Sanni Azeez
RETIRED General and former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, is not a too friendly and charismatic leader to some Nigerians, but the Katsina born politician, who flew the Presidential flag of the All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, in the 2003 and 2007 elections, has some qualities that distinguished him from his peers. In both elections, he came second with different colours. While he was close in 2003, he came distant second in 2007. His 'not-too-loved' figure meanwhile, is popular mostly in the western part of the country where he scored low in the two elections.
Without mincing words however, Buhari is one personality that has bestridden and continues to bestride Nigeria's political firmament like a colossus. Yes, he was, like all other military juntas we have had in this country and elsewhere, brutal in his judgment of human rights abuses, and also could pass for a religious fundamentalist, because to him, his religion is the first to consider in all things. But put these aside, the retired General could easily pass for an elder statesman. His contemporaries look up to him as an incorruptible politician. He is one personality that is widely believed to be free from corruption while in office and after leaving office as head of state.
His undoing as a too religious fellow and his poor record in human rights could well be ignored considering the level of discipline Nigerians were displaying during his reign as head of state and also the level of development recorded when he headed the moribund PTF. While he was the Head of State, Nigerians were treated to first hand 'War Against Indiscipline' and while serving as the Chairman of PTF, Buhari built many roads (though many people argued that most of these roads were in the north) across the country. Drugs were put in hospitals, school buses were given to tertiary institutions and several other things were done across the country. Without holding brief for the Katsina State born politician, only few people had got the courage to face him with corruption charges. In the run-in to the 2007 elections, some analysts were being interviewed on a Lagos television station, they all agreed that, given the pedigree of the presidential contestants, Buhari stood out as the best material. Most of the people that called in into the programme expressed similar views with minor dissenting views. This goes a long way in putting Buhari into perspective. No wonder he could not boast of a house in any capital city in Nigeria except one built by a philanthropist for him in Katsina, where he stays. No company, one jeep, also a donation, and a small farm in his home state. In fact, it was once rumoured that he lives solely on his pension.
However, on Monday May 10, 2010, Buhari was a guest in Oxford University, where he was invited by the Oxford Research Network to deliver a paper on 'Governance in Africa' with the seminar tagged 'OReNGA 2010. Buhari started his speech by paying tribute to Oxford University as a very famous university. His topic; 'Ten years of democracy in the Federal Republic of Nigeria' was critically dissected by the retired General. He lambasted the elite class and the politicians, as he went memory lane. “14 changes of government in Nigeria; three times as soldiers took over power from civilians, three times as they succeeded civilians, and five times as the military arrested power from its own class in palace coups or through death by natural and unnatural causes”. The politicians were not the only ones pointed out as debacles to democratising Nigeria, the judiciary had its share of blame. Noteworthy, are the Supreme Court rulings, which Buhari pointed out that could have changed the course of the nation on both occasions. Also, the international community was not spared as they exhibited double standards in elections in Africa. One instance the politician gave was the hard line and vociferous stands of the United States and Britain on the 'rigged' elections in Zimbabwe, the same powers were just mild and diplomatic in condemning Nigerians blatantly rigged elections.
Buhari however believed that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and military intrusions are old fashioned and cannot solve the problem of the corrupt politicians. Niger Delta crisis, electoral reforms, poverty and power were the major highlights of the retired General's view of Nigeria's problem. He virtually touched every thing about Nigeria and he did this to the bewilderment of the audience. From the looks on their faces, it could be deduced that Buhari was able to win over more people to his side. He may not be liked by all, but give it to him, the Oxford audience were treated to a good lecture. An audience, who wrote a piece in The Guardian last week, Anthony Akinola, alluded to the belief that Buhari's presentation was excellent. He also wrote that he forgot that he was listening to a politician, as he followed with rapt attention as the retired general metamorphosed into a 'professor'.
Governments at all levels should, with accelerated urgency and immediate alacrity start to build good roads and manage the old ones and also ensure that all these roads are well illuminated to safeguard citizens from accidents. We can't continue like this as no serious nation takes life so cheap as Nigeria does. Our roads need upgrade and total overhaul; if not we may all have to die on these roads. God forbid!
RETIRED General and former Head of State, Muhammadu Buhari, is not a too friendly and charismatic leader to some Nigerians, but the Katsina born politician, who flew the Presidential flag of the All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP, in the 2003 and 2007 elections, has some qualities that distinguished him from his peers. In both elections, he came second with different colours. While he was close in 2003, he came distant second in 2007. His 'not-too-loved' figure meanwhile, is popular mostly in the western part of the country where he scored low in the two elections.
Without mincing words however, Buhari is one personality that has bestridden and continues to bestride Nigeria's political firmament like a colossus. Yes, he was, like all other military juntas we have had in this country and elsewhere, brutal in his judgment of human rights abuses, and also could pass for a religious fundamentalist, because to him, his religion is the first to consider in all things. But put these aside, the retired General could easily pass for an elder statesman. His contemporaries look up to him as an incorruptible politician. He is one personality that is widely believed to be free from corruption while in office and after leaving office as head of state.
His undoing as a too religious fellow and his poor record in human rights could well be ignored considering the level of discipline Nigerians were displaying during his reign as head of state and also the level of development recorded when he headed the moribund PTF. While he was the Head of State, Nigerians were treated to first hand 'War Against Indiscipline' and while serving as the Chairman of PTF, Buhari built many roads (though many people argued that most of these roads were in the north) across the country. Drugs were put in hospitals, school buses were given to tertiary institutions and several other things were done across the country. Without holding brief for the Katsina State born politician, only few people had got the courage to face him with corruption charges. In the run-in to the 2007 elections, some analysts were being interviewed on a Lagos television station, they all agreed that, given the pedigree of the presidential contestants, Buhari stood out as the best material. Most of the people that called in into the programme expressed similar views with minor dissenting views. This goes a long way in putting Buhari into perspective. No wonder he could not boast of a house in any capital city in Nigeria except one built by a philanthropist for him in Katsina, where he stays. No company, one jeep, also a donation, and a small farm in his home state. In fact, it was once rumoured that he lives solely on his pension.
However, on Monday May 10, 2010, Buhari was a guest in Oxford University, where he was invited by the Oxford Research Network to deliver a paper on 'Governance in Africa' with the seminar tagged 'OReNGA 2010. Buhari started his speech by paying tribute to Oxford University as a very famous university. His topic; 'Ten years of democracy in the Federal Republic of Nigeria' was critically dissected by the retired General. He lambasted the elite class and the politicians, as he went memory lane. “14 changes of government in Nigeria; three times as soldiers took over power from civilians, three times as they succeeded civilians, and five times as the military arrested power from its own class in palace coups or through death by natural and unnatural causes”. The politicians were not the only ones pointed out as debacles to democratising Nigeria, the judiciary had its share of blame. Noteworthy, are the Supreme Court rulings, which Buhari pointed out that could have changed the course of the nation on both occasions. Also, the international community was not spared as they exhibited double standards in elections in Africa. One instance the politician gave was the hard line and vociferous stands of the United States and Britain on the 'rigged' elections in Zimbabwe, the same powers were just mild and diplomatic in condemning Nigerians blatantly rigged elections.
Buhari however believed that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and military intrusions are old fashioned and cannot solve the problem of the corrupt politicians. Niger Delta crisis, electoral reforms, poverty and power were the major highlights of the retired General's view of Nigeria's problem. He virtually touched every thing about Nigeria and he did this to the bewilderment of the audience. From the looks on their faces, it could be deduced that Buhari was able to win over more people to his side. He may not be liked by all, but give it to him, the Oxford audience were treated to a good lecture. An audience, who wrote a piece in The Guardian last week, Anthony Akinola, alluded to the belief that Buhari's presentation was excellent. He also wrote that he forgot that he was listening to a politician, as he followed with rapt attention as the retired general metamorphosed into a 'professor'.
Like Da Grin, Nigerian road claims Ali, Godfrey
JUST last month, the music industry lost one of its raves, Da Grin, and as the dust seems to be settling on this, Nigerian sports fraternity was thrown into mourning when, in a road accident, Ali Abdullahi and Christian Godfrey, Nigeria's two best golfers, joined the growing list of personalities killed in road accidents in Nigeria. This is unacceptable from the government which has continued to neglect infrastructures, including good roads, thereby, endangering the lives of its citizenry. Abdullahi and Godfrey were going to Minna from Suleja when they had the fatal crash. Even, the caddie to Abdullahi, Bernard, also died in the crash.Governments at all levels should, with accelerated urgency and immediate alacrity start to build good roads and manage the old ones and also ensure that all these roads are well illuminated to safeguard citizens from accidents. We can't continue like this as no serious nation takes life so cheap as Nigeria does. Our roads need upgrade and total overhaul; if not we may all have to die on these roads. God forbid!
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