With the glitter of fool’s gold, Nigeria’s recently elected President Muhammadu Buhari arrived in the United States in July uttering time-worn democracy vows to President Barack Obama and his administration. Among other things, he pledged at the United States Institute for Peace to combat graft with procedures that would be “fair, just, and scrupulously follow due process and the rule of law, as enshrined in our constitution.”

Skepticism is in order—a conclusion reinforced by the ongoing persecution of of former National Security Advisor Sambo Dasuki for alleged money laundering and illegal possession of firearms.

But first some background.

Mr. Buhari initially tasted power as a military dictator following a coup de tat in 1983. His dictatorship was earmarked by chilling human rights abuses. Take the word of Nigerian Nobel Prize laureate Wole Soyinka.

Among other things, Mr. Soyinka highlights Mr. Buhari’s draconian edicts, exemplified by Decree 20 under which the judicial murders of Nigerian citizens Lawal Ojuolape, Bernard Ogedengbe, and Bartholomew Owoh were authorized. Mr. Obedengbe was executed for a crime that did not carry the death penalty at the time it was committed in violation of the universal revulsion of ex post facto laws.

Soyinka adds that these crimes were executed in defiance of pleas from virtually every sector of Nigeria and the international community—a grisly precedent for subsequent dictator Sani Abasha’s hanging of Ogoni activist Ken Sara-Wiwi in contempt of international opinion.

Mr. Buhari turned the nation into a slave plantation, and forbade the slaves from any discussion of their enslavement—especially a return to democracy. He favored the north over the south, dividing rather than unifying Nigeria after the convulsions of the 1967-70 Biafran War. He lent support to the introduction of Sharia law in the North—a major source of strife and disharmony.

Mr. Buhari’s brutal military dictatorship was overthrown in 1985. Mr. Dasuki played a key role. Dictators do not forget. Fast forward to today.

After celebrating fairness, due process, and the rule of law last July to win the good will of the United States, Mr. Buhari returned to Nigeria to mock all three in a vendetta against the Dasuki, the immediate past National Security Adviser.

He placed Mr. Dasuki under house arrest. He confiscated his passport. He charged him with firearms and money laundering violations. He sought a secret trial to prevent independent scrutiny.

He opposed Mr. Dasuki’s pretrial application to the Federal High Court sitting in Abuja for permission to receive urgent medical treatment for cancer in London, but it was nonetheless granted.

Justice Adeniyi Ademola explained that an accused is presumed innocent before trial, and that a citizen’s health is paramount before the law. Mr. Buhari was ordered to release Mr. Dasuki’s international passport.

Mr. Buhari defied the order. He put Mr. Dasuki’s house under siege, a microcosm of the Bosnian Serb siege of Sarajevo. Mr. Dasuki returned to court. Justice Ademola reaffirmed his order, asserting “My own orders will not be flouted.”

Mr. Buhari has not yet budged. As a military dictator in 1985, he similarly seized the international passport of Chief Obafemi Awolowo to thwart his travel for medical treatment, which caused his death in 1987. The more things change, the more they stay the same.

Much is riding on Mr. Dasuki’s case. If Mr. Buhari flouts Justice Ademola’s order with impunity, judicial independence will be fatally compromised and Nigeria’s embryonic democratic dispensation will be stillborn. The judiciary is the only branch capable of checking limitless executive power—the bane of Africa.

Members of Nigeria’s National Assembly and Senate have been reduced to playing the roles of extras in cinematic extravaganzas.

Further, President Goodluck Jonathan’s administration accepted a peaceful transfer of power to President Buhari, a laudable landmark in African politics. If Mr. Buhari is permitted with impunity to destroy his political opponents like Mr. Dasuki with tyrannical methods, peaceful transfers of power everywhere on the Continent will become problematic. The incumbents’ risk of political and personal impalement at the hands of their would-be successors will be too high.

The United States should be insisting on independent human rights observers to monitor Mr. Dasuki’s prosecution and trial, and demanding that Mr. Buhari honor his vow to follow due process and the rule of law. The stakes are too high to remain silent.


http://m.washingtontimes.com/news/2015/nov/18/bruce-fein-nigerian-president-buhari-dupes-us/?utm_source=RSS_Feed

dey there.....

Clearly a sponsored article.

This is no OP-ed!

Mr Buhari's sins have gone global!

I just thank God Dasuki is not from a particular region, IPODWAILERS would have had a field day with this. As for this article, just like someone said above me, it sounds like a sponsored article.

PRYCE:
Guy put source now!

See am I don put am. Na tomato sauce. Hope you like.

MathsChic:
Clearly a sponsored article.

Is there anything you observed that is not true in the article ? State it!

1chance

Washington post can go to hell. Dasuki stole millions of dollars that should have gone into the fight against terrorism and Washington post is here talking about political persecution.


Situation dictates action. It will be very stupid for Nigeria's government to allow Dasuki to leave the country thereby escaping justice. He must remain in Nigeria and answer to all the charges brought against him. The US government did not consider human rights and rule of law when they opened Guantanamo bay camp to detain and persecute terrorist suspects. They should stop breaching morality to us when it is convenient. We will handle the fight against corruption our own way.

hmmmm

MathsChic:
Clearly a sponsored article.

Your own view though.

BedLam:
Is there anything you observed that is not true in the article ? State it!

I really don't understand how Mr. Dasuki is a political opponent. He was a public servant who did an immensely poor job in managing Nigeria's defense budget. Plus, Bruce Fein, the author of the article, should realize that even in America executive powers amount to much. Mr. Obama hasn't exactly been generous with carrying congress along with some of his policies, arm-stringing them into approving of his bail-outs and threatening to veto them on the Iran deal.
I think Mr. Fein, and yes the US, should stay out of Nigeria's business. Even the blind can smell from a thousand yards Mr. Dasuki's limitless corruption, and it's time someone brave called him to the courts.

The writer is a Washington based lawyer and a paid agent.

This write up was bought and paid for with our looted funds.




.......next.

Dasuki abi na Susuki, gather some balls and face buhari... IBB should be the next target.... coup revenge of 1985...

Thank God dasuki is not 4rm dat particular tribe i wnt mention(to avoid...) Washington time can go and die

@ Dasuki. Dem say the man fuk someBODY late wife when BODYlanguage dey house arrest.

BedLam:
See am I don put am. Na tomato sauce. Hope you like.

lol great! The Dullard is being sounded out from every part of the world!

MathsChic:

I really don't understand how Mr. Dasuki is a political opponent. He was a public servant who did an immensely poor job in managing Nigeria's defense budget. Plus, Bruce Fein, the author of the article, should realize that even in America executive powers amount to much. Mr. Obama hasn't exactly been generous with carrying congress along with some of his policies, arm-stringing them into approving of his bail-outs and threatening to veto them on the Iran deal.
I think Mr. Fein, and yes the US, should stay out of Nigeria's business. Even the blind can smell from a thousand yards Mr. Dasuki's limitless corruption, and it's time someone brave called him to the courts.

I wish I can buy you a dinner for your wonderful post.

Is the paid writer also aware that 333 billion naira contract was sign off by Dasuki?

MathsChic:

I really don't understand how Mr. Dasuki is a political opponent. He was a public servant who did an immensely poor job in managing Nigeria's defense budget. Plus, Bruce Fein, the author of the article, should realize that even in America executive powers amount to much. Mr. Obama hasn't exactly been generous with carrying congress along with some of his policies, arm-stringing them into approving of his bail-outs and threatening to veto them on the Iran deal.
I think Mr. Fein, and yes the US, should stay out of Nigeria's business. Even the blind can smell from a thousand yards Mr. Dasuki's limitless corruption, and it's time someone brave called him to the courts.

The US which Buhari went to beg with a bowl should now stay out of Nigerias business ? Then Nigeria has no business Then. Meanwhile you are saying different things citing veto power of Iran and Buhari interfering with the judiciary. Stop leading yourself astray.

Lol! This guy's pained!

seunmsg:
Washington post can go to hell. Dasuki stole millions of dollars that should have gone into the fight against terrorism and Washington post is here talking about political persecution.


Situation dictates action. It will be very stupid for Nigeria's government to allow Dasuki to leave the country thereby escaping justice. He must remain in Nigeria and answer to all the charges brought against him. The US government did not consider human rights and rule of law when they opened Guantanamo bay camp to detain and persecute terrorist suspects. They should stop breaching morality to us when it is convenient. We will handle the fight against corruption our own way.

The hunter has finally become the hunted.

according to this article, buhari is responsible for awolowo's death

In all sincerity, I think the writer got it spot on. The President is making it too easy for writers like this to find gaping holes in his style of governance. Flouting court orders will never portend well for Buhari. Especially seeing how the PDP screamed to high heavens that "A leopard never changes it's colour". A lot of people will now be forced to believe they had a point. Especially seeing how he has been acting since he became the President and Commander-in-Chief.

BedLam:



The US which Buhari went to beg with a bowl should now stay out of Nigerias business ? Then Nigeria has no business Then. Meanwhile you are saying different things citing veto power of Iran and Buhari interfering with the judiciary. Stop leading yourself astray.

And you think the US president doesn't interfere with the judiciary? It's in the tradition of executive power to advance its will one way or the other. Mr. Dasuki deserves every treatment he's getting and one author's opinion, surreptitiously published in Washington Post, should do nothing to determine what Nigerian executive feels is justifiable.

MathsChic:

And you think the US president doesn't interfere with the judiciary? It's in the tradition of executive power to advance its will one way or the other. Mr. Dasuki deserves every treatment he's getting and one author's opinion, surreptitiously published in Washington Post, should do nothing to determine what Nigerian executive feels is justifiable.

Don't just come here and theorize, cite examples, situations, year etc. And ''one way or the other'' doesn't include arresting past security chiefs without public trial.

BedLam:



The US which Buhari went to beg with a bowl should now stay out of Nigerias business ? Then Nigeria has no business Then. Meanwhile you are saying different things citing veto power of Iran and Buhari interfering with the judiciary. Stop leading yourself astray.

Buhari didn't just dust his ass,hop into the plane and off to New york.He was invited,forgotten?

By the way,what direct impact have you seen from US after the visit?

Are they also aware the thousands of lives lost and displaced?Properties destroyed?Under the watchful eyes of Dasuki.

Dasuki must not be allowed to leave the country whether by hook or crook.

He must answer for all his time as the NSA

themilanway:


Buhari didn't just dust his ass,hop into the plane and off to New york.He was invited,forgotten?

By the way,what direct impact have you seen from US after the visit?

Are they also aware the thousands of lives lost and displaced?Properties destroyed?Under the watchful eyes of Dasuki.

Dasuki must not be allowed to leave the country whether by hook or crook.

He must answer for all his time as the NSA

So you agree with me it was a wasted trip and he is carelessly spending taxpayers money?

He must answer for his time as NSA but try him publicly!

This Is the change they voted for...not me. Proudly 5% yo!!!!

Proudly biafran
waiting for the children of hate to start blaming igbos for this post written by a wellknown America news website