“Buhari will defeat Jonathan this time because …”



More than 30 years after he ruled with an iron fist, jailing the corrupt and championing the virtues of military discipline in all things, Muhammadu Buhari is now being billed as Nigeria’s saviour.

The 71-year-old retired army general on Thursday won a landslide victory for the main opposition All Progressive Congress (APC) ticket to challenge Goodluck Jonathan for the presidency next year.

A win would be fourth time lucky for Buhari after a previous failed attempt against Jonathan in 2011 and unsuccessful bids in 2007 and 2003.
Buhari and Jonathan

Buhari and Jonathan

His latest candidacy was met with scorn by the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who said the moustachioed former military ruler has nothing new to offer.

Jonathan, in power since 2010, said the February 14 vote was “a choice between going forward or going backwards, between the new ways and the old ways, between freedom and repression”.

PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh added: “Apart from changing to a dinner suit, General Buhari has not changed the tired ideas and provocative utterances that Nigerians rejected in previous elections.”

Yet far from being dismissed as one of the old guard, Buhari’s methods are seen by some as the only way to help Africa’s troubled giant change course.

The APC points to his record tackling corruption, while even the PDP founder, former president Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that Buhari would be better placed to end the Boko Haram insurgency.

– ‘War against indiscipline’ –

Nigerians who were around when Buhari overthrew civilian president Shehu Shagari on December 31, 1983 recalled the changes he brought about in a country blighted by years of graft and inefficiency.

“Buhari’s government introduced ‘War Against Indiscipline’ and everybody inculcated the culture of orderliness in doing things, without cutting corners,” said 60-year-old Samuel Adebowale.

“Under him, corruption and impunity were prohibited and anyone found wanting would be sent to prison,” the businessman told AFP in Lagos.

Water vendor Musa Wushishi, 42, said he expected Buhari to reintroduce such methods if elected — and believed he would have widespread support.

“Buhari will defeat Jonathan this time because we’re tired of this government. Buhari is an honest man. He’ll fight corruption and all those who have stolen Nigeria’s money will be dealt with.

“He did it before… Nigeria will be great again under Buhari. He will crush Boko Haram and there will be peace everywhere,” he said.

In the APC stronghold of Lagos at least, those either too young or not even born when Buhari headed Nigeria’s Supreme Military Council from 1983 to 1985 expressed similar views.

“I was told Buhari was very tough as a military head of state, that he killed drug pushers and jailed pressmen and all that,” said university student Demola Akinlabi, 17.

“We need somebody with an iron hand to govern Nigeria. Look at Jonathan and his government. Nothing seems to be working anymore. No jobs, no light, the roads are bad.

“Look at the killings in the north. He cannot do anything about it.”

– Dictator to democrat –

For analysts decrypting Nigeria’s election campaign, Buhari is seen as strong on anti-corruption and military nous but weak on policy and the day-to-day of political life.

Chris Ngwodo, a political commentator, said Buhari may be helped by the “demographic dividend” of young voters that has transformed his image from dictator to democrat.

“The passage of time has polished his record and created a myth,” he told AFP in a recent interview.

Certainly, the softly spoken Buhari’s strong-arm tactics were not applauded by human rights groups at the time, with critics of the regime, including the Afro-beat legend Fela Kuti, thrown in jail.

Drug traffickers were executed and limits imposed on the media.

Buhari himself has promised a more conciliatory approach.

“I do not intend to rule Nigeria. I want to democratically govern it with your help,” he told APC delegates on Thursday.

But for Dapo Thomas, a political scientist at Lagos state university, the fact that voters may be willing to overlook Buhari’s past record of draconian rule is telling.

Unemployment is rising, security worsening, infrastructure crumbling and the country’s oil-dependent economy is tanking due to a fall in the global price of crude, he said.

“The emergence of General Buhari is an answer to the yearnings of the people for change,” he said.

“For a long time, Nigeria has suffered from bad leadership. All the indices of development and positive governance are lacking…

“The Jonathan administration is clueless and does not seem to have the capacity to arrest the drift.”
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RESIGN

I write this because of millions of Nigerians who are below 30 and who constitute a significant chunk of our voting population.

This is the ICT generation that is largely ignorant about the events of the Buhari era (1983-85) and so can be misinformed and misled by needless propaganda. I have sat with many in the under-30 bracket and those slightly above who only have faint recollections of the Buhari era and the level of ignorance about that era is amazing.

Before being MILITARY Head of State, Buhari had been Governor of one of the Northern States (under Obasanjo’s Military government) as well as Minister for Petroleum. He later served as Chairman of PTF under Abacha. Please consider the following unassailable facts:

- He birthed and supervised the establishment of our existing refineries.

- There was no religious crisis while he was Head of State. It started under his successor IBB!

- In his time as Head of State he reduced inflation from 23% to 4%, by fiscal discipline and a homegrown economic team (not achieved under any other era, even military).

- JJ Rawlings of Ghana took over 2 years before him, and killed all the corrupt leaders, while Buhari only sentenced the corrupt leaders here to prison.

- Under his watch as PTF Chairman, what he did in road construction in that short period hasn't been matched by 12 years of the PDP.

- Hospitals and universities around the country never witnessed as much benefits as they got from the PTF from any government after or before his time.

- Despite serving in senior capacity in the oil sector, first as Minister for Petroleum and then Petroleum Trust Fund, Buhari has no petrol station,much less a rig, refinery or an oil block like so many of our leaders.

- He could have retired into nauseating opulence like an IBB or Danjuma or even OBJ but didn't.

- Instead of hobnobbing with the high and mighty, he has cast his lot with the ordinary man most of who follow him out of hope and belief in his values.People who know him have said of him... "All I need from Buhari is his word, I can take it to the bank".

- He is the only politician in the North today who fills rallies without renting a crowd. The Kaduna rally of 2nd March is eloquent proof.

- He refused to collect an allowance while serving as Chairman of the PTF because he said since he was already drawing a pension from government, his conscience would not allow him to draw another salary from the purse of the same government.

- He is the only former head of state that does not own property or land in Abuja.

- Every attempt to rubbish him through probes in time past ended up vindicating him! The man who was asked by OBJ to take over the running of PTF before it was scrapped with the aim of probing and indicting Buhari, was the one who ended up being prosecuted
for misappropriating $100m of PTF funds! Buhari again, was vindicated

- He has OPENLY challenged those who accuse him of religious fundamentalism to come out and show proof. No one has till today, taken up the challenge.His personal driver of many years is a Christian from Plateau State.

- His government initiated the War Against Indiscipline that has made environmental cleanliness, queuing up, not urinating by the roadside etc features of our national life even till today Does it then surprise you why corrupt people would be spreading such heinous rumors about Buhari?

He is a threat to them and they know what he is capable of doing to corruption and corrupt people when he comes into office! So shine your eyes and make the right decision. If honesty and probity are the things you want for Nigeria ,now is the time to choose right. When you cast your vote for the BUHARI, you would have cast one vote for a honest men.

Now that you know better, will you please educate another person BY FORWARDING THIS TO AS MANY AS YOU CAN? THIS IS MORE THAN A CAMPAIGN.IT'S JUST THE TRUTH!!!

Buhari is already in Aso rock come 2015

I keep wondering how Jonathanians expect to convince Nigerians not to vote for a man who can come out to say " I have never stolen from Nigeria if I have please bring the evidence"

Because buhari is a man of integrity I would vote him if I could but because I can't I will play my part from diaspora and promote a honourable man.

Only thieves are afraid of Buhari.

he's our best route out of corruption and impunity... at least for now

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