused the President of using undue force on the Jamā'a Ahl al-sunnah li-da'wa wa al-jihād or Boko Haram saying "In Bama and Baga towns, military personnel were reported to have been engaged in extortion and sometimes raping of women. And because a soldier was killed in Baga the whole town was sacked by military. This is not the best way military should have acted when they were sent to restore law and order in a town. How can a responsible government allow its people to be killed in this way".

Let me say that I appreciate Buhari's concern for the victims of the Boko Haram attacks on Bama and Baga. However, Buhari should be reminded that the President ordered an investigation into the incidence at Bama. The investigations are being carried out by qualified persons and Buhari ought to wait for the results of those investigations before apportioning blame. Members of the Nigerian armed forces are sacrificially laying their lives down to protect Nigerians and they deserve more loyalty from us all, particularly from one who was once their Commander-in-Chief.

But going back to history, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) is reminded that this is not the first time that terrorists have unleashed mayhem on Nigerians.

[b]Buhari is reminded that in February and March of 1984, the Maitatsine sect unleashed violence in Yola under the leadership of Musa Makaniki. A conservative estimate is that 1000 people died during those riots and half of the residence of Yola in present day Adamawa state were rendered homeless. The military was unleashed on the sect by the military administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari. Similar charges as the ones made today by Buhari were made against the soldiers sent by his government to quell the Maitatsine riots of 1984. They were accused of undue force, destruction of property, raping women and killing civilians. Many human rights groups and activists including J. Peter Pham, the Director of the Michael Ansari Center at the prestigious Atlantic Council whom I have personally met and who is alive today have documented what took place during those riots. In putting down the Maitatsine insurgency, the military incurred collateral damages. Yet Nigerians understood with Buhari. Did anyone call for his resignation as military Head of State because of the incidence?

Also, it is a historical fact that Maitatsine riots again flared up more than a year after this in April of 1985, while Buhari was still Head of State, this time in Gombe in present day Gombe state. Hundreds of people were killed and the military again was called in. There were collateral damage and Musa Makaniki, the arrowhead of Maitatsine escaped to the Cameroon and was not caught until 2004 when Obasanjo had ascended to power. To the best of my knowledge, nobody called on Buhari to resign even though he could not apprehend the leader of the sect.

Is it too much to ask that Buhari show the same level of understanding that Nigerians showed to him in 1984-1985 to the President?
[/b]
Some issues should be beyond politics. Anytime an elder statesman calls into question the abilities of our armed forces it goes a long way to weakening their morale and resolve which is precisely what should not be weakened when we face an insurgency such as the present one.

http://www.punchng.com/opinion/on-buharis-call-for-the-presidents-resignation/
http://channelkoos.com/index.php/news/4659-on-buharis-call-for-the-presidents-resignation-reno-omokri

He thought people have forgotten Maitatsine.
A time for reckoning General. You did worse

But going back to history, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd) is reminded that this is not the first time that terrorists have unleashed mayhem on Nigerians.

Buhari is reminded that in February and March of 1984, the Maitatsine sect unleashed violence in Yola under the leadership of Musa Makaniki. A conservative estimate is that 1000 people died during those riots and half of the residence of Yola in present day Adamawa state were rendered homeless. The military was unleashed on the sect by the military administration of Major General Muhammadu Buhari. Similar charges as the ones made today by Buhari were made against the soldiers sent by his government to quell the Maitatsine riots of 1984. They were accused of undue force, destruction of property, Molesting women and killing civilians.

^ Certainly many of 'us' suffer from selective amnesia

Definitely Buhari has gone senile! He is just foaming at the mouth for no just cause, a bloody hypocrite! The worst thing is that some blind southerners take this sadist as their Jean Claude Van Damme! What a shame, great thanks to Reno for this eye-opener

With Buhari's previous statement on this, he has finally shoot himself in the leg.

Why is this Buhari guy the only one who refuses to become a civilian? Everywhere "Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)" all the other militricians have dropped their rank. Is he going to run a military regime?

Dinosaurs in human skin.

tigereyes: Why is this Buhari guy the only one who refuses to become a civilian? Everywhere "Major General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd)" all the other militricians have dropped their rank. Is he going to run a military regime?

Dinosaurs in human skin.

Buhari remains the only former General with no oil license despite the fact that he was Petroleum Miinister. Buhari is the only former Genaral who has refused to join other Generals in PDP to loot the treasury. Keep hating him and the truth shall prevail.

automaticcarzz: Buhari remains the only former General with no oil license despite the fact that he was Petroleum Miinister. Buhari is the only former Genaral who has refused to join other Generals in PDP to loot the treasury. Keep hating him and the truth shall prevail.

go and sh.it down

Buhari have oil wellwhich someone is taking care for him just as we dont hear Obj, ibb names in all the oil owners bruhaha

Buhari was once the chairman of miyeti allah in west africa yethe could not be able to transformthose normads into 21st century animal farm.
But he is interested to lead us, is it bcus he is fulani andany zombie from fulani extraction see nigeria as their fathers estate and fools from core north also see them as sacred cows.

Which reasonable country can buhari with all his evil involvement in nigeria can stand and point fingers? Is it not only nigeria
He truncate democricy yet expires to be a democratic president.

This man doesnt know his left from his right am saying it sincerely no castigating.
He can vile to be emir of kastina or even sokoto pls not nigeria.

And they say APC is the way forward....smh

Treat Boko Haram the Way You
Treated Niger Delta Militants-Buhari
Former Head of State General
Muhammadu Buhari has advised
President Goodluck Jonathan to resign
from office for his inability to tackle the security challenges facing the
country.
“Jonathan should vacate and give way
to competent hand to govern the
country”, he said.
Speaking to newsmen in his residence in Daura town yesterday, General
Buhari said the issue of security is a
fundamental duty of any responsible
government, but Jonathan failed to
protect the lives and the properties of
Nigerians since he assumed power. “When the Niger Delta militants
started their activities in the South-
South, they were invited by the late
President Umaru Yar’adua.
An aircraft was sent to them and their
leaders met with the late President in Aso Rock and discussed issues. They
were given money and a training
scheme was introduced for their
members. But when the Boko Haram
emerged in the north members of the
sect were killed,” General Buhari lamented.
“And when the police failed to
address the insurgency, soldiers were
invited and they captured the Boko
Haram leader, Muhammad Yusuf alive
and handed him over to police. But Yusuf was eventually killed, his in-law
too was killed and their houses were
demolished”, he said.
He said the murder of the Boko Haram
leader however provoked his
followers and that was what led the country to its present situation. He
suggested that government should
adopt a new approach that will end
the insurgency without affecting the
lives and properties of innocent
people. “In Bama and Baga towns, military
personnel were reported to have
been engaged in extortion and
sometimes raping of women. And
because a soldier was killed in Baga
the whole town was sacked by military. This is not the best way
military should have acted when they
were sent to restore law and order in
a town. How can a responsible
government allow its people to be
killed in this way,” he asked. He warned that the police, SSS, army,
navy and Air force should know how
to conduct themselves and act
professionally.
“The soldiers are not expected to go
and sack a town because one of them is killed. They are expected to capture
the culprits for prosecution. After all
the soldiers are not meant to tackle
internal crisis but when it is necessary
they should act professionally.
“Whoever is sent to protect people should also protect their integrity.
When the former England’s Prime
Minister, Margret Thatcher decided to
hold its political meeting in Brighton
the security advised her to cancel the
meeting because of the IRN rebellions, but she insisted and held the meeting.
The hotel she was accommodated
was bombed and some of her political
associates were killed but soldiers did
not condone the area and kill
everybody there, rather they conducted themselves professionally,”
Buhari said.
General Buhari, who condemned the
imposition of state of emergency in
Borno, Yobe and Adamawa states,
said state of emergency was not the best way to address insurgency in the
three affected states and the country
in general.
“Government cannot kill all the Boko
Haram members. Government should
rather arrest and prosecute the Boko Haram members. They should only be
killed when they said clearly they
wage war against their country like
what happened during the civil war.
And even during civil war we that
fought in the war were given a copy of code of conduct book which guided
us against killing innocent people”, he
said.

Beaf again

Our politicians know what game they are playing. they criticize each other on the pages of newspaper and leave we, the masses, confused while they wine and dine in secret places. It is only God that can save us from their grip.

No way I'm reading that, too long

Buhari inherited Maitatsine from Shagari


Buhari distinguished the crisis absolutely, and till today no-one has heard of that again.


Buhari is wat Nigeria needs, a firm hand that will tackle corruption, impunity and indiscipline @ all levels of Nigeria's being.

Must Buhari always complain for whatever the president do? I dnt like the way he kip critising him or rather asking him to step down..he is showing the hatred he have towards the president i am not happy with that.

The Major General has no focus maybe be e should continue his millitary studies so he can turn General one day and have high thinking and reasoning Faculty he will always open mouth and alter illegal words #Shame on Major general

Fashola go just waste lagos state money untop washed up ex president and tinubu must be really high on canal water to think he wud ever get close to sit at aso rock do rally from now till eternity if una like strip naked we all knw the source of boko haram funds pls we don't want murderers and a midget with owl eyes on that sit sit and enjoy ur toll gate money.

mayorbaron: Wonder why God is still keeping this man alive..

And 'll his death do Nigeria any good?

automaticcarzz: Buhari remains the only former General with no oil license despite the fact that he was Petroleum Miinister. Buhari is the only former Genaral who has refused to join other Generals in PDP to loot the treasury. Keep hating him and the truth shall prevail.

he doesn't loot but he is a muderer witout any vision for nigeria its clear he is just arogant and has an empty brain. With the power and wealth in this democracy imagine wat he gonna turn into his lust for power is disgusting. Power witout brains mtchewwwwwwwwww

Buhari's is disgrace to this country Nigeria he is a disgrace to human-hold the evil he is planning against this country government will go back to him one day, God will surely judge him with his boko boys.

i have never criticized buhari before but this time he definately has gone beyond his boundaries. How buhari equates niger delta militants with boko haram sect beats me hollow. Mr. Buhari, how many innocent people did the militants kill? How many churches and how many mosques did they wreak havoc on? Did the militants have a clear cut and realistic reason why they took to arms or not? When they were invited to dialogue did they oblige or not? The answers are all YES!!! Which of these questions has yes as answer when applied to boko haram? The mere fact that you have always been supportive of violence and boko haram smacks of mischief and suspicion. I have lost all the respect i ever had for you. If you can't support the onslaught against boko haram then go to blazes sir!!!

automaticcarzz: Buhari remains the only former General with no oil license despite the fact that he was Petroleum Miinister. Buhari is the only former Genaral who has refused to join other Generals in PDP to loot the treasury. Keep hating him and the truth shall prevail.

it's obvious he wants the oil license now.

When would Buhari ever blame the Boko boys for rejecting amnesty? When would he ever tell them how st2pid they are?

He is just a pot calling the kettle black. A mad man calling another lunatic...no difference. History doesnt forget history - Buhari should be reminded of that in case his desire to continue to bid (and fail) for Nigerian presidency has over ridden his common sense....Aboki, we dey watch u oo. I swear, Baba Iyabo will never take this nonsense yarn from a nonsense aboki man...Never!