Former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari,
is no stranger to the contest, having run thrice before
in 2003, 2007 and 2011. There is no doubt about the
popularity of the peoples’ general, but his mass
support has not put him office principally because
certain sections of the northern elite fear that the
egalitarian Buhari may erode the basis of their
privileges.
I believe that what should matter
to Nigerian voters are the track-records, integrity,
sincerity and vision of a candidate, not their region or
religion. The reality, as we all know, is different,
especially with a president who deliberately finds
ways of aggravating religious and ethnic divides for
political advantage.
It has been observed, rightly, illiteracy, corruption,
injustice and inequality are the major factors fueling
northern Nigeria’s ongoing religious, political, social
and economic upheavals, and that even the most basic
form of good governance will go a long way to
mitigate these challenges.
It is clear that without drastic change, things may get
even worse in the north, and consequently, Nigeria as
a whole. It is equally apparent that Jonathan has
neither the inclination, nor the capacity to manage
these challenges.
The question is, now that even the North’s elite are
no longer safe, will they bite the bullet and support
Buhari if he emerges as the APC’s candidate? As
they have in the past, I think that the northern
establishment will work for Jonathan.
I do not see Ibrahim Babangida, Aliyu Gusau, Adamu
Ciroma, Barnabas Gemade, Jonah Jang, Gabriel
Suswam, Bello Mohammed Halliru, Samaila Sa
bawa, Ibrahim Mantu, David Mark, Jerry Gana, Sarki
Tafida, Jonathan Zwingina, and others supporting
Buhari’s candidature. For them, the present state of
insecurity and uncertainty is more acceptable than a
possible Buhari presidency.
That is because the interests of the northern
establishment is, and has always been different from
that of the ordinary people of the region. The North
that supports Buhari has nothing to do with the
usurpation of political and economic opportunities to
the exclusion of other Nigerians. Buhari’s North is
the North that is poor, hungry, illiterate and devoid of
hope.
Buhari’s followers are the victims of the corruption
and arrogance of the narrow clique in the
establishment that has held Nigeria hostage for
decades. His north is one for whom the various
administrations headed by northerners have not
resulted in better lives, education or improved
opportunities.
Buhari’s north does not fly to Europe or America
every fortnight for medical checkups or shopping
sprees in Dubai. This north does not keep bank
accounts in London, New York, Dubai, South Africa,
Jordan, Beijing and Hong Kong; they own no bank
accounts at all. This north that does not allocate all
the best positions in the country to its children,
qualified or not. Buhari’s north simply wants a better
life.
Given the security and economic situation in the North
today, if votes were to be free and fair, Jonathan
will not get up to 10% of votes from the region. This is
because despite proclamations, if Jonathan has
achieved anything in the past four years, it has not
reached them. To add insult to injury, he is sending
the wrong the emissaries to woo their votes – the
same people that systematically impoverished the
region and the country.
Northern elite may despise Buhari and vehemently
oppose his return to office because they suspect,
rightly or wrongly, that he may destroy their power
base and end their corruption and nepotism. But how
long will they continue to ally with, and support a
system that has proved to be incapable of protecting
the very system from which they derive their benefits?
Does the northern establishment fear Buhari so much
that they are willing to support a clueless leadership,
whose incompetence threatens the existence of the
North and Nigeria, simply because they want to
preserve their elite status?
Interesting times make for interesting choices.

Culled

barcanista Gbawe, kel4soft, neenar, obiagelli ,
descartes, egift, arewafederation, Egbagirl, donroxy,
Sweetlemon , donphilopus, berem, desola ,
demdem , lakpalakpa , whitecat007 , ,
lakpalakpa, omenka, ShehuAba , omenka , Rawani,
tribaleast kolaaderin soroptimist MizMyColi,
and all Omexonomy, jmaine, mikeansy, Firefire,
Mynd44, , nduchucks, lacasa, whatlyf



For those that were unjustly handed bans yesterday (all of them apc supporters) don't give up.

By Barcanista

GENERAL MUHAMMADU BUHARI
[img]http://3.bp..com/_KOq6AlodkJI/S-LuYZ7tc6I/AAAAAAAACnA/gIN34wAmv_4/s1600/buhari2.jpg[/img]
ECONOMY
Inherited a dwindling economy,
1. Paid of $50m loan within few days of assumption and cleared the country's debt
2. Reduced Inflation from 23% to 3.21% within 20months.
3. Nigeria's GDP by Purchasing Power Parity was $941.2, it Grew by 8.56 %
3. Refused to devalue the Naira
4. curbing imports of needless goods, curtailing oil theft and using counter trade policy to barter seized illegally bunkered crude oil for needful goods like machineries, enabling it to export above its OPEC quota.
5. Under Buhari, Hoarded Goods were Sold at prices below market.

CORRUPTION:
1. Senator Sabo Bakin Zuwo, The Civilian Governor of Kano State was jailed for 300Years because $4.5 million was said to be found "stacked up" in Zuwo's home when it was searched by the new military government. He died in 1989
2. Vice President Alex Ekwueme was jailed of corruption. Stockpiles of money ranged from $56,000 found at his home
3. Fmr Bendel Governor Ambrose Alli was jailed for 100years for misappropriating funds belonging to Bendel State to the tune of N983,000. The Money was meant for road project but he donated it to his Party. He was later freed when Sir Gabriel Igbenedion paid fine to the Government.
4. A total of 4000 exGovernment officials submitted themselves to be tried for Corruption.Over 600 were Jailed Convicted and Jailed.
5. Many High profile Government officials, Businessmen, foreigners were jailed for one corrupt practice or the other.
6. Political office Holders, Businessmen, Contractors, civil servants and many others shunned corruption like a Plague

INSURGENCY
1. Maitatsine Group founded by Maitatsine Marwa, a Koranic scholar, rejected the hadith and the sunnah and regarded the reading of any other book but the Koran as paganism raised its head in 1979 during the Administration of President Shehu Shagari after he was contained by the Murtala and Obasanjo Administrations. Maitatsine spoke against the use of radios, watches, bicycles, cars and the possession of more money than necessary. Churches, Market, Police Formations, Government buildings etc was attacked leaving over FIVE thousand dead btw 1979 and 1981 (including Maitatsine).The Group moved to Kano, Borno, Kaduna, Gombe and environs. Over 4,000 people died(65% were insurgents). Buhari Crushed the Insurgency COMPLETELY within 16months. The 2i/c fled to Cameroon and was arrested in 2004.

OTHER SECURITY
1. There was high rate of armed robbery during Shagari's regime. Buhari stepped it, brought an end to armed robbery.
2. Introduced NURTW to checkmate "One Chance" and subsequently brought law and order.
3. Drug traffikers were executed.

PETROLEUM INFRASTRUCTURE
1. As NNPC Chairman, He was the man that Initiated and signed the construction contract of the existing Warri and Kaduna refineries. Two of the ONLY 3 Refineries In Nigeria. As at that time, Nigeria had just 1 Refinery-Portharcourt Refinery, established in 1965.

THE PRESS
He Instituted decree 2 and Decree 4 that was aimed at gaging the Press and Banned street protests. This is his only low but he was honest in his actions.

N/B: I deliberately refused to including Road Projects and others so as not to make it too bulky and boring.[/quote]

I look forward to Buhari/Fashola administration

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/1402348_1-IMG_8971_jpga9ada4a49c8244326a3f29bdb74962b7[/img]

you can hail him all you want, he doesn't appeal to us the Middle belters, the minorities and the Christians in the North. If we perceive that hes the only presidential candidate, then we would not vote instead of voting for him. Believe me.

Alisha4U: you can hail him all you want, he doesn't appeal to us the Middle belters, the minorities and the Christians in the North. If we perceive that hes the only presidential candidate, then we would not vote instead of voting for him. Believe me.

Who asked your religion or tribe?

egift: I look forward to Buhari/Fashola administration

[img]https://www.nairaland.com/attachments/1402348_1-IMG_8971_jpga9ada4a49c8244326a3f29bdb74962b7[/img]

Perfect combination, if only Apc is daring enough

Nothing will stop me from voting APC come 2015... Jonah must go. Dats all
APC needs to be careful not to arrive at Muslim/Muslim ticket. It will definitely affect the party.

Alisha4U: you can hail him all you want, he doesn't appeal to us the Middle belters, the minorities and the Christians in the North. If we perceive that hes the only presidential candidate, then we would not vote instead of voting for him. Believe me.

Here is the problem of Nigeria... You mean at this age and time you still allow ethno religious inclination to dictate your regular thinking pattern? Yours is a sorry case.