For Buhari, a plate of food-for-thought

Aliero used sheer financial muscle to hijack the CPC from those who had laboured to found it in Kebbi State. In fact, Aliero has deployed a breathtaking war-chest to fight Governor Saidu Dakingari of PDP out of power. What, then, was Buhari talking about? There is no aspirant in any party, who didn’t use money […]

Aliero used sheer financial muscle to hijack the CPC from those who had laboured to found it in Kebbi State. In fact, Aliero has deployed a breathtaking war-chest to fight Governor Saidu Dakingari of PDP out of power.

What, then, was Buhari talking about? There is no aspirant in any party, who didn’t use money to influence delegates at the primaries. Colonel Isa is not a saint who didn’t spend a kobo to woo delegates at the January 12 gubernatorial primaries of the CPC in Kano State. Doesn’t Buhari know that Senator Aliero and other moneybags in Kebbi State didn’t win on the basis of sheer personal integrity or any remarkable performance record in the past?

Shehu Sani, the Kaduna-based human rights advocate, lost his bid for the House of Reps seat on the ticket of CPC mainly because he couldn’t match the resources of his rivals to woo the delegates. It is most unfair, therefore, to single out Mohammed Abacha for punishment on the allegation that he bought over delegates.

On December 31, 1983, Buhari said in his maiden broadcast to Nigerians: “The last general election could be anything but free and fair. All the political parties rigged the election according to the resources available to them.” Twenty–eight years after making this famous declaration, can anyone say honestly that the reality of Nigerian politics has changed significantly from the way General Buhari described it then?

The young Abacha has been involved in philanthropic activities and it is those same gestures of compassion that have endeared him to the people. Robert Green, the author of the famous 48 Laws of Power, emphasizes the importance of what he calls “strategic generosity” in winning the hearts and minds of the people by aspiring leaders. In fact, compassion is an essential component of a good leader. The late Chief Moshood Abiola, the presidential candidate of the defunct SDP was largely elected on the strength of his generosity, philanthropy, compassion and fellow-feeling. He was the first candidate to achieve victory, despite a Muslim/Muslim ticket presented by his party.

One interesting point which the CPC leaders appear to be playing down is that Abacha didn’t need a godfather to win in Kano State. He won the primaries in his own right and can win repeatedly, provided the election is free and fair.

Replacing Abacha with Ja’afaru Isa, who is the choice of the CPC leaders rather than the voters, is the height of injustice. It is clear that CPC leaders had misread the political reality of Kano and Kanawa. They had expected Isa to win but he lost and, instead of protecting their reputation on the side of justice, they have opted to sacrifice honour for expediency. Even a staunch Buhari loyalist, Sani Sha’aban, in a recent newspaper interview, regretted how opportunists seem to have hijacked Buhari’s judgment to advance their selfish agenda. Has the General, an icon in his own right, realised the damage this badly handled political snafu has done to his reputation? He should take a good look at the concerns being raised by genuine CPC members and voters.

Bena lives at No. 59 Ahmadou Ahidjo Street, Asokoro District, Abuja. (Email:[email protected])