The
Sincere Versus The Betrayers: Nigerian Politics And
Elections
04 May 2011By Babandi Gumel
The just concluded Presidential election in Nigeria
has exposed the unfortunate double- faced Nigerians in
their true colours. Every Nigerian knew or knows who
was and who is General Muhammadu Buhari the
incorruptible honest sincere patriotic disciplined
soldier turned politician.
He was the only person among politicians who
challenged Nigerians to come with any evidence that he
was corrupt during his military and political career.
Of course it was on record that he was never found
wanting corruption wise which has become the norm
among the majority corrupt politicians.
This is sufficient evidence to win voters on his side
but unfortunately Nigerians chose to behave
differently especially the voters from the South West
who were expected to form an alliance Buhari to defeat
the ruling Party which is seen as traumatising and
holding the Country to ransom.
Haba Nigerians is this the way we should treat every
sincere Nigerian simply because he is honest true
ready to serve the Nation honestly and truthfully yet
we don't want him.
Honestly I don't know the reason why the voters
especially those in the South turned against this
patriotic disciplined honest Nigerian who stood
against corruption and all those associated with this
evil greed bedevilling our society.
The unfortunate guiding motto is the callous disregard
to the poor and the needy everybody for himself
providing privileges for the privileged ones while
others are deprived even of their legitimate rights.
In a place where the economic system is propelled by
greed and piloted by exploitation leading to the
enrichment of few individuals you see nothing but
intolerable misery as the political system is meant to
prop up injustice, class- privileges and unfortunate
distressing economic disparities which has become the
norm and reality in our Country.
We need courageous leadership to take us out of the
mess and people like General Buhari who Nigerians
witnessed what he did to the Country when he was
Military leader instilling discipline during the
famous War Against Indiscipline in 1984.
So the Presidential election gave them the opportunity
to choose Buhari who contested for the third time
without success which baffled many this time asking so
many questions as to why this happened was it because
he was a Northerner or a Muslim? Still we don't know.
Even though I am not trying to be sentimental or
sectional and parochial but only want expose our true
colours wanting to hit the nail on the head not
minding whose ox was gored.
The unfortunate post-election violence mainly in the
North which left more than 400 people dead showed the
seriousness of the affair although not a do or die
affair but yet the traumatic experience left a bitter
taste which was difficult to chew and at what cost the
ruling party gained such victory.
It was unfortunate for General Buhari who contested
twice in the previous elections due to manipulations
he ended up in court when party members betrayed him
and leaving him to struggle alone yet he remained
steadfast consistent which became part of history of
his perseverance.
Yet despite his consistent effort he was unsuccessful
with only one vote in the Supreme not upturning the
decision of the lower court to give him victory.
As a sincere committed person who wanted best for the
Nation he decided to abandon his former party that
betrayed him joining another party after thorough
consultations.
It is a known fact wherever Buhari went corruption
would be a thing of the past therefore whoever is
corrupt knows that he/she cannot work with Buhari for
his known antecedent.
The only weapon commonly used against this steadfast
gentle soldier turned politician as propaganda was he
was too Religious for that matter Islamic therefore
unreliable.
In the beginning when he left the ANPP it was thought
that he would join the ACN which was popular among the
South Westerners mainly Yorubas but he ended up in the
CPC.
The hypothesis put forward was that he would invite
the former Governor of Lagos State Ahmad Bola Tinubu a
Muslim to be his running mate in the Presidential
race.
However the idea was dumped and rejected by many of
his supporters who apparently see as a means of
driving away the Christian voters thus working against
him and his newly formed party. So as part of new
strategy the Patriotic Buhari decided to choose a
Christian Pastor in the name of Tunde Bakare which
surprised so many people.
The Pentecostal Pastor Bakare's organisation described
Buhari as the only credible candidate among all those
contesting in the Presidential election.
Pastor Bakare of the Rain Assembly Church a Yoruba who
was so vocal in his criticism against injustice in the
Country was in 2002 arrested for sermon allegedly
critical to former President Obasanjo himself a
Yoruba.
The choice of Pastor Bakare would help woo at least
the Christians voters from the South West and Middle
Belt and even those from the South East who
unfortunately harboured malicious suspicion against
Buhari on mere conjecture not on fact.
Well if a person is not willing to follow what is
regarded as truth whatever fact might be presented
before him he would do the opposite exactly as seen
from this election. So Buhari the Patriotic sincere
honest incorruptible Nigerian is a shining example of
a true Nigerian who wants move the Country forward but
unfortunately many Nigerians turned blind eyes don't
want go with him rather they should maintain the
status quo and therefore should be left alone to
continue doing what they used to do.
Apparently it shows those who are sincere and honest
would hardly succeed during election in Nigeria due to
ethnic religious and other parochial sentiments.
It is so amusing to note that Ribadu the Presidential
Candidate of the ACN did not do so well in the South
West during the Presidential election unlike the
Parliamentary election which the party swept across
the South West unfortunately the voters dumped Ribadu
their Presidential Candidate and decided to go with
the PDP may be due to the same sentiment.
So why is that I cannot answer except other than to
add that Ribadu is unfortunately the same Northerner
with an Islamic background even though he used to be
an anti-corruption Czar which made him popular among
Nigerians especially among South Westerners but
refused to vote for him. Apparently as seen by many he
was only a figure head so to say presidential
candidate that helped strengthen the PDP and caused
weakness to Buhari and his CPC.
Why didn't they vote for him in the Presidential well
may be like Buhari it is left for the readers to
judge. It is the same parochial ethnic sentiment and
the usual unfortunate Nigerian betrayal which we
refuse to acknowledge.
Sadly Buhari like Sanusi Lamido another workaholic
Central Governor from the Muslim Core North is another
example of patriotic Nigerian who should be praised
like Professor Jega the INEC Chairman who was praised
by many foreign observers for conducting free and fair
election better than the previous elections despite
the post election violence seen.
This Presidential election has served as a lesson to
all who care to tell the truth. It is unfair to accuse
Buhari for these spontaneous outburst by the irate
youths who like the MEND during Obasanjo and ‘Yar
Adua's era used to engage in violence activities
attacking soldiers in the end they had to be appeased
giving them amnesty nobody ever accused Jonathan
Goodluck of supporting them when he was the Vice
President.
So why should we now turn the gun on Buhari accusing
him of fomenting the trouble causing unnecessary
mayhem. The unfortunate traumatic post election
violence in the north by irate youths who felt
betrayed by the ruling PDP party whom they accused as
the main culprits for causing untold hardship to
ordinary citizens which is why the people did not care
to vote en masse in the subsequent elections as they
did in the Presidential elections.
So we have to sit down and find ways of moving forward
not backward and this is the best time to form a kind
of unity Government after the Presidential election
result which was marred by post election violence by
consulting the stakeholders especially Buhari and the
other opposition leaders so as to move forward rather
than backwards.
Many Nigerians see him as credible leader with sense
of patriotism who should be trusted and consulted
rather confronted with unnecessary innuendos with the
intention to tarnish his good record.
I am sure as usual he would be willing to give his
sincere honest advice the way forward how to move for
our beloved Nation which should be united at this time
when we are in desperate need of unity caused by
unnecessary election mayhem resulting in so many
deaths which is very unfortunate.
Wa Akhiri Daawana Anil Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Alameen
©
EsinIslam.Com
Add Comments