₦airaland Forum

Douglas Anele

Dyed in the wood Buharimaniacs seem oblivious of the fragility and dangers of APC’s excessive reliance on Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s reputation for electoral success. No matter how incorruptible a presidential candidate might be, democratic governance is a complex undertaking that requires coordinated efforts from various individuals at different levels of authoritative decision-making to make a meaningful impact.

Thus, it is disingenuous for the opposition seeking to wrest power from an entrenched ruling party to put all its eggs in one basket, so to speak, because democracy is a team effort, not a one-man show. As a corollary, incorruptibility in leadership is good but insufficient: it must be rooted in clear vision, creative imagination and cool passion for wise management of human and natural resources to achieve positive economic and
social transformation. Anti-corruption orientation without bold innovative ideas about sound economic management will not take us far on the road to poverty alleviation for suffering Nigerians.

Still on the issue of corruption, Buharimaniacs manifest a disappointing degree of naiveté about what it takes to reduce corruption to manageable proportions in the country, which makes me wonder whether they genuinely understand the magnitude of the problem.

They still nostalgically cling to the jackboot approach Gen Buhari used against Second Republic politicians. Initially, I also thought that the method was appropriate, but now I
am not so sure.

With advancement in Information and Telecommunication Technologies, the mechanics of
corruption have become so sophisticated to the extent that only rigorous forensic investigations by experts spanning several months or years can reveal both the
perpetrators of corruption and the quantum of public funds they stole. In otherwords, given the subtle mutations in corruption, a “strongman” like Gen. Buhari who probably would rely on the outdated strategy he used in the mid-1980s cannot achieve much.

What is needed now is creative synergy between institutions set up to combat corruption and the men and women who run those institutions: a hundred Buharis cannot tackle corruption unless there are smart institutions powered by ICTs to complement their
efforts. Even so, have Buharimaniacs really thought about how Gen. Buhari without cognate democratic experience would fight corruption effectively if corrupt politicians and
judicial officers respectively dominate the National Assembly and the courts? When he becomes President, how will Buhari deal with the cabal of agbata ekee politicians propping him up presently? The simplistic belief that Buhari would deal with corrupt APC chieftains when he assumes office ignores Nuhu Ribadu’s warning that “when you fight corruption, it will fight you back.”

It is difficult to imagine corrupt APC kingpins folding their hands and doing nothing while Buhari moves against them or dismantles their avenues for corrupt enrichment – they certainly would resist him. As a result, if Gen. Buhari becomes President and puts his purported anti-corruption reputation into operation, he definitely would meet a brick wall with prominent APC beneficiaries of corruption supporting him now. I foresee serious
confrontation between him and the band of corrupt politicians in his party.

It is unfortunate but not surprising that Gen. Buhari, whose party is campaigning on the platform of change, has not spelt out in concrete details how he hopes to achieve the items in his party’s manifesto or, more accurately, wish list. This could be due to his
inadequate scientific knowledge of the fine details and technicalities required to get the job done or to the tacit assumption that things “would sort themselves out with time.” Infact, the speech he delivered at Chatham House on Thursday, February 26, creates the impression that the retired general has not thought through systematically how he would confront the challenges of governance as a civilian President: it is filled with general statements of hopes and aspirations without specific details about how at least one of the items in his to-do list can be actualised. Moreover, some of his claims contradicted
what he said earlier at different occasions.

For example, he acknowledged that democratic transition in Africa is problematic; yet, he and his party leaders have severally threatened anarchy and forming a parallel
government if the upcoming elections did not favour their party. On the Boko Haram insurgency, Gen. Buhari promised to deal with the problem decisively if elected President and commander-in-chief; but he was the same person that recommended amnesty for the Islamic terrorists and sharply criticised President Jonathan’s government for attacking them militarily. He claims that he is a former military dictator who has now
become a democrat willing to govern according to constitutional norms, but his incendiary remarks epitomised in the threat that if what happened during the 2011 elections should happen again “dogs and baboons would be soaked in blood” paint a different picture altogether.

It is contrary to well-known principles of psychology that a rigid seventy-three years old retired soldier and devout Muslim who had imbibed the command-and-obey mentality of the military can completely metamorphose into a democrat without residues of the former attitude lurking somewhere in his subconscious. So, despite the insincere claims of Buhari’s supporters in this regard, it is simply unrealistic, based on what is scientifically known about the psychology of entrenchment with advancing age, to think that Gen. Buhari is completely free from his dictatorial proclivities. As the saying goes, a
leopard does not change its spots overnight, which means that Gen. Buhari would still manifest authoritarian tendencies if elected President.

Let me gradually close this discourse by calling attention to the shameful, slothful, and hate-filled attitude of Buharimaniacs to President Jonathan and to anyone who
questions the hyperbolic myth that one man, Gen. Buhari, can bring about the kind of positive change Nigeria needs at this time without restructuring the lopsided federation
we have now. Clearly, there is no doubt that Jonathan has made several mistakes for which I have criticised him over the years in this column. I still stand by those criticisms.

But Buharimaniacs take criticism to an absurd level when they claim that Jonathan has achieved nothing since he became President; that a man who rose from the obscurity of a nobody to become President is clueless, weak, and unintelligent.

The campaign of calumny against Mr. President is so severe that I cannot but be thoroughly disgusted by the incapacity of Buharimaniacs to see any of his positive
attributes or acknowledge his achievements in agriculture, infrastructure, power sector reforms, education, minimisation of the phenomenon of federal ghost workers, political re-engineering and so on. That is the major reason why I support his quest for re-
election, and he deserves plaudits for absorbing the campaigns of calumny with humility, grace and philosophical equanimity.

As a corollary, Buharimaniacs believe strongly that anyone who does not support Gen. Buhari must have been bribed or is looking for political appointment! Only those fanatically supporting Buhari are clean and morally upright. All that is nonsense; it is symptomatic of intolerance of the ISIS kind, constipated imagination and intellectual kwashiorkor. Faceless scallywags have insulted me for preferring Jonathan to Buhari.
But why should any rational person expect everyone to support Jonathan or Buhari exclusively? In a complicated matter like choosing a President, must everyone prefer the same candidate?

Why do Buharimaniacs insult and hate those who question Gen. Buhari’s suitability for President at this time considering his age, errors of judgement and dictatorial antecedents? Part of the answer is the kind of cult following Buhari attracts to himself; another is APC’s single-minded agenda of dislodging PDP from power at all cost. Buhari and his cohorts are so focused on victory, so intoxicated by sloganeering and adulation from crowds at campaign rallies that they have neglected the imperative of formulating realistic and implementable programme that would effectively differentiate APC from the ruling PDP. For me, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, inspite of his mistakes, is preferable to Gen. Buhari for the position of President; no amount of vicious obloquy will make me change my mind on this. Concluded.

ditossyn:
I aint a party fan!.....I am just after +ve change. GEJ has bin in power for how many years now?.....he has done all he could and d most pressing needs were NOT met......it is high time someone else sat on that seat!.....

What are the pressing needs not met?
Which better alternative do we have to him?
What do you think he should have done differently and how?

abdillahee:
The majority knows that gej wetin be his name bad luck or wateva, he done Nuttin 4 us, u guys ar just sentimental or selfish or tribalism, back luck doesn't deserve this country, I bliv he will beat him hands down nextweek, gej modern disaster, Buhary 4 lyf

Define majority?
BTW which school did you attend?
didn't they teach you how to make correct sentences there

ditossyn:
Funny enough, those shouting GEJ till 2019 won't even vote for him this Saturday!....in their hearts of heart they all know that d dude is a disshy dush but for cover up or for pretence, they are showing a public acceptance of GEJ.........stealling can't continue, curruptn can't continue, darkness can't continue, joblessness can't continue, death can't continue...........WE ALL NEED CHANGE!

Your wish...but will only end in your world of fantasy...

We all need change but not all need the negative change APC represents and is bringing forth...charity begins at home...change your states first for the better...

Acekidc4:
Can you hear yourself right now!!! Am talking something, you are talking anoda thing!! You need change in your Life!!
Get outta my Face joor!! Wen you ve someting reasonable to argue about, pls let me know!!!

Insulting people when corrected is only a sign of frustration... Are you a frustrated chap...
Were the planning, design, contract award, construction & commissioning all achieved in 6weeks?
Why insult Jonathan and even the guy that corrected you?
Learn to comport yourself well in public... merry Sunday bro...

BTW Jonathan till 2019...

francizy:
Bro, have you ever seen robots learning in classrooms? I know you haven't because they are rather programmed so I'll advise you to stop trying to lecture online-bots because it's a waste of time and energy.

A times I won't know whether to curse or cry at some posts here...People display crass ignorance and insist on it...

Personally, I come here to relax, learn, unlearn, relearn and promote my candidate; Jonathan based on facts...When I see where he goofed, I don't comment and won't even derail or distort the fact but some see it as their prerogative to distort and derail threads and facts albeit stu.pid.ly...By the time, they bounce on a thread; knowledgeable folks who would have posted informative comments will just bolt away in frustration of the childishness on such threads...

milychocs:
Kedu?
Kee ihe cholu kam meelu gi na thread a?

Mmadu a gwanugom, "aguu gi na agum too much"
For "I miss you too much"
Mana o di somehow...
A na emenu

The one that freaks me out even though na oo off point here is when I see people literally preening with pride and crowing, "oh my child cannot speak Igbo, her daddy or bla bla bla cholu ka O na asu English....Oh, o da anukwa ya too, or she understands but cannot speak"
(Then the fake sadness at the child not "knowing" Igbo that you see emanating from there is a )

I always go like, "sweet Lawd!"

Eziokwu odi somehow na nti mana o buru onye ma akpala okwu na ilu Igbo nke oma, o gaghi esi etu ahu were kwuo ya...

Gini ka I mere mgbe o gwara gi ihe ahu

Mana o na-adi mma I ji asusu Igbo agbado nwanyi makana o ga-enye nke nwoke ohere I na-etinye ufodu okwu aruru ala n'ime nkata ya na nke nwanyi...

uniklinkum:
Utter rubbish get a hold of 13 years of Nigeria military rule that book will solve your ignorance. Dude you fall for the re-basing hogwash too. Dude your economy is in shambles after elections you guys will know the damage this administration has done on the economy. On religion we know the guys going up north to say osibanjo wanna Christianize Nigeria while they come down south to sell the Islamization lines. Who was the petroleum minister when the warri and kaduna refineries were built? Irrespective of you trying to twist the fact, it was on record that buhari led the army that chase maitainsine beyond our borders to chad.

Bro, just a little clarification before I move on...All the evidence including newspaper publications has been circulating in this forum for long...anomini and agabal23 can help you with some....

1)Buhari signed and started export of crude abroad and import of refined petroleum back into country as head of state...

2)Our railway collapsed under buhari as head of state...

3)Out of the 75,000 graduates under buhari as head of state; 70,000 were unemployed...

4)Corruption did not reduce rather he was jailing preceived enemies in the name of fighting corruption...eg Jokolo & Awwal confirmed corrupt practises were not reprimanded even for a second but fela was in jail for legitimate earning of dollars brought home...

5)Buhari used physical and brutal force to control price of goods and services as against basic economic principles known to any student....

6)Private companies and industries closed down because of his myopic and unfriendly business directive and policies hence unemployment and starvation grew...

7)Buhari enforced retroactive laws to kill youths just to get back at perceived hostile ethnic group...

Buhari campaigned against his country as head of state in OAU just because a Fulani man from Niger republic was contesting too...

9)Maitasine existed only in few villages less than a local government and their major weapon was bow and matchet but boko haram is in 3states using bombs and other sophisticated weapons and technology.... Do they seem same to you....

10)Several governments before buhari fought Maitasine...the group wasn't eliminated but was suppressed... Mind you, everybody supported buhari's clampdown on maitasine but buhari, APC, and borno & northern leaders didn't support Jonathan's clap down on boko haram hence the numerous sabotage of his efforts...

11)Finally, outside RELIGION and ETHNICITY, there's NO OTHER SINGULAR reason why the northern masses cum almajiri are supporting buhari....

Merry Sunday....

God bless Jonathan... one good term deserves another...

Dospix:
The annoying thing about this desperado is that they think Nigerians are blind to their ploy to wrestle power by all means. We will shock them on the 28th of this month; we will tell them that winning election is not in the barrel of the social media but on our thumb.

Kindly make sure you poach their supporters as much as you can...convince them with facts....forget online noise makers...just work for Nigeria in your street or village...God bless us all...

No matter how he is painted; buhari remains insensitive to the diversity of Nigeria and has been an ethnic cum religious bigot from the days of Murtala Mohammed.

APC is just a conspiracy of power mongers who don't give a damn if Nigeria burns to ashes.

Are we wiser than international community that has NEVER appointed buhari for anything at all since he left office in 1985

Most recently, a former US envoy had this to say about buhari; http://www.punchng.com/news/electing-buhari-as-president-disaster-for-africa-ex-us-envoy/

WisdomFlakes:
And GEJ dashed the same Abacha a Centenary Award
http://www.bellanaija.com/2014/03/08/presidency-defends-abachas-centenary-award-honour/

If you aren't fine with the replies there; kindly embark on a peaceful protest to asorock as a good citizen but do not derail the thread again plz...

http://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/156004-why-we-honoured-abacha-nigerian-government.html

zingywingy:
I work in Chinese company and jail term is in our BCG guidelines

Fine...can you compare rate of corruption in China that believes in reactive measures like buhari to New Zealand that believes in proactive measures like Jonathan

stephenqueen:

bro no vex...I be bachelor... make una enjoy...make I no buy wahala for myself with no help insight....Swt drmz...no call me back abeg

Wrong place to be at this moment... before my body begin to ask me for what I can't afford or my ears hear what I can't explain to my senses...usain bolt is mine now... una weldone... fire on...let me continue with my fantasy than causing myself harm here...Swt drmz all...

stephenqueen:
No be u I wan quote,na mistake

No harm meant bro...just wanna clarify issues to avoid stories that touch...(if you get my drift)...sorry if my alarm got you a little bit uncomfortable...

jacksparrow1207:
Hahahahaha
Are u homophobic?

With passion bro...

stephenqueen:
Sweerie

Am a guy bro...no impersonation...I am real!!!

mirexxx:
whynotthetruth?? a moniker? 4reals?
weird place!
out!!

What

barcanista said it, francizy supported him, SeverusSnape echoed it before temitemi joined him, even talktimi didn't keep silent as Truckpusher was shouting it...anomini screamed against it with idumose. Mogidi came with tit to kick against it when Firefire came in with biafranqueen & datolee to condemn it. I remember Phockphockman with chukwudi44 alongside uchidodo, Billyonnaire, jmaine, Sunnybobo3 & numerous other Jonathan supporters admonished Nigerians to not make a mistake of buhari...Service to nation isn't by force...Why are you desperate to serve us?...age and technology are against you...Is it your stone age economic principles of physical and brutal price control mechanism that you wanna try again?...or you have learnt about another?...From where?...We know Obj, and Gowon went back to school but not you...BTW Why is it that no international organization whether African or otherwise has deemed it fit to appoint you for anything at all even in a seminar since 1985 you left as head of state....I have so many questions for you but before we continue; kindly go and get your certificate... I am not doubting your qualification but We shouldn't lay foundation for sacred cows in applying constitutional provisions... no vex...go bring am...ishiamu will pay your transportation fare once you are back...vote Jonathan for continuity....Yes, that's who ozoigbondu, maestroferddi, agabal23, dein77, & other noble men and ladies are supporting...

realjoker:
Seun, please let have this on FP so that others will make contributions and it will be educative

What is educative in this kind of thread...meant to ridicule Jonathan unfortunately you guys are failing...pele

medamillion:
Suffering and Smiling things

I can see you are the real definition of suffer head...pele... are you sure this is not from your village... kindly visit mfm for help...sorry bro...it is really a pity...pele

medamillion:
Don't be in a haste, a thread will be created; it will read thus:"Why General Buhari defeated Jonathan at the Polls"...March 31 at most

Sure on Nairaland online polls and Facebook polls and Twitter polls... Come March 29th buhari will be reelected for his 4th term as president of online republic of propaganda...

realjoker:
Bros you have been clamouring about 12 new universities but dodging the main question at hand
1.how secure are we, we the masses
2.what is the rate of good road
3.what as the government done on providing portable water supply to the masses
4.how reliable is electricity supply
5.what is the rate of illitracy
6.how safe are our inland waterways
7.on agriculture, what is the rate of imported food compared to the ones we exported
8.what is the rate of unemployment
9.on corruption. How many corrupt government official as be try by any anti graft agency in this administration or you mean corruption as died lately in Nigeria

Did you read the topic of the thread before jumping in to comment...kindly share your own experience and move on plz...it is about personal experience not about asking me rhetorical questions...

Your moniker defines you otherwise you won't accuse me of what I didn't do and not see what I have already done but you failed to comprehend...

The Only question, I haven't answered in this thread is No:3 which you are the first to ask and coincidentally, if you know as much you are supposed to; you will know that providing you portable water for the masses domestic use is the duty of STATE GOVERNMENT not Jonathan... did your governor tell you that it is Jonathan... read the constitution and know your rights and obligations as citizen...Jonathan can choose to intervene in some cases depending...just like he has done in so many places including Edo state.....but it is state duty not federal government bro...

Inland water ways?...lolz...lower Niger has been dredged and it is continuing several kilometers into the deep ocean so that ships can easily berth....many more are coming bro...just vote Jonathan...


Now, share your experience and mount your bed...

barcanista said it, francizy supported him, SeverusSnape echoed it before temitemi joined him, even talktimi didn't keep silent as Truckpusher was shouting it...anomini screamed against it with idumose. Mogidi came with tit to kick against it when Firefire came in with biafranqueen & datolee to condemn it. I remember Phockphockman with chukwudi44 alongside uchidodo, Billyonnaire, jmaine, Sunnybobo3 & numerous other Jonathan supporters admonished Nigerians to not make a mistake of buhari...Service to nation isn't by force...Why are you desperate to serve us?...age and technology are against you...Is it your stone age economic principles of physical and brutal price control mechanism that you wanna try again?...or you have learnt about another?...From where?...We know Obj, and Gowon went back to school but not you...BTW Why is it that no international organization whether African or otherwise has deemed it fit to appoint you for anything at all even in a seminar since 1985 you left as head of state....I have so many questions for you but before we continue; kindly go and get your certificate... I am not doubting your qualification but We shouldn't lay foundation for sacred cows in applying constitutional provisions... no vex...go bring am...ishiamu will pay your transportation fare once you are back...vote Jonathan for continuity....Yes, that's who ozoigbondu, maestroferddi, agabal23, & other noble men and ladies are supporting...

medamillion:
Sorry for quarelling with your personal opinion, I actually tried to urge the prople to look beyond those beautiful things we see on TV and ask theirselves that question.

Now, finally I suggest we run a practical economy that affect people's life and not the one that depends on what the CNN, Trasparency International etc are saying.

If you doubt my 80% analyses, ask anybody around you this question: "what have you benefited from GEJ's administration"?. You won't come here to narrate the story.

That you failed doesn't mean others failed too...I don't need to ask questions because I am seeing them doing legitimate jobs and making money...building houses...changing cars...marrying wives...travelling for leisure around the globe etc...what more do you want...Has Jonathan solved all the problems?... NO...Has he made some mistakes?...YES...Is he better than Buhari?...YES BY FAR...does he deserve second term?...Very WELL...If APC Tinubu and Fashola couldn't solve half of Lagos problems in 16 years; why do APC expect Jonathan to solve all of Nigeria problems in 5 years... if you need change; start from Lagos to change plz...charity begins at home...

medamillion:
Answers needed so that we can know why we are voting GEJ

Buhari is also contesting...As his supporter, open a thread on what he achieved in his time as head of state...let me help you to state them...At least you will see how he didn't even under the basic principle of economics of price control mechanism...using physical and brutal force to control prices in the market...sorry for folks like you...fighting enemies in the name of corruption... campaigning against his country because of ethnicity...75,000 graduates came out under him and 70,000 were unemployed...and he's singing change today with semi-literates like himself...so much to talk about...open the thread;and see facts & figures raining in your face...

genearts:
Everyone should speak for himself....

Then say yours and move on...quit poke nosing or interrogating people here...share yours and move on...

genearts:
I said over 50 universities (federal, state and private included)

And is this thread about that or about what Jonathan did...The 12 universities built by Jonathan is unprecedented in our history and is the first of its kind bro...no jealousy... no insults...no bickering...share your experience or marry your bed bro...

medamillion:
Well going by "facts" you presented, (even to the extent of saying corruption is reducing) I can categorically tell you that all this paper achievement has not reflected on the life of 80% of Nigerians.
I agree with your wonderful analyses, even Jonathan said, and I quote:
“CNN has said our Economy is growing. The best Economists are at the World Bank. Now you have all these Nigerian Economists talking nonsense. Do they know better than CNN or World Bank?”
“Nigeria is not poor. Come and see the amount of private jets Nigerians parked at Kenya Airport when we went to Nairobi for Conference. Kenyans were just looking at us with envy. How can you say Nigerians are poor”
Even though the poverty level increases on a daily bases and the CNN tells us, it is not, we must accept.
Beautiful analyses.

Yes it is a beautiful analyses which I can always defend...

Now, Transparency International and APC propaganda machine which of their data should we take on corruption index

Economists that disagreed are all card carrying members of APC from Prof Pat Utomi to others... and APC sympathetic or propaganda arm...

Where did you get your 80%...maybe 80% of your people not Nigerians...Plz kindly exclude my state...

World bank acknowledged that poverty reduced in Nigeria by some good percentage...

BTW I thought you said it is a personal opinion stuff... why are you quarrelling with people's personal opinions again