FEATURE ARTICLE

Tonye David-West, Jr., Ph.D
[email protected]
Political Scientist
USA

They say Buhari is the most honest Nigerian, ever!

had just settled down to proffering my next opinion on the political state of affairs in our nation, when I received, utterly expectedly, a ceaseless avalanche of emails elicited by my last article titled "Let Us Examine Buhari's Head", which was published on Nigeriaworld.com on April 29, 2002. It seemed that all of the readers had conspired to send their feedback simultaneously. Many who responded nodded in affirmation to my general thesis that Buhari lacked the diplomatic, political, social and personal augmen needed to occupy Aso Rock. Not that Obasanjo is awash with all these beaming qualities. But that is an entirely different essay.They alluded to the fact that he [Buhari] was not in touch with the masses, that he lacked the vision and wherewithal to take Nigerians to the next level.

Many also referred to his heavy-handed and iron-fisted rule, how thousands of Nigerians took to self-exile as a result of the decrees and laws enacted by his regime. One particular reader who wrote from one of the Gulf States, stated,

"...Buhari is responsible for my progress in life. Were it not for him and his repressive laws, I would not have found a way to leave the country to find lucrative work in the Gulf."

They referred to the decree which mandated journalists to reveal their sources or be held accountable for their publications against government officials. They reminded me that during those years, journalists could not print what they thought was the truth about government officials as they risked harassment from the government. Others indicated that many journalists slept in different locations night after night afraid that Buhari and his version of SSS men would come after them for their publications. One reader fumed,

"...Buhari destroyed the press in Nigeria and made it an organ of his government. Not even Abacha had that distinction in almost five years."

Some other readers who provided feedback readily jumped, without much hesitation, on the Buhari defense bandwagon. They contended veraciously that he was the most honest leader we have ever had. One even contended that Murtala Muhammed's honesty was a child's play when juxtaposed with Buhari's. They mentioned that while he was Head of State, [HOS], he presided over more than $10 billion in oil revenues and none of it was squandered, not even a penny, they claimed. They mentioned the fact that every month, during his era, Nigerians got an account of their money, how it was spent, on what, and the balance. One reader from Nassarawa who stated that he was a Colonel in the Army reminded me of the fact that no Nigerian leader, civilian or military, had ever done what Buhari and Idiagbon did. He went on to accuse IBB, Abacha and even Abubakar of embezzling funds, stating that Abubakar who served for only eleven months as HOS amassed so much wealth in that short period of time while Buhari who served nine months longer did not, making him the poorest HOS the country ever had.

He stated,

"...you are being unfair to the man. You only talked about his unsuitability for the presidency without mentioning the fact that he was honest, accountable and never touched a penny that did not belong to him. He had his faults, but in Nigeria, what we need more than anything else is accountability and honesty amongst our leaders, a quality that Obasanjo does not have. I hope you will acknowledge him for this quality. I will forever respect this man for his honesty and strong will. I think he is the most honest Nigerian, dead or alive today."

Another reader was quick to remind me that Buhari before assuming the office of HOS was a military governor and minister of the most profitable ministry, the ministry of petroleum and natural resources. The reader further stated that in all of his time as governor and minister, he was upright, never engaging in fraudulent acts or deals, that he gave a very good account of himself and accounted for every penny that was spent. The reader challenged me to prove that Buhari was ever corrupt as a governor, minister or HOS. He offered that if I was able to provide any proof he would "switch" allegiance. He further stated that I should give Buhari much credit for his impeachable disposition while he occupied Dodan Barracks. He noted that this was something no leader from "Belewa to Obasanjo" had ever done. He proceeded to brand the likes of Shagari, IBB, Abacha, Abubakar and Obasanjo as corrupt leaders.

Another put in his two cents from Jakarta, the Indonesian capital, with these words.

"...if Buhari had ruled Nigeria longer than he did, we would not be in this current mess. They introduced the word "discipline" to our society. Nigerians clued up for public transportation. Drivers obeyed the rules of the road, civil servants went to work at 7:30 a.m. and returned at 4:30 p.m. not at 1 p.m., there were no thrash on the streets, bribery and corruption was their focus, they told us how our money was being spent, they meant business. They declared war on indiscipline, WAI, Nigeria became a sane society once again like we had never experienced before. How can you say such a man is not fit for Nigeria even as a civilian?"

Another challenged me,

"...you cannot have it all. There is no perfect leadership. I rather have a disciplined society such as the one we had under Buhari than the violence-filled corrupt democracy we are experiencing now. It�s a trade-off. If all he "stole" was a mere federal guest house in his village, then the man is not a Nigerian as a "true" Nigerian would have cleaned the treasury just like that evil genius and Abacha. Buhari should be patted on the back for his honesty. The man stands out."

Yet, one wrote in an internet discussion group I am part of-

"During his [Buhari] reign, Nigeria was a better country than it is today. We were disciplined and this is very essential in nation building...this man was a Minister for Petroleum and Head of State and no one can accuse him of embezzling? He is a special Nigerian."

My reaction!

In reading each of the sixty-something emails on this matter, it was obvious that sympathy was flowing abundantly on Buhari's side. These Nigerians preferred a society that was more disciplined than what we have now in spite of the rampant violations of human rights evident in that era. Many believe that Buhari is better than all the current politicians as he has been in a position to "grab it all" as one reader put it, but did not. These Nigerians seemingly are tunnel-visioned, judging him solely on one index of corruption�that of embezzlement of state funds without the realization that corruption is multi-faceted and multi-dimensional. While I do not know what would have become of his regime in terms of its avouched war against indiscipline had IBB not sniffed out its life, I do know that the arguments which are advanced in his favor are effectively no-brainers.

While on relative terms, Buhari was a "saint" anent IBB and Abacha when measured on the corruption index, it is a fact that the complexity of Nigeria would require the wits of a politician who can bear it all. Buhari would be aghast to learn that there is an aspectual difference between a democracy and a dictatorship where decrees rather than consensus are the order of the day. The man has never been a democrat, not now, not then. He was stubborn as a mule when some of his cabinet ministers prevailed on him to put together a credible program and return the country to democracy in a timely fashion. Rather than listening to the voices of reason, he held forth to his dictatorial propensities and evaded the question ever so cleverly. While I am not privy to any reports of wide-spread looting orgies, as there were in the eras of his successors, his inconsistencies, double-standardism and his politics of favoritism have been well noted, undermining his well publicized WAI and his very resolve to fight corruption.

Most recently, the former despot avoided the legal summons of the Oputa Panel, a panel that even the sitting president and first citizen, Obasanjo, responded to, floating assorted nonsensical reasons for his failure to appear before a duly constituted panel. I ask his praise singers, how is such a man suited for the presidency in a democratic era? And how is it that some Nigerians have found solace in his purported honesty while in office and are shouting from the rooftops that he is the most honest Nigerian to ever grace our shores? Do we want a so-called honest president who goes around evading summons? Do we want a president who still has questions to answer? Do we want a president who is insensitive to the religious and ethnic divide in Nigeria? And what skeleton does he have in his closet that he bluntly refused to appear before the Oputa panel? His he seeking to hide the multi-million naira [note that the currency exhange between the naira and dollar then was N1 = $3] federal guest house he built in his village in Daura, Kastina which has now, in the wake of his announcement to join the presidential race, become a focal point for the media in Nigeria and abroad?

What more is there? His religious fanaticism, his penchant for tribal politics, his distrust for so-called unbelievers or infidels, if you wish, his unflappable support for the implementation of Sharia in all the states in Nigeria, his fanning the ember of discord during the tenuous days, weeks and months of Sharia riots and many other factors make him unsuitable for that prized office in spite of the accolades been dumped on him by some of my readers. What kind of democratic president would he be? A president of �northern Nigeria� in light of his tribal and ethnic politics even as a HOS? We saw evidence of this in his short-lived junta where he systematically refused Christians permits to build churches whereas Mosques were springing up in all nooks and corners of the country.

Thus, of what use will he be to the nation if he becomes an "honest" democratic president as some Nigerians want and he rules the country on religious lines, on tribal lines and on every other line there is out there, leading to chaos? The presidency requires a medley of attributes all of which Buhari is acutely lacking. If all that is required to be a democratic president of Nigeria is unmitigated prowess in authoritarianism, I will recommend Buhari, intoto. But I hate to be the bearer of bad news---it takes the antithesis and much more. He and all those retired generals who have political ambition should look up the meaning of the word "retired," in the dictionary, read and understand it and remain retired. In fact, some of these generals are seeing more action in their "retired" state than they ever saw when they were active in the military. This surely a laughing point! Do they mean that there are no civilians in a country of 120 million people who can rule the country effectively that they must do us all a favor and un-retire and return to offer us the much needed salvation? This is scandalous, to aver the least.

Does Buhari think that Nigerians would serve the presidency to him on a silver platter because they say he did not misuse government funds as HOS, governor or minister? Is he aware of the other factors working against him? Does he expect that Nigerians would turn around and vote in another Hausa/Fulani into office after the endless strings of northern leaders beginning with Belewa, Gowon, Shagari, Buhari, IBB, Abacha and Abubakar who have ruled Nigeria endlessly as though there were no other ethnic groups who could try their hands at leadership? What justification can there ever be for eight out of ten [80%] leaders [Ernest Shonekan & Zik who was a nominal or ceremonial president do not count] to emerge from the north, ruling for a total of 35 out of 41 years, when the rest of the country is equally capable of leadership? Come on, now, this is all about justice and equity, isn't it?

And our �most honest Nigerian, ever� seems unsure about his own intentions. Why is it that when politicians decide to run for office, rather than stating to the people that they have decided to run on their own volition, they would state that this nameless organization, that nameless organization, this anonymous person, that anonymous person, this faceless friend, that faceless friend urged them to run? Indecision? If they are that indecisive and had to be told to run by some faceless organization[s] or person[s], they are better off staying off politics as they are lying to themselves about their intentions. As vice president Atiku stated, Buhari ought to go and face the Oputa panel and respond to charges of human rights violations that he personally ordered rather than seeking that choice office because someone wants him to. Wouldn�t it be better for him to clear his name at the Oputa panel before facing the electorate? Wouldn�t it be better to affirm his innocence or confirm his guilt before the panel so we are all aware of his deeds as HOS? Wouldn�t it be better to be an exemplary citizen and submit to the law rather than playing hide and seek with a duly constituted panel? Is this the man some Nigerians are branding as the most honest Nigerian that ever lived? When did the standards of honesty become so cheap?

One of my readers who provided feedback indicated that it does not matter where the leader comes from as long as he can get the job done. In a perfect society, that would be a pertinent statement. But we are not in a perfect society, a significant section of the polity has been deprived of leadership time and time again, year after year--eight out of ten from a given region --haba! If we agree that democracy is about justice and equity and opportunity for all, why can't we agree to the fact that it is time for others to lead the country in a true demonstration of fairness in our democratic process? Those who say it does not matter will be surprised to learn that equally capable leaders who can get the job done can be found in other parts of the country as well.

So to that reader, I say, it does matter where our leaders come from given our checkered history of leadership and the domination of one group over the others. The country is divided into six geographical zones so that each zone can get equal representation at the highest levels of government. We cannot continue to say "it does not matter" while the country is continuously ruled by one group to the exclusion of others. Those who have been singing this song of "it does not matter" are doing so because they are the ones ruling and that seemingly is the only way they can justify the exclusion of other groups from the mantle of leadership.

Once the mantle of leadership changes hands, they would begin to say, "it does matter." They should disabuse themselves of their tribalistic mindset and be more inclusive in their thought process. As long as we pursuit justice, equity and equal opportunity for all in this new Nigeria, I must say, it does matter as the participation of all is the underpinning of a participatory democracy such as the one we are meant to have. While reckoning the constitutional right of Buhari to contest for the presidency as affirmed in the 1999 constitution, I must say that right does not supercede those of other Nigerians who seek equal representation at the highest levels of goverment. Buhari and his herd of retired generals have had their time on the dance floor of leadership, its now time to yield that floor to other equally capable dancers.