₦airaland Forum

A worthy endorsement from a right thinking and fearless national commentator.

I HEREBY announce my support of Muhammadu Buhari for President of Nigeria. He is credible, and capable of changing Nigeria for the better.

Is Buhari an angel? No. Indeed, I have criticized him in the past. I have expressed my disappointment that people of his generation and background act as if they are all that Nigeria has got.

That argument is still valid. At the April elections, however, he will be the best that Nigeria has got. Everyone knows that next month’s election will be the most critical in Nigeria’s history. It will show whether we have learned anything from our own history or not, and therefore whether we are determined to move forward or not.

Of the lessons we have learned, the elections will show, most of all, whether we have learned what I call the David Hill lesson. As editor of the London Weekend, Mr. Hill wrote a column in which he considered the question as to why people would do the same thing over and over again but expect different results. He wondered why a man who struck his own thumb with a hammer twice would expect not to experience the same excruciating pain the second time. That is the same question Nigerians must answer in less than one month from now.

My answer is: Yes, if you clobber your thumb with that hammer, you are going to feel the same screaming and searing pain all over again. Actually, the pain will feel worse the second time because—unless you are of considerably languid intelligence— your brain would have informed you ahead of time about just how much of a fool you are and how bad the agony is going to be.

Demographically, two kinds of people will offer their support to Goodluck Jonathan in April. The first comprises of beneficiaries of the incompetent, corrupt and unpatriotic system that has grounded Nigeria since 1999, and which Jonathan unapologetically represents. Of this category, no persuasion is possible. Such supporters are the golddiggers who dig for themselves and see in the atrocious manipulation that gave us Umaru Yar’Adua and Jonathan the perpetuation of that system. For them, there is no bigger picture, and no Nigeria.

But by themselves, they will not be able to put Jonathan back in Aso Rock where, while Yar’Adua lasted, he was so disrespected he was known as the “social prefect.” They will need the full cooperation of the second category: the fools.

This second category comprises of masochists who will vote against the best interest of their own children and their country by giving their ballot to Jonathan of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP). By doing so, they will be authorizing Jonathan to pick up that hammer the second time as they stick out their thumbs, telling him, “Hurt me, sir! Hurt me again! Hurt me, I am a fool!”

And Jonathan will. Jonathan will hurt the people of Nigeria because in the past 12 years, and through agents Obasanjo, Yar’Adua and himself, the party has proved that the mission of the PDP is the PDP.

The PDP provides privately for the PDP, and prescribes punishment for others. And it is because Jonathan will implement that agenda without question that he is carrying what his wife Patience Jonathan advertises at campaign stops as “umblerah” (umbrella). Obasanjo spent eight years carrying it, and he left Nigeria in the dark ages; Obasanjo is following Jonathan around to make certain Jonathan will not deviate. Anyone giving his vote to Jonathan gives him the permission to serve the PDP, to protect its army of crooks and looters, and to spend the federal treasury until it is empty.

A Nigerian may vote Jonathan for a plethora of “reasons,” but in the end, each of them will be found to be selfish or narrow. In the end, none of them will be truly an intelligent argument. The man has no record of character, patriotism or commitment. He is long on promises but extremely short on performance. As soccer coach Chris Udemezue used to say, [a player] cannot do in a match what he was unable to do in practice. Jonathan is not going to give Nigeria in May what he has not given since Yar’Adua died.

Buhari can stretch out one of his long hands and arrest the drift. At this time in our history, his candidature is the wisest, the most promising, and the most logical. He has honour, discipline and strength of character: attributes every great leader must have but which are not a currency of the PDP.

Furthermore, Buhari knows what is wrong with this country, and knows what to do about it, an insight he demonstrated when—as Head of State between 1983 and 1985—he led a memorable assault on indiscipline and excess in public life.

Nigeria needs in office a leader whose word will command respect; a leader who will not speak out of both sides of his mouth; a leader who will deploy power in the national interest and not in the massaging of his own bloated ego and the greed of his friends.

Nigeria needs a leader who is capable of holding himself and those around him to high standards of accountability and performance, not one who simply preaches about them in public.

Nigeria needs a man who has demonstrated he can stand up to Nigeria’s army of the rich and influential, not one whose friends, colleagues and mistresses are exempt from the law.

Nigeria needs a man who will be consistent from day to day, not one for whom right and wrong depends on the company or the time of day. Nigeria needs a man who can tell opportunity from opportunism; a man who can resist the greed, insensitivity and ethical nothingness that now defines the country.

There are many people asking to be president of Nigeria next May, but only Buhari truly meets these basic considerations. Only he answers the question: “Who is Nigeria’s best hope for halting and reversing the deterioration and decay?”

Only he can change the questions and seek new answers. He can bring in new men and women of character, and throw open a genuine new beginning anchored on public service. He can slam the doors on indolence and compromise, and unlock the cellars where the PDP hopes the bodies will never be discovered.

I wholeheartedly endorse his candidature for President of Nigeria because he has the capacity to bring a sense of responsibility and mission to governance. If he does, implementing budgets and policies will become standard, and good men and women will have a place in our nation head of the mob of monsters.

All of this is possible because Buhari has character. In Pastor Tunde Bakare, he has also chosen another man of integrity. Through action, not loud rhetoric, they can correct the principal weaknesses that have made Nigeria an underachieving and under-developing country.

I have never met Buhari or spoken to him. But I have observed him closely for the better part of three decades, and I know that what he offers is superior to the weaknesses those who fear his ascendancy are eager to cite.

Buhari is different. As I preached to complete strangers at Bar Beach in Lagos last week, he is the missing link, and he is an opportunity. I endorse him enthusiastically.

sonala.olumhense@gmail.com

http://www.saharareporters.com/column/i-endorse-muhammadu-buhari-president-sonala-olumhense?nocache=1#comment-190312

U de vex?:
Thats exactly why instead of Bakare making "we will aircondition all villages" style promises, he should have started with how. I recall him saying, "we will equip the hospitals with equipment, we will ensure there are drugs. . ." Before "equip the hospitals with 'equipment'" one would have thought he would say how much govt would set aside for health, where the money would be coming from and what steps would be taken to firewall it against budgetry poachers and the slippery fingers of corruption.

Magic and miracles have no place in government. We want to know, where, when and how.

let those guys get on the campaign trail and tell us what they can do, and tell it to us in very concrete terms.

you should be extremely happy your principal Sambo didnt show up, because so far the team of GEJ/SAMBO are the champions of your "we will aircondition all villages" style kind of promises. all i hear them say is, "I will give you transformation, i will give you transformation" "vote umblerra, to cover you, vote umblerra to cover you"

very soon they will see an id card belonging to a CPC member inside the truck
and of course text messages like " Sai BH. don pay the balance?"

I am not surprised, PDP intimidating NN24, the same way they threatened Channels, AIT, MITV, and other news media houses not to show a clip of Buhari/ Bakare's rallies in the north.

"www.reformedogboni.[b][/b]"
with all the high and mighty in Ogboni frat, they could only come up with a free website?
How can Ohakim be relying on this dull poster to do his dirty works? SMH*

99% of people who attend PDP rallies go there for the money they would get at the end of the day.
let the truth be told. it is the current business craze in the SS and SE
They organize themselves in groups and readily advertise for patronage from desperate politicians that need them to beef up numbers
during rallies. the average SS and SE trader or Artisan belong to one political group or the other.
The PH stampede happened when words came to some group members inside the stadium that their leaders were sharing money somewhere outside the stadium. In Akwa Ibom, university Students trampled on themselves when it was time to share Akpabio's money. Shame on PDP.

lord, help us,

Tochukwu C:
Oh God, why the innocent pastor.i knew all this while that Owelle Rochas Okorocha hands are not clean.first it was  the ogboni fraternity secrets,now a  prime suspect in a murder case.no wonder he wears white attire always.Bad man!!! how can he rule imo state with all these bad and mischievous deeds.imo be warned before its to late.

ROTFLMAO! are you for real?
my guy try and use brains if you have one and stop being silly.

ezecharles:
Which Ohakim is working? *smh*

I don't argue much with people like you who register in forum with several names to propagate same man (Rochas).
If you want to show that you have a base for your accusation against imo state govt, be objective and point out places of weakness that you think they did wrong. I will show you the facts, we know imo.

The same govt you people are cursing commissioned a water project in our community here ISU LGA on the 8th of march.
[img]http://www.ohakim2011.org/images/thumbnails/water%20scemes/Reactivation%20of%20the%20Gigantic%20Egbeada%20water%20schemes, png[/img]
https://www.ohakim2011.org/images/thumbnails/water%20scemes/Gov.%20Ohakim%20has%20restored%20and%20reactivated%20over%20300%20abandoned%20water%20schemes%20in%20the%20entire%20state%20in%20less%20than%204%20years.png
https://www.ohakim2011.org/images/LIES.jpg

Are you referring to that 16th century manual borehole i can see in that picture?

Odunnu:
Sharrap dia!!
Where is Ohakim 'working' in Imo state? Why must you allow evil thrive over good? You want to know a state thats working? Visit Enugu and you'l keep quiet. I'v been to Imo 2ce this year and each time I weep for you people.
If Rochas wants to save you, you should go to church and thankGod!

U de vex?:
Keep laughing, because I have not abused a single person since registering.
As for hopping on the BB train, nah! I'm with GEJ, cos I don't know how to throw stones. lol!

agreed. and perhaps the only GEJ supporter on nairaland with this record.

dibigslim:
Nigerian youths don't be sentimental, if buhari is elected, the country will be divided along ethnic and religious line. Buhari is set to incite northern youth to cause violence, let's all brace up to work against the evil general.

Nobody is inciting anyone, the fair truth is, As situation stands, In a free and fair election, Buhari would beat Jonathan fair and square.
the problem is , come april 2011, Jonathan and his people would rig massively with the Help of Jega just as it was done in Delta State. Buhari and his teeming supporters know this and are angrily gearing up for it.
The rigging has already started with the everyday fluctuating number of registered voters, the banning of televised Buhari rallies my the major media houses and other hurdles created by PDP governors for Buhari and his campaign train.

Ben-10:
I hate PDP.

lmao,

Have you noticed all the TV stations have been ordered not to show any clips of Buhari's rallies?
from AIT to Channels, Silverbird etc you wont find any coverage,

It seems the media houses have been told (or perharps bribed)
not to report or cover any of Buhari's massive rallies,
from Vanguard, The Sun Newspaper, Punch, Thisday, Guardian etc
even the TV houses, Channels, AIT, Silverbird, NTA
i dont' know if i'm the only one who has noticed this.
What can we do about this?

karl max:
^^ ^ I guess uve not been to bayelsa u are an hausa man.go and research don't come here and open your mouth about what u don't knw.GEJ opened up balyelsa after alams stole the wealth.bayelsa is what is it today because of GeJ

Alams alone, developed Bayelsa even with all the billions he stole.
]the rest under him were empty dustbins.
sometimes i wonder whether some of this GEJ people have brains at all, telling stup1d lies to gain support
this was how i heard this morning from a GEJ campain advert that GEj has started construction on the 2nd Niger bridge and has built a seaport in onitsha and Aba.

God bless you Jarus and other volunteers for all your effort toward spreading the Buhari Bakare wind of change.
It's obviously out of your love for this country you took up this challenge
without contemplating any reward or payment from Buhari unlike what we see from 100% of GEJ's supporters.
this is absolutely brilliant.
I have started my sending your article and that of MK Hassan and the one from Tope Popoola to all the 954 contacts on my yahoo address book
and pleading with close friends and contacts to do same.
i had a long talk with my mechanics some few days back on the Buhari issue (even though i later found out 4 of of 7 of them weren't registerd)
that not withstanding, the message was passed.
kudos for all the effort, lets make this happen.

The only reasonable minds i know in PDP
are;

Rotimi Amaechi,
Chime Sullivan
Aliyu Babangida

the rest? Garbage!

of all the candidate, the least you should trust is GEJ. All other candidates can boast of one form of achievement or another in the past years
for Jonathan, all his years in politics has been fraught with poor performance or nothing of note
As former deputy governor/ Governor of Bayelsa, Vice president, Acting President and president  can anyone list a single achievement
coming from this guy?

I'm appalled to see some otherwise brilliant and beautiful ones pray for this clueless thing to continue another 4 year.
i would ask, is it for personal gains or being plain silly?

Jonathan's campaign coordinator in the South East, PDP, We hail thee!

Nugwax:
The Sultan of Sokoto, Alhaji Sa’ad Abubakar has asked President Goodluck Jonathan to sign an undertaking that he will deliver all the catalogue of campaign promises he rolled out at his palace. “All we need to do, through our amiable governor is to get a paper, list out all those things he said he is going to do, let him sign an undertaking so that we will start pursuing him with that paper around,” Sultan said.

bravo! this is a good one from the sultan. it obvious the sultan knows GEJ has been trotting the country dishing out millions of promises after the other without a concrete plan or blueprint on how to achieve any of them, ask him what he promised the state he visited before, he may not recall.
this is the same guy that has spent 12 months in office without a single achievement to point at.
I just saw his advert on channels where they claimed: He has commenced work on the 2nd Niger Bridge, Commissioned a sea port in Onitsha and Aba,
Built a new International Airport in Enugu. Haba!

I am deeply touched by this piece.
i would personally spread this gospel.

This is great,
BlackBerry 2011!!!

well, despite her shortcomings and impediments, she still comes out openly with
all braveness and without any ounce of shame to campaign and stand by her husband. I commend her for this.

Orji Uzor kalu was this bad when he was first elected as governor, but with time, he improved tremendously,
i hope it would be the same for her if she agrees to get off her high horse and subject herself to learning.

some people are just funny, how do they think the US government and agencies would just gather false stories and file as official secret.
Wiki leak became a worldwide sensation simply because they were the only ones that pulled out these top secrets files and published them.

i am surprised people doubt these leaks?? Nigerians doubt everything, It's only Nigerians that would pull out money from ATM's a proceed to count it.

"post-prison and pre-reintegration dementia.”
'OMG' Lmao!!!

luurd have mmmercyyyy!
is this guy not Jonathan's campaign manager?

One of the reasons you should support Buhari bakare

dayokanu:
GEJ is too daft to rule Nigeria

WIth a IQ subzero. Shouldnt there be an IQ test for intending Pesidents?

hehehehehhehe

this is unbelievable,

PapaBrowne:
Why are these Buhari supporters so violent!! Why does your mind have so much evil!!

ROTFLMAO