₦airaland Forum

noblezone:
Bro, first he is not a fool@

Yes he is for waiting for the death of innocent lives before waking up.


Secondly, he was not waiting for thousands of innocent souls to die first.

His actions and inactions led to it. That is all that matters. When history is to be written, this will be said about him.

The battle against BH is not a simple as you many of you are seeing it.

Dont be deceived. What is Boko Haram? What spectacular thing is the military doing now that they couldnt do years ago? how long does it take to arm them. He met them as very local champions but right under his nose they became international players.


Jonathan being a democrat to the core was looking for all avenues to negotiate peace without much blood shedding.
His peaceful approach to the war was not an act of cowardice but an act of a President with a human heart.

Reasonable

Mind you that the opposition did all they could to sabotage this war!

Big Lie !!!! if u are so sure of ursef, go to specifics

When he was gentle and was even ready for amnesty, he was opposed.

Big lie. There was a time in this country when both the presidency and opposition was for amnesty. Are u not aware that one of the so called sins on Buhari was because he requested for amnesty for boko haram? so what do u mean by this. All was in support but demdem was never for it and i criticised it right from Jonah-daft to Buhari.


(He was hoping to achieve the same feat like they did in the Niger Delta)

It was a foolish idea. ND militants are criminals. U dont appease criminals, u destroy them. ND militants ought to have been destroyed. The refusal of govt to destroy them is now costing us billions of naira monthly in appeasement. The fool was busy going about declaring that evil boko are his siblings

When he brought out the cane and declared state of emergency, he was opposed.

This is also another lie. At the initial stage, there was no opposition because it was obvious that it was needed. Infact, Nigerians were furious that the SOE came so late. DOnt rewrite history.
Of cos when it was time to renew the emergency, sane Nigerians started questioning the rationale because months after the emergency with the militarization of this zone, nothing seems to have been achieved. It was sane to begin to ask the right question and this was asked. That is not opposition but accountability.


Norhtern leaders accused him of declaring war against the North (were you not here?)

And their basis was simple and straightforward. The military that ought to wipe out BokoHaram in their midst were not doing so but killing innocent Northerners. While the military was in their midst killing lives, Boko Haram was gaining grounds and becoming stronger. Who in the right senses wont think Jonah-daft have a hiddden agenda to wipe out their people. For instance, the miliatry has suddenly entered the sambissa forest and killing the real terrorist, is anyone complaining that Northerners are being killed? of cos not because its obvious now that the real boko fools are the ones being killed. This wasnt happening before.


Buhari lamented the killing of Boko Haram members. (were you not here?)


That was the era of when he also fell for the amnesty calls. he felt talking with them will do the magic. Jonah-daft thought the same way. Both of them were foolish to think Boko haram needs to be appease.

There were elements in the NA who were sympathetic to the course of the BH.
They betrayed their colleagues and sabotaged the whole efforts!

So who is to be blamed for this? Demdem? or should the dead be blamed for this? It boils down to the military formation and ultimately Jonah-Daft who is their commander in chief.

Bros, as much as we are celebrating these victories, I want you to know that innocent people are also dying along!

And am telling u that it wouldnt even have led to this if and only if what ought to be done was done earlier. Those dead ought not to have died if and only if we had held the bull by the horn from the beginning

They call it collateral damages!

Put a human face to it. God forbid, if ur mama was part of the statistics, will u regard it as such?

BH is not fighting a conventional war!
It is a guerrilla warfare!
Humans (women and children) are used as shields and as suicide bombers!

And when Jonah-daft began governing, was this how they started? do u know that the first bomb thrown in Oct 1 came also from his camp (militants, Mend, IBb. Dokpesi etc). Jonah-daft met a group of disorganised criminals but due to his misgovernance, they became sophisticated. who should be blamed for that?

The sad truth is this,had it been that a Northern Moslem is in power!, BH would not have been on rampage!

Probably because that leader would have acted right on time. There is a precedence to this as regards the cult Buhari defeated. All leaders we have had always have their own unique challenges as they govern. Jonah-daft have had his own but it took the death of thousands and annexation of a part of the coutry for him to wake up and act.

It is not about Jonathan, it is about the soul of the fraud called "one" Nigeria!

I know that Nigeria is a fraud and thats why peeps like me called and still calling for a SNC and not the charade the fool gave us for a conference. Pending that, it remains a fraud.

While you have the freedom and the liberty to condemn Jonathatn and call him names, I will also like you to use this liverty to ask questions like
1. Why would Nigerians take up arms and start killing Nigerians?

Because we are different. As it is up north likewise it happened for years down here in the south with militants. Reasons includes, greed, radicalisation etc However its the responsibility of govt and whosoever is in power to maintain order. This the fool failed miserably.

2. Why was the so called opposition more or less hailing the Boko Haram?

Shut ur trap with these baseless lies. what do u mean by more or less? that is a fraudulent talk. its either they hailed boko haram or they do not. which is which? Now tell me, which among them did jonah-daft arrested or even question for once for alligning with terrorists?

3. Why was Mr. President opposed at every move?

Even if he ffucks his wife everyday, some will still oppose him. why should anyone be bothered about this? its part of the barrages of being a leader. Unfortuantely, many of his so called moves led to more and more deaths of the innocent so dont expect otherwise.

4. Why would some Nigerian soldiers betray their colleagues into the hands of the BH?

Ask the commander in chief who should know being their commanding officer. This isnt a question for bloody civillians to answer.

5. Why did the Northern leaders, say Jonathan had declared war aginst the north when it was against the BH?

Av answered this. Go up and read.


6. Why did Buhari lament the killing of Boko Haram members?

Av answered this. go up and read.


Food for thought
Gowon supported by the Britain led Nigeria to destroy Biafra lands and Ojukwu was blamed!

Yes because Ojukwu embarked on a mission that was doomed to fail from day1. he never really counted the cost because his ego simply didnt just allow him to. of cos, when it matterd most, he fled.


Shekau supported by Northern Islamic and Political leaders led the BH to destroy the north east, Jonathan is blamed!

The same old crap that is regularly repeated. Only fools will believe the northern elites supports shekau in killing their people. have u heard of the exploits of the civillian JTF? who are the core people in these group? are they southerners? No evidence to substanciate this crap of urs.

Be wise bro, a vote against Jonathan is not only a mistake, but a disastrous one!

On the contrary, a vote against Jonah-daft is the wise thing to do. The truth is if not for the pending elections, i doubt if the fool would have woken up from his slumber. simply for his selfish interest, he suddenly thinks that its high time these blood letting stops.
This selfish fool has to go.

i wish you well.

Likewise i

Truckpusher:
I Av always been a cvnt and I wouldn't be surprised if I av got a cvnt dad and a cvnt mom at home with loads of cvnt kids.

nzeadachie:
HE SAID THAT ONLY ANIMALS LIKE YOU AND JOBLESS PEOPLE LIKE OBY EZEKWESILI ARE STILL TALKING ABOUT THE PROPAGANDA CALLED CHIBOK GIRLS

Truckpusher:
With all your bitterness you've got just one vote.

What a pity.

stexsy:
its not ur fault, ur parents were busy phocking n forgot to give u proper home training, that is why u r very comfortable calling ur president, a man dat can feed n cloth u till u die a fool. U r very stupid

mko2005:
I guess US currently leading a host of 42 other nations in a coalition against ISIS met ISIS as riff raffs but allowed them to grow to an international menace and yet couldn't stop their nefarious activities ?

God help us

Billyonaire:
Do you have Blood Pressure Apparatus and some Vasoprin Tablets ? You are about to end up in Cardiac arrest. Keep insulting your father's President.

PhockPhockMan:
Your ranting can never stop the wheel of progress. Weeping is allowed my brother.

Toktee:
let him visit gwazo,chibok and sambisa forest etc,i dnt gve a fvch,let him bring back our 300 girls and $20bn,else he will still march2otueke.
VOTE 4 JONAH IS AN INVITATION TO MORE DISASTER.

stexsy:
anytime i read ur comments, i weep cos ur entire generaion is finished. Lack of home training. I believe ur parents were twins

Louislewis:
The Interviewer selectively interviewing younger ones that knows nothing about Buhari. Why not interview more matured and frontliners of that protest that might be likely the motivitors to the younger ones that were involved? This could also be a stage managed protest by APC with the intention of blackmailing PDP through the outcome of that interviewer.

Lancelott:
bro there iss nothing wrong in thay, why are we killing ourselves over it??

ceejayclas:
"Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition" - By General Muhammadu Buhari
Chatham House, London, 26 February 2015

Permit me to start by thanking Chatham House for the invitation to talk about this important topic at this crucial time. The 2015 general election in Nigeria is generating a lot of interests within and outside the country. This is understandable. Nigeria, Africa’s most populous country and largest economy, is at a defining moment, a moment that has great implications beyond the democratic project and beyond the borders of my dear country.

So let me say upfront that the global interest in Nigeria’s landmark election is not misplaced at all and indeed should be commended, for this is an election that has serious import for the world. I urge the international community to continue to focus on Nigeria at this very critical moment. Given increasing global linkages, it is in our collective interests that the postponed elections should hold on the rescheduled dates, that they should be free and fair, that their outcomes should be respected by all parties, and that any form of extension, under whichever guise, is unconstitutional and would not be tolerated.

With the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989, the dissolution of the USSR in 1991, the collapse of communism and the end of the Cold War, democracy became the dominant and most preferred system of government across the globe. That global transition has been aptly captured as the triumph of democracy and the ‘most pre-eminent political idea of our time.’ On a personal note, the phased end of the USSR was a turning point for me. If you will, that was my own road to Damascus experience. It convinced me that change can be brought about without firing a single shot. As you all know, I had been a military head of state in Nigeria for twenty months. We intervened because we were unhappy with the state of affairs in our country.

We wanted to arrest the drift. Driven by patriotism, influenced by the prevalence and popularity of such drastic measures all over Africa and elsewhere, we fought our way to power. But the global triumph of democracy has shown that another, and a preferable, path to change is possible. It is an important lesson I have carried with me since, and a lesson that is not lost on the African continent.

In the last two decades, democracy has grown strong roots in Africa. Elections, once so rare, are now so commonplace. As at the time I was a military head of state between 1983 and 1985, only four African countries held regular multi-party elections. But the number of electoral democracies in Africa, according to Freedom House, jumped to 10 in 1992/1993 then to 18 in 1994/1995 and to 24 in 2005/2006.

According to the New York Times, 42 of the 48 countries in Sub-Sahara Africa conducted multi-party elections between 1990 and 2002. The newspaper also reported that between 2000 and 2002, ruling parties in four African countries (Senegal, Mauritius, Ghana and Mali) peacefully handed over power to victorious opposition parties. In addition, the proportion of African countries categorized as not free by Freedom House declined from 59% in 1983 to 35% in 2003. Without doubt, Africa has been part of the current global wave of democratisation.

But the growth of democracy on the continent has been uneven. According to Freedom House, the number of electoral democracies in Africa slipped from 24 in 2007/2008 to 19 in 2011/2012; while the percentage of countries categorised as ‘not free’ increased from 35% in 2003 to 41% in 2013. Also, there have been some reversals at different times in Burkina Faso, Central African Republic, Cote D’Ivoire, Guinea, Guinea-Bissau, Lesotho, Mali, Madagascar, Mauritania and Togo.

While we can choose to look at the glass of democracy in Africa as either half full or half empty. While you can’t have representative democracy without elections, it is equally important to look at the quality of the elections and to remember that mere elections do not democracy make. It is globally agreed that democracy is not an event, but a journey. And that the destination of that journey is democratic consolidation—that state where democracy has become so rooted and so routine and widely accepted by all actors.

With this important destination in mind, it is clear that though many African countries now hold regular elections, very few of them have consolidated the practice of democracy. It is important to also state at this point that just as with elections, a consolidated democracy cannot be an end by itself. I will argue that it is not enough to hold series of elections or even to peacefully alternate power among parties.

It is much more important that the promise of democracy goes beyond just allowing people to freely choose their leaders. It is much more important that democracy should deliver on the promise of choice, of freedoms, of security of lives and property, of transparency and accountability, of rule of law, of good governance and of shared prosperity. It is very important that the promise embedded in the concept of democracy, the promise of a better life for the generality of the people, is not delivered in the breach.

Now, let me quickly turn to Nigeria. As you all know, Nigeria’s fourth republic is in its 16th year and this general election will be the fifth in a row. This is a major sign of progress for us, given that our first republic lasted five years and three months, the second republic ended after four years and two months and the third republic was a still-birth. However, longevity is not the only reason why everyone is so interested in this election.

The major difference this time around is that for the very first time since transition to civil rule in 1999, the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) is facing its stiffest opposition so far from our party the All Progressives Congress (APC). We once had about 50 political parties, but with no real competition. Now Nigeria is transiting from a dominant party system to a competitive electoral polity, which is a major marker on the road to democratic consolidation. As you know, peaceful alternation of power through competitive elections have happened in Ghana, Senegal, Malawi and Mauritius in recent times.

The prospects of democratic consolidation in Africa will be further brightened when that eventually happens in Nigeria.

But there are other reasons why Nigerians and the whole world are intensely focussed on this year’s elections, chief of which is that the elections are holding in the shadow of huge security, economic and social uncertainties in Africa’s most populous country and largest economy.

On insecurity, there is a genuine cause for worry, both within and outside Nigeria. Apart from the civil war era, at no other time in our history has Nigeria been this insecure. Boko Haram has sadly put Nigeria on the terrorism map, killing more than 13,000 of our nationals, displacing millions internally and externally, and at a time holding on to portions of our territory the size of Belgium. What has been consistently lacking is the required leadership in our battle against insurgency.

I, as a retired general and a former head of state, have always known about our soldiers: they are capable, well trained, patriotic, brave and always ready to do their duty in the service of our country. You all can bear witness to the gallant role of our military in Burma, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Darfur and in many other peacekeeping operations in several parts of the world. But in the matter of this insurgency, our soldiers have neither received the necessary support nor the required incentives to tackle this problem. The government has also failed in any effort towards a multi-dimensional response to this problem leading to a situation in which we have now become dependent on our neighbours coming to our rescue.

Let me assure you that if I am elected president, the world will have no cause to worry about Nigeria as it has had to recently, that Nigeria will return to its stabilising role in West Africa, and that no inch of Nigerian territory will ever be lost to the enemy because we will pay special attention to the welfare of our soldiers in and out of service, we will give them adequate and modern arms and ammunitions to work with, we will improve intelligence gathering to choke Boko Haram's financial and equipment channels, we will be tough on terrorism and tough on its root causes by initiating a comprehensive economic development plan promoting infrastructural development, job creation, agriculture and industry in the affected areas.

We will always act on time and not allow problems to irresponsibly fester, and I, General Muhammadu Buhari, will always lead from the front and return Nigeria to its leadership role in regional and international efforts to combat terrorism.

On the economy, the fall in prices of oil has brought our economic and social stress into full relief. After the rebasing exercise in April 2014, Nigeria overtook South Africa as Africa’s largest economy. Our GDP is now valued at $510 billion and our economy rated 26th in the world. Also on the bright side, inflation has been kept at single digit for a while and our economy has grown at an average of 7% for about a decade. But it is more of paper growth, a growth that, on account of mismanagement, profligacy and corruption, has not translated to human development or shared prosperity. A development economist once said three questions should be asked about a country’s development: one, what is happening to poverty? Two, what is happening to unemployment? And three, what is happening to inequality?

The answers to these questions in Nigeria show that the current administration has created two economies in one country, a sorry tale of two nations: one economy for a few who have so much in their tiny island of prosperity; and the other economy for the many who have so little in their vast ocean of misery. Even by official figures, 33.1% of Nigerians live in extreme poverty. That’s at almost 60 million, almost the population of the United Kingdom. There is also the unemployment crisis simmering beneath the surface, ready to explode at the slightest stress, with officially 23.9% of our adult population and almost 60% of our youth unemployed. We also have one of the highest rates of inequalities in the world. With all these, it is not surprising that our performance on most governance and development indicators (like Mo Ibrahim Index on African Governance and UNDP’s Human Development Index.) are unflattering. With fall in the prices of oil, which accounts for more than 70% of government revenues, and lack of savings from more than a decade of oil boom, the poor will be disproportionately impacted.

In the face of dwindling revenues, a good place to start the repositioning of Nigeria's economy is to swiftly tackle two ills that have ballooned under the present administration: waste and corruption. And in doing this, I will, if elected, lead the way, with the force of personal example.

On corruption, there will be no confusion as to where I stand. Corruption will have no place and the corrupt will not be appointed into my administration. First and foremost, we will plug the holes in the budgetary process. Revenue producing entities such as NNPC and Customs and Excise will have one set of books only. Their revenues will be publicly disclosed and regularly audited. The institutions of state dedicated to fighting corruption will be given independence and prosecutorial authority without political interference. But I must emphasise that any war waged on corruption should not be misconstrued as settling old scores or a witch-hunt. I'm running for President to lead Nigeria to prosperity and not adversity.

In reforming the economy, we will use savings that arise from blocking these leakages and the proceeds recovered from corruption to fund our party’s social investments programmes in education, health, and safety nets such as free school meals for children, emergency public works for unemployed youth and pensions for the elderly. As a progressive party, we must reform our political economy to unleash the pent-up ingenuity and productivity of the Nigerian people thus freeing them from the indignities of poverty.

We will run a private sector-led economy but maintain an active role for government through strong regulatory oversight and deliberate interventions and incentives to diversify the base of our economy, strengthen productive sectors, improve the productive capacities of our people and create jobs for our teeming youths. In short, we will run a functional economy driven by a worldview that sees growth not as an end by itself, but as a tool to create a society that works for all, rich and poor alike. On March 28, Nigeria has a decision to make. To vote for the continuity of failure or to elect progressive change. I believe the people will choose wisely.

In sum, I think that given its strategic importance, Nigeria can trigger a wave of democratic consolidation in Africa. But as a starting point we need to get this critical election right by ensuring that they go ahead and depriving those who want to scuttle it the benefit of derailing our fledgling democracy. That way, we will all see democracy and democratic consolidation as tools for solving pressing problems in a sustainable way, not as ends in themselves.

Permit me to close this discussion on a personal note. I have heard and read references to me as a former dictator in many respected British newspapers including the well regarded Economist. Let me say without sounding defensive that dictatorship goes with military rule, though some might be less dictatorial than others.

I take responsibility for whatever happened under my watch. I cannot change the past. But I can change the present and the future. So before you is a former military ruler and a converted democrat who is ready to operate under democratic norms and is subjecting himself to the rigours of democratic elections for the fourth time.

You may ask: why is he doing this? This is a question I ask myself all the time too. And here is my humble answer: because the work of making Nigeria great is not yet done, because I still believe that change is possible, this time through the ballot, and most importantly, because I still have the capacity and the passion to dream and work for a Nigeria that will be respected again in the comity of nations and that all Nigerians will be proud of.

I thank you for listening.

tuniski:
and you have laundered your future with blood of nigerians. Say no to tyrant and BH apologists, say no to Buhari/APC. Gej all the way!

IdrisAdebiye:
I disagree sir. This is the same approach of GEJ and we all condemn it. why double standard? He should tell us what EXACTLY they plan to do differently. Enough of committees I 'begi'!

Bokoharam:
So, you mean APC does have facts about Nigeria economy, and they are wagging their mouth? This is a huge joke!!!

IdrisAdebiye:
Buhari is still THINKING of putting together a ‘think tank’ thant will advise his government! This is very sad. I expect them to come out boldly and say their think tank members have come up with a blue print already. This approach is not different from the current approach of GEJ. This man has nothing NEW to offer!

Collynzo419:
Nigerians supporting Buhari

baye2023:
On Ebola "we were lucky to have competent governors [Amaechi and Fashola] who didn't wait for the central govt but moved fast to kill Ebola" Buhari answers

Chiaka:
First you!!! Hater. Biggest looser!!

Demdem:

Empty barrels, hold on to straws constantly.
Jonah-daft till ur early grave.

Chiaka:
Loooser!! are causers. Back to sender

Chiaka:
I don't engage in too much chats with people with so much Negative energy.......Points can be made without causing. I see them as frustrated people really......and most times they turn out so. Pardon me to dismiss you.

Chiaka:
.....and you don't deserve to be stoned Sound like a Boko man!!!

OrlandoOwoh:
"I can not change the past, but can change the future." - Buhari.
Just finished listening it on Radio Continental 102.3. It's question time.
Buhari chooses to stand to answer question to sitting. Can a sick man do this?