Buhari: Giving dog a bad name…

I wonder why some people take joy in insulting a man who is old enough to be their grandfather. And they base their arguments on hearsay. That is unfortunate. They have accused Buhari of virtually every known crime in the world. I look at Nigerians and I am amazed at how forgetful they are, how […]

I wonder why some people take joy in insulting a man who is old enough to be their grandfather. And they base their arguments on hearsay. That is unfortunate. They have accused Buhari of virtually every known crime in the world. I look at Nigerians and I am amazed at how forgetful they are, how well they twist facts, how adept they are at running people down. General Buhari has been accused of a myriad of crimes that would disqualify him for the post of the president. I will try my least to counter some of these fatuous accusations in the shortest and simplest form I can.
He was a “coupist.” What is wrong with removing a government that was riddled with corruption, a government that was rudderless, a government that was rigged into power, a government that extolled indiscipline. By the way, the same Nigerians have forgotten that they were the ones who voted Obasanjo, David Mark and Jonah Jang into power. Yet these people are also former “coupists.”
He is a dictator. Well, show me a revolutionary who was not a dictator. The people who accuse Buhari of being a dictator know nothing about revolutions. Fidel Castro was accused of the same thing. Thomas Sankara was accused of the same. Jerry Rawlings was also accused. Revolution involves cleaning the Augean stable. And to do that you don’t pander to people’s feelings, mollycoddle or pamper them. That comes after you have fixed the problem. The biggest problem in Nigeria is indiscipline and corruption, and this was the cancer that Buhari sought to remove.
He is corrupt like the rest of the politicians. Well, show me his fat account, show me his private jet, and show me his mansion in Abuja, Dubai, New York. As a former governor, minister, chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) and head of state, he could afford all these; after all, even governors today are buying jets like taxis and buying up the whole of Dubai. Let’s even forget about the luxurious life of the former heads of state. Show me Buhari’s multimillion dollar share in fortune 500 companies. Kindly show me where he is hiding all his ill-gotten wealth. We should candidly ask ourselves how many of us would hold all the positions and still manage to be as modest as Buhari.
He is a religious bigot. Who amongst you is not a religious bigot? Ninety-five per cent of Nigerians are religious.  Unlike some Nigerians, Buhari is not a pretender. He is true to his religion.
They say he is intolerant. Will any intolerant northern Muslim make a pastor his running mate? Show me a politician who chose a pastor of repute as a running mate other than Buhari. The same man they accuse of being an Islamist was the same man who put an end to the Maitatsine Islamic cult.
He supports Boko Haram. I am yet to see the evidence that he supports Boko Haram. Calling for amnesty for Boko Haram is not the same thing as supporting Boko Haram. Even Mr President set up a committee on amnesty. So why the hoopla? Show me one proof linking Buhari to Boko Haram; just one.
He jailed easterners and westerners. Bollocks! The same person who brazenly organised some Israelis to capture and crate a northerner, Umaru Dikko for onward journey to Nigeria for justice to take its course. Show me anything as remotely as determined and punitive as that. He deserves eternal kudos for this singular act.
He is too old. The answer to this is simple. A good wine gets better with age. Buhari won’t be the oldest person to contest for elections. Age has nothing to do with good leadership. Nigerians have elected some young brats like James Ibori, Lucky Igbinedion, etc, who ended as big rogues. Integrity has nothing to do with age. It is innate.
He is a tribal bigot. Well, so is Jonathan, as well as other politicians. Show me a Nigerian politician that does not whip up ethnic sentiments when he feels cornered.
He threatened hell if election was rigged. What is bad in that statement? Only those who have the intentions to rig election will be gripped by fear when such statements are made, after all, Obasanjo once said that election was a “do-or-die affair.” And no one scolded him.
He contested and failed three times. And so? When did failure become a crime? He should be praised for his tenacity and belief in democracy. Some people would have been sold out a long time ago, sided with the oppressors and made fortune. It is not so with Buhari.
He is a terrorist. But no member of Boko Haram has come out in the open to say that Buhari supports or sponsors them.
He supported Abacha. What is wrong with that? Is he the only one that supported Abacha? Many people supported Abacha too. I don’t see anyone crucifying them. Actually, so many Igbos and Yorubas also supported Abacha.
He hates Igbos. The same person who hates Igbos also gave Igbo the vice presidency slot twice?
I agree, the PDP people love Igbos, but what I don’t know is what exactly the PDP government has done Ndi Igbo since the inception of this democracy other than the death traps they call roads.
His tenure in the PTF didn’t benefit southerners. Oh yeah! How much was the total PTF budget? Compare it with what the NDDC has got, then compare the number of projects completed by PTF and those by the NDDC.
He wants to Islamise Nigeria. This is the most laughable and ludicrous of all. How it is possible for anyone to believe such a puerile idea baffles me to no end.
Those insulting Buhari have nothing against him. They are simply giving a dog a bad name to hang it. Very importantly, everyone vouches for his integrity.
Ikechukwu Mbachu wrote from the Brandenburg Technical University, Germany. This article is culled from Premium Times