Re: Why Buhari is seen to be underperforming
Nigerians have recently been treated to supposed tell-all interviews by purported close associates of President Muhammadu Buhari, or alleged insiders in his political journey. One of such interviews was published in Sunday Trust of July 16, 2017 where one Lawal Idris claimed to be an ally of President Muhammadu Buhari for over 40 years and […]
Nigerians have recently been treated to supposed tell-all interviews by purported close associates of President Muhammadu Buhari, or alleged insiders in his political journey.
One of such interviews was published in Sunday Trust of July 16, 2017 where one Lawal Idris claimed to be an ally of President Muhammadu Buhari for over 40 years and the one who reportedly got Buhari to join politics.
Suffice it to say, the duo of Mallam Lawal Idris and Umar Ardo have not been speaking the truth and their motives are far from principled. Some of these latter-day Buhari pundits even claim to have single-handedly recruited Muhammadu Buhari into politics. But as the saying goes, victory has a thousand fathers and defeat is an orphan. The question to be asked is, why were they not broadcasting such claims after Buhari was denied victory in 2003, 2007 and 2011, why now, after his victory in 2015?
The truth is President Buhari was not convinced or recruited into politics by any single individual, but rather by a groundswell of people. It was an idea whose time was right and several well-meaning individuals happened to be thinking along the same lines due to the growing despondency towards the then PDP government after the return to civilian governance in 1999. Call it kismet. The individuals that could perhaps collectively be credited with being among the first to discuss a debut in partisan politics with Buhari are Senators Hamman Bello Jada, Kanti Bello and Alhaji Wada Nas of blessed memory. His response then was to refer them to his friend and confidante Dr Mahmoud Tukur to further interrogate their proposition. Neither Malam Lawal Idris nor Umar Barkindo featured in the discussions.
Included in Dr Mahmoud Tukur’s response and observations were that: One, Some members of the political class might not be receptive to the idea of Buhari’s entry into politics because of his history with them as a military head of state; Two, He might encounter challenges due to a paucity of funds in a polity that laid so much emphasis on cash.
Like Tukur, Mamman Daura shared the same views. Both men were being dispassionately analytical and cognizant of the challenges in order to prepare for them, instead of recklessly ignoring them. Some mischief makers, perhaps in a bid to get closer to Buhari, decided to deliberately misinterpret and misrepresent these objective observations to mean that Mahmoud Tukur and Mamman Daura were not in support of Buhari as a politician or even a presidential candidate. This could not be further from the truth.
Buhari, at the time agreed to go into active partisan politics in order to build a credible opposition that would check the excesses of the PDP. Fortuitously, the funding challenges observed by his close associates were succumbed with the help of businessmen like Alhaji Umaru Mutallab and Malam Ahmed Umar (Ama), soon to be joined by numerous others. Some of the politicians that were adversely affected by the 1984 Buhari takeover of government shared the same concerns about rescuing Nigeria from becoming a one-party state and participated in creating and marketing a Buhari brand. This brand became the strongest political brand on the African continent that has delivered victory for hundreds of contestants since 2003. Needless to say, one cannot create a brand around a product that is bad from the onset; Buhari’s incorruptible nature, strength of character and patriotism were inherent marketable qualities. During the course of President Buhari’s journey to Aso Rock, millions of Nigerians have contributed in cash and in kind, with donations, by convincing him to contest (again), or simply by marketing the brand. Even former President Olusegun Obasanjo, the man at the helm of the PDP government when Buhari joined politics to provide a credible alternative for Nigerians, came to contribute his share of support for Buhari.
Like every human being, Buhari is not infallible. Mistakes have and will be made. Upholding the lofty ideals of the principle of separation of power by refusing to get involved in the politics of the National Assembly may have been a mistake in a country where democratic institutions remain frail. But perhaps such idealism is also why he appeals to Nigerians. There is also a certain quality to being unbending or even obstinate because it means one remains steadfast and would not allow family, friends and associates to take advantage. Which is why the claim that Mamman Daura controls Buhari is, simply put, preposterous. No one controls Buhari but Buhari and Mamman Daura who is a patient and tolerant individual appreciates this and never tries to cross the boundary with him. Contrary to the misinforming invectives being spewed out by Idris and others, those who know Mamman Daura will confirm that he does not come between President Buhari and his appointees because he is mindful of the Commander-in-Chief’s prerogatives and privileges.
With the proliferation of Ph.Ds.’- and in this case the reference is not to those bestowed with doctorate degrees but rather those exhibiting Pull Him Down syndrome- some appear to be concentrating on pulling Nigeria itself down. The vituperations of Wike, Fayose, Adebanjo and their likes are geared towards grabbing and holding on to power at all cost, including the destruction of the fatherland. They forget that the unity of Nigeria is more important than any individual and its nationhood has shown more resilience towards the scheming of such purveyors of hatred and falsehood. Better things are still in store for Nigeria.
Alhaji Bushiyare wrote this piece from Yola.