₦airaland Forum

coluwagbemiga:
“The Crimes of Buhari” – By Prof. Wole Soyinka.

The grounds on which General Buhari is being promoted as the alternative choice are not only shaky, but pitifully naive. History matters. Records are not kept simply to assist the weakness of memory, but to operate as guides to the future. Of course, we know that human beings change. What the claims of personality change or transformation impose on us is a rigorous inspection of the evidence, not wishful speculation or behind-the- scenes assurances. Public offence, crimes against a polity, must be answered in the public space, not in caucuses of bargaining. In Buhari, we have been offered no evidence of the sheerest prospect of change. On the contrary, all evident suggests that this is one individual who remains convinced that this is one ex-ruler that the nation cannot call to order Buhari? Need one remind anyone – was one of the generals who treated a Commission of Enquiry, the Oputa Panel, with unconcealed disdain. Like Babangida and Abdusalami, he refused to put in appearance even though complaints that were tabled against him involved a career of gross abuses of power and blatant assault on the fundamental human rights of the Nigerian citizenry. Prominent against these charges was an act that amounted to nothing less than judicial murder, the execution of a citizen under a retroactive decree. Does Decree 20 ring a bell? If not, then, perhaps the names of three youths – Lawal Ojuolape (30), Bernard Ogedengbe (29) and Bartholomew Owoh (26) do. To put it quite plainly, one of those three Ogedengbe – was executed for a crime that did not carry a capital forfeit at the time it was committed. This was an unconscionable crime, carried out in defiance of the pleas and protests of nearly every sector of the Nigerian and international community religious, civil rights, political, trade unions etc.

Buhari and his sidekick and his partner-in-crime, Tunde Idiagbon persisted in this inhuman act for one reason and one reason only: to place Nigerians on notice that they were now under an iron, inflexible rule, under governance by fear. The execution of that youthful innocent for so he was, since the punishment did not exist at the time of commission – was nothing short of premeditated murder, for which the perpetrators should normally stand trial upon their loss of immunity. Are we truly expected to forget this violation of our entitlement to security as provided under existing laws? And even if our sensibilities have become blunted by succeeding seasons of cruelty and brutality, if power itself had so coarsened the sensibilities also of rulers and corrupted their judgment, what should one rightly expect after they have been rescued from the snare of power. At the very least, a revaluation, leading hopefully to remorse, and its expression to a wronged society. At the very least, such a revaluation should engender reticence, silence. In the case of Buhari, it was the opposite. Since leaving office he has declared in the most categorical terms that he had no regrets over this murder and would do so again. Human life is inviolate. The right to life is the uniquely fundamental right on which all other rights are based. The crime that General Buhari committed against the entire nation went further however, inconceivable as it might first appear. That crime is one of the most profound negations of civic being. Not content with hammering down the freedom of expression in general terms, Buhari specifically forbade all public discussion of a return to civilian, democratic rule. Let us constantly applaud our media those battle scarred professionals did not completely knuckle down.

They resorted to cartoons and oblique, elliptical references to sustain the people’s campaign for a time-table to democratic rule. Overt agitation for a democratic time table however remained rigorously suppressed military dictatorship, and a specifically incorporated in Buhari and Idiagbon was here to stay. To deprive a people of volition in their own political direction is to turn a nation into a colony of slaves. Buhari enslaved the nation. He gloated and gloried in a master-slave relation to the millions of its inhabitants. It is astonishing to find that the same former slaves, now free of their chains, should clamour to be ruled by one who not only turned their nation into a slave plantation, but forbade them any discussion of their condition. So Tai Solarin is already forgotten? Tai who stood at street corners, fearlessly distributing leaflets that took up the gauntlet where the media had dropped it. Tai who was incarcerated by that regime and denied even the medication for his asthmatic condition? Tai did not ask to be sent for treatment overseas; all he asked was his traditional medicine that had proved so effective after years of struggle with asthma! Nor must we omit the manner of Buhari coming to power and the pattern of his corrective rule. Shagari’s NPN had already run out of steam and was near universally detested except of course by the handful that still benefited from that regime of profligacy and rabid fascism. Responsibility for the national condition lay squarely at the door of the ruling party, obviously, but against whom was Buharis coup staged? Judging by the conduct of that regime, it was not against Shagaris government but against the opposition. The head of government, on whom primary responsibility lay, was Shehu Shagari. Yet that individual was kept in cozy house detention in Ikoyi while his powerless deputy, Alex Ekwueme, was locked up in Kiri-kiri prisons. Such was the Buhari notion of equitable apportionment of guilt and/or responsibility.

And then the cascade of escapes of the wanted, and culpable politicians. Manhunts across the length and breadth of the nation, roadblocks everywhere and borders tight as steel zip locks. Lo and behold, the chairman of the party, Chief Akinloye, strolled out coolly across the border. Richard Akinjide, Legal Protector of the ruling party, slipped out with equal ease. The Rice Minister, Umaru Dikko, who declared that Nigerians were yet to eat f’rom dustbins – escaped through the same airtight dragnet. The clumsy attempt to crate him home was punishment for his ingratitude, since he went berserk when, after waiting in vain, he concluded that the coup had not been staged, after all, for the immediate consolidation of the party of extreme right-wing vultures, but for the military hyenas. The case of the overbearing Secretary-General of the party, Uba Ahmed, was even more noxious. Uba Ahmed was out of the country at the time. Despite the closure of the Nigerian airspace, he compelled the pilot of his plane to demand special landing permission, since his passenger load included the almighty Uba Ahmed. Of course, he had not known of the change in his status since he was airborne. The delighted airport commandant, realizing that he had a much valued fish swimming willingly into a waiting net, approved the request. Uba Ahmed disembarked into the arms of a military guard and was promptly clamped in detention.

Incredibly, he vanished a few days after and reappeared in safety overseas. Those whose memories have become calcified should explore the media coverage of that saga. Buhari was asked to explain the vanished act of this much prized quarry and his response was one of the most arrogant levity. Coming from one who had shot his way into power on the slogan of discipline, it was nothing short of impudent. Shall we revisit the tragicomic series of trials that landed several politicians several lifetimes in prison? Recall, if you please, the judicial processes undergone by the septuagenarian Chief Adekunle Ajasin. He was arraigned and tried before Buhari’s punitive tribunal but acquitted. Dissatisfied, Buhari ordered his re-trial. Again, the Tribunal could not find this man guilty of a single crime, so once again he was returned for trial, only to be acquitted of all charges of corruption or abuse of office. Was Chief Ajasin thereby released? No! He was ordered detained indefinitely, simply for the crime of winning an election and refusing to knuckle under Shagari’s reign of terror. The conduct of the Buhari regime after his coup was not merely one of double, triple, multiple standards but a cynical travesty of justice. Audu Ogbeh, currently chairman of the Action Congress was one of the few figures of rectitude within the NPN. Just as he has done in recent times with the PDP, he played the role of an internal critic and reformer, warning, dissenting, and setting an example of probity within his ministry. For that crime he spent months in unjust incarceration.

Guilty by association? Well, if that was the motivating yardstick of the administration of the Buhari justice, then it was most selectively applied.

The utmost severity of the Buhari-Idiagbon justice was especially reserved either for the opposition in general, or for those within the ruling party who had showed the sheerest sense of responsibility and patriotism.

Shall I remind this nation of Buhari’s deliberate humiliating treatment of the Emir of Kano and the Oni of Ife over their visit to the state of Israel? I hold no brief for traditional rulers and their relationship with governments, but insist on regarding them as entitled to all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of any Nigerian citizen. This royal duo went to Israel on their private steam and private business. Simply because the Buhari regime was pursuing some antagonistic foreign policy towards Israel, a policy of which these traditional rulers were not a part, they were subjected on their return to a treatment that could only be described as a head masterly chastisement of errant pupils. Since when, may one ask, did a free citizen of the Nigerian nation require the permission of a head of state to visit a foreign nation that was willing to offer that tourist a visa? One is only too aware that some Nigerians love to point to Buhari’s agenda of discipline as the shining jewel in his scrap-iron crown. To inculcate discipline however, one must lead by example, obeying laws set down as guides to public probity. Example speaks louder than declarations, and rulers cannot exempt themselves from the disciplinary structures imposed on the overall polity, especially on any issue that seeks to establish a policy for public well-being. The story of the thirty something suitcases it would appear that they were even closer to fifty – found unavoidable mention in my recent memoirs, YOU MUST SET FORTH AT DOWN, written long before Buhari became spoken of as a credible candidate. For the exercise of a changeover of the national currency, the Nigerian borders air, sea and land had been shut tight.
Nothing was supposed to move in or out, not even cattle egrets.

Yet a prominent camel was allowed through that needles eye. Not only did Buhari dispatch his aide-de-camp, Jokolo later to become an emir- to facilitate the entry of those cases, he ordered the redeployment as I later discovered – of the Customs Officer who stood firmly against the entry of the contravening baggage. That officer, the incumbent Vice-president is now a rival candidate to Buhari, but has somehow, in the meantime, earned a reputation that totally contradicts his conduct at the time. Wherever the truth lies, it does not redound to the credibility of the dictator of that time, General Buhari whose word was law, but whose allegiances were clearly negotiable.

On the theme of double, triple, multiple standards in the enforcement of the law, and indeed of the decrees passed by the Buhari regime at the time, let us recall the notorious case of Triple Alhaji Alhaji Alhaji, then Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. Who was caught, literally, with his pants down in distant Austria. That was not the crime however, and private conduct should always remain restricted to the domain of private censure.

There was no decree against civil servants proving just as hormone driven as anyone else, especially outside the nation’s borders.

However, there was a clear decree against the keeping of foreign accounts, and this was what emerged from the Austrian escapade. Alhaji Alhaji kept, not one, but several undeclared foreign accounts, and he had no business being in possession of the large amount of foreign currency of which he was robbed by his overnight companion. The media screamed for an even application of the law, but Buhari had turned suddenly deaf. By contrast, Fela Anikulapo languished in goal for years, sentenced under that very draconian decree. His crime was being in possession of foreign exchange that he had legitimately received for the immediate upkeep of his band as they set off for an international engagement. A vicious sentence was slapped down on Fela by a judge who later became so remorse stricken at least after Buhari’s overthrow that he went to the King of Afro-beat and apologized.

Lesser known was the traumatic experience of the director of an international communication agency, an affiliate of UNESCO. Akin Fatoyinbo arrived at the airport in complete ignorance of the new currency decree. He was thrown in gaol in especially brutal condition, an experience from which he never fully recovered. It took several months of high-level intervention before that innocent man was eventually freed. These were not exceptional but mere sample cases from among hundreds of others, victims of a decree that was selectively applied, a decree that routinely penalized innocents and ruined the careers and businesses of many.

What else? What does one choose to include or leave out? What precisely was Ebenezer Babatope’s crime that he should have spent the entire tenure of General Buhari in detention?

Nothing beyond the fact that he once warned in the media that Buhari was an ambitious soldier who would bear watching through the lenses of a coup-detat. Babatope’s father died while he was in Buhari’s custody, the dictator remained deaf to every plea that he be at least released to attend his father’s funeral, even under guard. I wrote an article at the time, denouncing this pointless insensitivity. So little to demand by a man who was never accused of, nor tried for any crime,much less found guilty. Such a load of vindictiveness that smothered all traces of basic human compassion deserves no further comment in a nation that values its traditions.

But then, speaking the truth was not what Buhari, as a self-imposed leader, was especially enamoured of enquire of Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor both of whom, faithful to their journalistic calling, published nothing but the truth, yet ended up sentenced under Buhari’s decree. Mind you, no one can say that Buhari was not true to his word. Shall tamper with the freedom of the press swore the dictator immediately on grabbing office, and this was exactly what he did. And so on, and on, and on……

http://www.osundefender.org/?p=107456
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Diaspora-Events/128695197189426

Oook! I now see why the old general has not been winning elections.

All the so-called freinds are just making a big fool out of him.

And they will still ask him to contest come 2019!
#Cleulessolddictator

EMANY01:
Actually i believe the Buhari can well afford to buy it.All those stories of him being dirt poor are just that: Stories.

So tell me! Who is fooling who?
So the loan he said he collected is not true, according to you,
Then he must. Be a fruad, and a big lier.
And for that alone, we can not entrust our hard earn nigeria to a cheap lier like that old general.

Guy na woa for u oo, see as u d shot your self for leg!

#GEJalltheway

Waiting for those who find it difficult to accept the truth!

donphilopus:
To you, it might be a waste of cash. But they know the political murder the 27m is capable of committing. That cash alone can render Atiku's billons of Naira useless!



Who's this nitwit?! Y'all have been predicting the downfall of APC, yet, it's been waxing stronger. Is it not yet time for goons like you to know that APC is already getting to the promised land?! That's how y'all will continuing crooning APC won't last, without knowing that Buhari has been sworn in as the President!

Y'all predicted that it would not be registered, but today, we can proudly say 1yr gone. What about the much crooned National Convention, they conducted it and new leaders were elected, but the party never collapsed as predicted by you. Now, y'all have started your usual prediction [which's bound to fail] again. Is it not high time you started advising the Otuoke Failure to start arranging his luggage and get ready to leave Aso Rock cos a new Caretaker is coming in?!

You can call anything you want, the question is if kwakwaso and atiku are not in support of buhari being the president, may be you will be the one to put him there.
Day dreamer like you!

If you don't know, tinubo will sell the ticket to the highest bider, and you and I know that the old general can not afford to buy it, or will he still collect loan to do so?

Wake up from you slumber bro!

#JEGtilljesuscome

vicadex07:
Jonathan is deaf and dumb. He never hears the cry of the masses; only the cheers of the sycophants surrounding him is audible to the otueke clown. Can you Imagine a president that decides the best new year gift is a 200% increase in fuel pumping price. It is in Jonathans administration that I will first hear the word subsidy. Upon all the subsidy noise, what was done about the thieves caught, the money recovered and the money being generated after subsidy was partially removed. The whole plan was ochestrated just to divert money from a certain group of cabals to another at the expense of the masses. Jonathan is wicked. Jonathan in evil. Jonathan is saTAN.

See your life? May be you are up-to 20yrs, and you parent are paying ur school fees, they don't even have money to send you to school,

What you do with your spaer time is to come here and insult the president!

You are raelly a bad type!

Madam, hard luck for the daeth of your son, and rip to other depated once.




But this mata dey simple, if you go person house, and d person no like u,
Then go you house na! Abi na by force to stay for another man house?

Abeg madam leave nigerian government make the deal with the problem wey them get for their own house, b4 them go go another man house!



JEG concentrate jor!

I've been wundering all this while, who are the poeple in the north who really want buhari to become president, or is he just forcing him to them (the notheners)?

The only mafians the we all kw still paly with him, are atiku and kwams. Now they all want to be presiden.

So tell me who is fooling who? If atiku and kwakwaso insist on primaries on which they has the money to influence it, is it that is looking for whom to sell the ticket to, is he the one that will come for his rescure?




I just think the old general is more cleuless than that word CLEULESS.




Abeg make some poeple no kill me ooh!

That's just the way I see it.


#TeamGEJshowsomeluv

I was thinking this APC, with this noise they have been making, will even last for a while, at least to give PDP the run for their moneyak I didn't know they came crashing this soon.


Jona just d laff you guys!

According to my late dad, BR0KEN BOTTLE HAS NO MEKWANTALISM.

It has come out of your mouth, and the mouth speaketh from the hart. You were just telling the truth, as they say, "the truth is always bitter"

Its better to keep quiet than saying all this trash,

We no be fools!



That how you guys will be in confusion untill 2020, when JEG dream for nigerians, will come through!










Abeg make I see my self for fp by tomorow mroning ooh!

Make this my virl no be invain.

He (audu ogbe) might one of PDPs so many mechinaries @ work in apc camp!








This movie is gradually get to end.

The only pimpingi see here is just d wheels!


I've 350k

Tinubu! Tinubu! Tinubu!
How many time I call you?








Abeg you! If you want to leave more longer, pls leave politic now, before its to late.

Your cup is almost full!

NgeneUkwenu:
It's true! PDP miscreants are fighting over the sharing of Obanikoro largess.

Avoid that route, unless you are a PDPpig!

See ur life? The guy that that talk about ACN being d course of the what so ever, has 77 lifes, and you that talk about PDP being d course has just 45, it just got to show you how big is the magin PDP is goin to gap can come 2015.

#uppdp#

Op, make we see u na! Abi u be witch?

Is 680' ok? Pls call 08068787125

Pls house, I need your help. I need link were I can find used cars in GERMANY, cheap once for that mata! Thanks in advance,

You can never under-estimate the deffending champions (PDP) there are always in control of the game every season, they have the legue bored under control, the match officials dance to their tunes, and am sure before the legue kicks off many wise top strickers and midfielders will return back to PDP!

I love this legue, one of the best in the world
#irepPDP#

That's good to know, so organised.




Ok na! Make them show us niaja own, I know there is nothing like that in naija, every president comes in and pay him self wut ever his or she want, they even budget 1billion naira just for food, some even buy another jet as soon as he comes in, some even creat laws just to fit their retirment!

I love naija, we are so diffrent.

michaelwestern:
Am not really sure if its okay for christians to eat ileya meat. Some people will call it food offered to idols, but the bible permits us to eat any kind of meat. So is it okay to eat ileya meat?

No its not a sin, its pure longer truot!

The guy that will stay 1 hour on cue just to withdraw 1k, the most anoying part is that he will still stay there to chech his balance after the transaction.

So anoying!

I have thesame car, but green in colour, it has thesame problem to, mine packed me @ ajakuta on my way from kastina state to enugu. I was stop at a police check point, after checking my pepers, and I was ask to go, that's when the car refused to start, thee police directed me to a mechanic workshop were the car was leter towed there, after a series of scan, I was ask to change the crank shaft sencor, I did but to no avail, they leter said ignation, I did but to no avial, now they said its now brain box, and to get all thjis parts, I've to travel to onisha from kogi state. Now the parts seller has to come for my rescure, he now toke me to a nissan specialist who said my brain box is ok, that even if I change the engine, it will still not start, that all I have to do is to bring the keys for reactivation, that it has expired, and that's exactly what he did and behold my car is sound and good to go!
Praisssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssssss the LORD!

beatsbyj2g: its fake oh don't pay coz jamb has carefully selected d centers and most of which are universities or poly

Thanks a lot bro for ur contribution

Thanks guys, I really appreciate your comments on this post, I am really enlighted thanks once more.

Someone told me about this special center stuff, and he said I should pay 15K. Pls guys what do you think?

Thanks guys for you contributions so far, pls keep them coming, I really want to know more. Are they going to privide computers to all the candidates, what abt those that are not computer litrates? Pls more infor thanks !

debolly: 17/03

Am march 18 and you are the closiest I have ever seen 08068787125

Many of you guy insulting will not think twice to #bang her if given the slitess chance!














If I se her me I no mind oo!
Unless she be cripple!

Am still waiting for an intell on what I ask! Pls

Pls someone should educate me on what's going with JAMB, I heard the registration is on, and that the exam is going to be on computer base, amd that its going to be writen in three weeks. Pls how true is this?

UNITED all the way!
I know we've got this three point already,
Let just seat back and see how its happens.
My humble prediction
Man u 5-1 lelceter city

#hatersshouldgoanddie#

Pls ask her if she knows OBJ?