Gbawe:

It is obvious you have a problem with Buhari and are simply doing all that is possible to make the crime fit the man but the part in bold is clearly ridiculous and patronising of the intelligence of Nairalanders. Do you know the conditions Buhari contested under in the past and the real state of of affairs then? Are things the same today?

So as we do not draw this out too long, can I ask if you know what obtains in many nations of the world with two very strong political Parties competing against each other always like the USA, UK and even Ghana next door to us? Power tends to swing easily between those two Parties when the electorate is dissatisfied with the performance of the ruling Party.
When, since Buhari has been contesting and losing elections, has Nigeria had two very strong Parties competing against each other? Has it not been the big-for-nothing PDP monopolising power and rigging elections since 1999 because other Parties were simply too little, too disunited and inconsequential to give them a proper fight? Dude, when you do not even recognise the ultra-pivotal point I have made above for yourself, and continue only to focus on Buhari's past in total disregard for how the political climate of Nigeria is vastly different today to what it was even in 2011, then I do not think anyone needs to give you even more salient reason (and there are many) why the Buhari who lost elections in the past is now the same man capable of securing a landslide victory against the PDP. Your bias against Buhari is the sort that clouds objective reasoning and ignores/disregards reality.

debosky:


There are numerous other candidates in the APC - the key is for the party (including Buhari) to rally round and raise votes for whoever the party selects as its flag bearer. This thread isn't about floating other potential candidates.

That's the main problem many of you fail to grasp - you think an individual's vote pulling ability is the key to winning. Despite Buhari's personal popularity he has lost each and every election he has contested. That should give you food for thought.

The PDP doesn't win elections because of it's candidates' overwhelming popularity, they win because they can mobilise the electorate across the country not just in certain corners of the North. That is what any serious APC candidate will need to do.

Demdem:


Debosky, i requested for a name and not further epistles. U claim there are numerous and yet just to mention one is a problem. U obviously didn't give because u Av none to give.
Pending when u give specific names, especially willing ones, ur epistles remain theoretical at best.

naijababe:


Ribadu, El-Rufai, Rabiu Kwakwanso and Ibrahim Shekarau! Buhari can marshal his popularity and support behind any of these men since a Northern candidate has to be nominated.

Demdem:


Ribadu, shekarau aren't in apc so those options are void. Besides these two have once tested the waters and it's obvious they can't secure the neccessary votes needed to defeat jonaadaft.
EL-rufai to ur kind is a loose canon and I see no way anyone that rejects buhari won't reject him.
What makes Kwankwaso more credible than Buhari?
A hundred year old buhari will surely secure more votes than 50 years Kwankwaso even if he supports him.
If it isn't Buhari, no matter the support, such can't command votes buhari can command. That's a fact.
Stop playing on our intelligence and highlights them.
It doesn't need to be a northerner. Anyone will do that can secure the neccessary votes. So go south and suggest if u have any.

naijababe:


Ribadu, El-Rufai, Rabiu Kwakwanso and Ibrahim Shekarau! Buhari can marshal his popularity and support behind any of these men since a Northern candidate has to be nominated.

naijababe:


And Buhari has tested the waters how many times now? Yes El-Rufai is a loose canon but he is a credible loose canon, r'ber his stint as FCT minister? And I never said Kwankwaso is more credible, I'd much rather have him than Buhari. You asked for alternatives and I gave them.

Gbawe:


How can Buhari, an APC politician, "marshall his popularity and support behind" Ribadu and Shekarau who are PDP members? El Rufai may even lose his own ward regardless of if he even got plastic surgery to look like Buhari !!! EL Rufai has fallen behind somewhat politically and current political dynamics have overtaken him and rendered him so unpopular he is today a gamble no one is willing to take a risk on. To me, and for now, EL Rufai is unlikely to win a gubernatorial election let alone deliver the Presidency for the APC. He would probably only return to power by being drafted into an executive appointment.

Kwankwaso is the only realistic option yet he is a gamble also unlikely to poll 25%-40% of the votes Buhari can in the North. All in all, why gamble when Buhari will guarantee all you want to see? Why are you so uncomfortable with Buhari as President when he may be the best chance of gaining a President who will guarantee you see our youngest, most articulate and most vibrant leaders in positions of influence and "transformation" on a scale never seen before in the history of Nigeria?

Arch1:
Why must you ibos view everything through tribal lens' ?

when APC had their maiden conference at Abuja wasnt Oby Ezekwesili the guest speaker that was invited on the occassion ?

Heck, you ibos are the worst hit by Jonathans maladministration. The worst federal roads are in the southeast; the worst state Governors are in the southeast - Governor Thief-Odour Orji & Governor Martin Elechi(both are PDP)

you lot support PDP blindly because of GEj forgetting that the North whom you ibos love to hate have more than 13 of their Governors in PDP whilst the ibos only have 3

naijababe:


I am trying to keep an open mind about Buhari, but I am super concerned about his policies and what solutions he intends to proffer to our myriad of problems. I am admit I have not gotten around to reading some of your suggestions on dealing with NASS and our dubious executive but then aside from 'credibility' what else is Buhari bringing to the table? The man has enough baggage and swapping a thieving leader for an ignorant one is not making progress in my books. They are both going to be disasters!!! You need more than good intentions to be a good and capable leader!

Show me his policies in a format i can understand, heck! it can even be in cartoons, I will read it and draw my conclusions. Unlike many here, I lived through Buhari's regime even if I was a child. I still remember a lot of things about that regime I would not wish on Nigerians.

naijababe:




Show me his policies in a format i can understand, heck! it can even be in cartoons, I will read it and draw my conclusions. Unlike many here, I lived through Buhari's regime even if I was a child. I still remember a lot of things about that regime I would not wish on Nigerians.

In addition to the devaluation of the naira, IMF
demanded that government took other drastic actions:
(a) The government must remove its subsidy on
petroleum.
(b) It must curtail its expenditure.
(c) Government must rationalize its tariff structures.
(d) It must put a freeze on its wages.
(e) It must put a total end of non- statutory transfers
to State governments,
(f) Government must at least institute a 30% raise on
interest rates

Obiagelli:




^^^ Imf conditions for granting loan to Nigerian in 1983, remember oil prices had crashed totally, austerity measures were already in place, inflation was at 39%, corruption was at its peak. This was state of the economy when Buhari became head of state.

He was able to reduce inflation from 39% to 3%

Maintained our exchange rate at N1 =$1.14

Reduce corruption to its minimum

Pay of 80 % of our debt

Get increase quota from opec

ALL THESE HE DID WITHOUT A SINGLE LOAN. He achieved all these in 18 months
Buhari can't be ignorant

naijababe:


The bolded I agree with completely, the rest are very debatable and you know it

naijababe:


The bolded I agree with completely, the rest are very debatable and you know it

naijababe:


I am trying to keep an open mind about Buhari, but I am super concerned about his policies and what solutions he intends to proffer to our myriad of problems. I am admit I have not gotten around to reading some of your suggestions on dealing with NASS and our dubious executive but then aside from 'credibility' what else is Buhari bringing to the table? The man has enough baggage and swapping a thieving leader for an ignorant one is not making progress in my books. They are both going to be disasters!!! You need more than good intentions to be a good and capable leader!

Show me his policies in a format i can understand, heck! it can even be in cartoons, I will read it and draw my conclusions. Unlike many here, I lived through Buhari's regime even if I was a child. I still remember a lot of things about that regime I would not wish on Nigerians.

naijababe:


The bolded I agree with completely, the rest are very debatable and you know it

naijababe:


I am trying to keep an open mind about Buhari, but I am super concerned about his policies and what solutions he intends to proffer to our myriad of problems. I am admit I have not gotten around to reading some of your suggestions on dealing with NASS and our dubious executive but then aside from 'credibility' what else is Buhari bringing to the table? The man has enough baggage and swapping a thieving leader for an ignorant one is not making progress in my books. They are both going to be disasters!!! You need more than good intentions to be a good and capable leader!

Show me his policies in a format i can understand, heck! it can even be in cartoons, I will read it and draw my conclusions. Unlike many here, I lived through Buhari's regime even if I was a child. I still remember a lot of things about that regime I would not wish on Nigerians.

obailala:
Just like the poster above me has said, a man leader with integrity in Nigeria has everything!

My dear, Nigeria's problem has never been a lack of ideas or a lack of brilliant and productive policies. The problem has always been greed and corruption of our leaders preventing the good policies from being implemented. Right from the IBB days, every single successive government has had progressive policies being proposed by some of the finest minds Nigeria has to offer. But attempting to implement these policies amidst the prevalent corruption is like attempting to fetch water with a basket, it never woks! .. and that explains why we have the finest minds and ideas but the nation keeps retrogressing from one government to the next.

Buhari is obviously not presentable, he's not eloquent, he represents the old generation and of course, the silly 'Islamist' tag hovers over his head but there is something which everyone agrees he has which is something you hardly ever find in the Nigerian corridors of power, INTEGRITY!!!

Nigeria does not really need a president with all the ideas in this world and ideally, the presidency is just a ceremonial position. All that is needed is a sincere selection of bright minds as ministers, advisers and heads of institutions (Nigeria has an abundance of bright minds). All the presidents job should be is to ensure that his appointees are delivering on their duties and not capitalising on the opportunity to steal. THis is one area Jonathan has extensively proven himself to be lacking.

Nigeria also needs a person who can look the Nepa or NNPC cabal in the face and put them in their place, not a president who in fear of the cabal would rather deny or downplay their activities before Nigerians because he doesn't want to be thought weak (e.g. No money is missing, if money is missing america will know).

Demdem:


What do u mean by debatable?
Did it happen during his time as the leader or not?

obailala:
Just like the poster above me has said, a man leader with integrity in Nigeria has everything!

DONLEKAN:


Hi my sister, I understand your fears but in the present situation in which we find ourselves in Nigeria. Buhari is a million miles ahead of Jonathan. Fine, there are many qualities needed in an ideal leather of which oratory is one of them but what you must not have as a leader is a thief(particularly in our part of the world with deliberately compromised institutions by the high and mighty) . That is what Jonathan is. A bloody, glutinous thief. Not only is he one. He is a friend to many thieves.

When Dora Akunyili was the head of NAFDAC. How many times did she deliver speeches demanding of a thunderous applause?. But the agency she did head came to life because she was a leader who led by example. She didn't fire all the people she met in NAFDAC. Rather, she achieved all with the people she met on ground. Truth is that when a leader has integrity. His/Her love for the nation will make him attract the right people that will take the best decisions in the interest of the nation. In addition, everyone who hitherto would have taken decision that would compromise states would be forced to do the right thing or get out.

In Buhari, you are rest assured that anyone who steals will be dealt with. Under Jonathan, tell me one big fish that has been prosecuted in his regime. Rather, he is dropping all allegations against these evil corrupt elites.

If I understand you correctly, that the age of Buhari's idea is not in tandem with the 21st century. To some extent, I agree because the Buhari I know may not be so pro free market economy, privatisation etc. But as far as I am concerned as much as I am an unrepentant capitalist. I believe all of the jargons about economic models pales into insignificance in the face of our realities in Nigeria.

For me, 2015 election is basically a contest between a good man of conscience (Buhari) and an unrepentant thief, tribalist, myopic, ungrateful, clueless, evil promoting Jonathan.

I have made my choice. As God lives, I will make sure I canvas for GMB in the 2015 election. My sister, we would like to have you too on board. I sense you have a heart for the nation and you would like to take the best decision in 2015. I can tell you in good authority GMB is the right decision for nigeria.

Gbawe:

Kwankwaso is the only realistic option yet he is a gamble also unlikely to poll 25%-40% of the votes Buhari can in the North.

All in all, why gamble when Buhari will guarantee all you want to see?

Why are you so uncomfortable with Buhari as President when he may be the best chance of gaining a President who will guarantee you see our youngest, most articulate and most vibrant leaders in positions of influence and "transformation" on a scale never seen before in the history of Nigeria?

debosky:


Again with the personality cult - why can't Buhari throw his weight behind RK? Or will Buhari supporters ONLY vote for Buhari?



What 'guarantee' does Buhari offer? Has he defeated any PDP politician in his entire electoral history even when the 'changed landscape' is considered?



Why/how does Buhari guarantee we will see the youngest, most articulate and most vibrant leaders? What evidence do we have to support this outlandish assertion? How are we to believe this when a man in his 70's has not identified any visible successor to carry forward his vision? Is it when he turns 80 that he will do so?

debosky:
When Buhari supporters are talking about 'maintaining exchange rate' and paying 80% of our debt (which was clearly much smaller compared to revenue and demands in the 80's) as a basis for voting him in, you know we've got a problem on your hands.

Are you living in 1984 or in 2014?

naijababe:
@ DONLEKAN, thanks. You completely get my position. I am tired of hearing about credibilty and integrity especially when I can put holes in them. If I have to choose today between Buhari and Jonathan, I would have to be out of my mind to consider thumbing for the disaster/bad luck that Jonathan clearly is!!! But is the best we can do really Buhari!!! I mean really?!!!

naijababe:


As in debatable!

Did Nigeria get the said quota increase?

Tackled corruption? Explain to me the offences of Tai Solarin, Bisi Onabanjo, Adekunle Ajasin? In fact tell me why Alex Ekwueme deserved to be in our maximum prison at kirikiri while the head honcho could only be punished by house arrest?

Explain why individuals were not allowed to own/handle foreign currency while a certain emir had his 52 cases conveniently overlooked?

And please tell me why anyone under the age of 18 was not allowed to go on pilgrimage and the rule suddenly didn't apply to his deputy's son?

Shame it did not work for Shagari!

@ Obiagelli, can you honestly tell me if Buhari would have been able to do some of things you attribute to him if he was in Shagari's shoes?

naijababe:


I don't even have a problem with the paying debt part after all, in real terms the amount he paid can't be considered paltry! But maintaining exchange rate?!!! I laugh in Awori

Obiagelli:

Exchange rate is actually one of the key indicies in pushing economic growth, do you have an idea what it means to have stability in exchange rate?

debosky:
When Buhari supporters are talking about 'maintaining exchange rate' and paying 80% of our debt (which was clearly much smaller compared to revenue and demands in the 80's) as a basis for voting him in, you know we've got a problem on your hands.

Are you living in 1984 or in 2014?