Gen. Muhammadu Buhari: The Dogged Fighter For Justice
By Paul Uwadima
For the most part of Nigeria’s existence as an independent nation it has been under military dictatorship. In military dictatorship the political power resides with the military. Most military dictatorships in the country were formed after a coup d’e’tat has overthrown the previous government.
The various military administrations that have ruled the country have little respect for human rights and use whatever means necessary to silence political opponents. Those who are viewed as opposing the army are seen as enemies. A military regime is also rarely willing to leave power unless forced to by popular revolt, whether active or imminent.
The role of pro-democracy movements in helping to force the military back to the barracks in 1999 is still very fresh in the memory of many Nigerians.
One of the former military heads of state of the country is General Muhammadu Buhari. He became the leader of the country following the military coup of 1984 that torpedoed the second Republic. Even though his administration was a military one, with all the usual trampling on the right to free speech of the citizenry, his government was still being remembered with nostalgia. This was because of the kind of leadership that he brought to bear in the running of the country.
That is why for over two decades since he has been out of office, the army of diehard followers of Buhari are growing by the day. He was credited for instilling a regime of fiscal discipline in the running of the economy and social discipline in the conduct of government business and in the social life of the people. was still being remembered with nostalgia. This was because of the kind of leadership that he brought to bear in the running of the country. His war against indiscipline (WAI) programme is yet to be surpassed as a social re-engineering programme in the country.
Buhari is on this page today not so much for what he did as a military leader, but for what he has been doing as a ‘civilian’ and a democrat.
With Nigeria’s sordid experience with military dictatorship it is often difficult for many Nigerians to accept that a soldier can also be a democrat. It is interesting that in the United States of America (USA) where we copied the presidential system of government in practice today; most of their past presidents have military background. From George Washington, who was the Commander in Chief of Continental Army during the American Resolution to President George Bush, who saw combat at World War II, 36 American Presidents have military background.
These American President had their democratic profile enhanced by their military background. Bill Clinton was one of the few American Presidents without military background and is often derided for allegedly dodging military draft.
Therefore Buhari’s military background cannot be a hindrance to his recognition as democrat. The former Head of State has been an active participant in the democratic process since the restoration of democracy in the country.
In 2003, General Buhari began one of the biggest mobilizations of the masses for a leadership change that could rescue the country from the throes of misrule and corruption. He was the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He campaigned vigorously across the country. Based on his antecedent as a squeaky clean politician who is intolerant of corruption, he attracted large followership. It is widely believed that he got majority of the votes in the 2003 presidential election that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner. Buhari headed to the court and filed a petition seeking to nullify Obasanjo’s victory on account of electoral fraud and serious irregularities at the polls. He lost at the court of the first instance, yet he was undeterred, as he took his grievences to the Supreme that finally ruled in favour of Obasanjo in 2005.
Speaking for the Supreme Court, the then Chief Justice Muhammadu Uwais said: “I have come to the conclusion that the election was conducted substantially in compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.” He however added that there had been irregularities in some states.
With the legal battles brought to an end in 2005, Buhari began the preparation in earnest for the 2007 election. That election was also massively rigged by the PDP in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission. Both Local and international observers said vote-rigging was so rampant that the results were not credible. Again Buhari headed to court, and again he was disappointed.
Over all these years that the PDP used rigging to prevent him from providing leadership for the country, the biggest losers have been the impoverished masses who are groining under the heavy yoke of the very corrupt PDP government in place.
At the run-up to the 2007 election Buhari had the most comprehensive programmes for the development of the country, but Nigerians were not privileged to witness the implementation of these programmes.
However another opportunity is beaconing for the masses as Buhari has since formed his own political platform, the CPC, the new political party has taken the country by storm.
The CPC has become the fastest growing political party in the country, driven by Buhari’s integrity and growing democratic profile. In many part of the country credible aspirants are dumping their corruption infested platforms for the CPC. Already there are talks of alliance with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to form a political force that would challenge the PDP for the presidential seat. With the crisis bedeviling the PDP, there is growing confident among the supporters of Buhari, that this is the time for him to become the civilian president of the country. This distinguished General has built one of the greatest cults following in the history of the country. He has also embarked on more voter education for the masses than the INEC could ever do. He has told his supporters to not only vote but to guard their votes from vote thieves.
For the most part of Nigeria’s existence as an independent nation it has been under military dictatorship. In military dictatorship the political power resides with the military. Most military dictatorships in the country were formed after a coup d’e’tat has overthrown the previous government.
The various military administrations that have ruled the country have little respect for human rights and use whatever means necessary to silence political opponents. Those who are viewed as opposing the army are seen as enemies. A military regime is also rarely willing to leave power unless forced to by popular revolt, whether active or imminent.
The role of pro-democracy movements in helping to force the military back to the barracks in 1999 is still very fresh in the memory of many Nigerians.
One of the former military heads of state of the country is General Muhammadu Buhari. He became the leader of the country following the military coup of 1984 that torpedoed the second Republic. Even though his administration was a military one, with all the usual trampling on the right to free speech of the citizenry, his government was still being remembered with nostalgia. This was because of the kind of leadership that he brought to bear in the running of the country.
That is why for over two decades since he has been out of office, the army of diehard followers of Buhari are growing by the day. He was credited for instilling a regime of fiscal discipline in the running of the economy and social discipline in the conduct of government business and in the social life of the people. was still being remembered with nostalgia. This was because of the kind of leadership that he brought to bear in the running of the country. His war against indiscipline (WAI) programme is yet to be surpassed as a social re-engineering programme in the country.
Buhari is on this page today not so much for what he did as a military leader, but for what he has been doing as a ‘civilian’ and a democrat.
With Nigeria’s sordid experience with military dictatorship it is often difficult for many Nigerians to accept that a soldier can also be a democrat. It is interesting that in the United States of America (USA) where we copied the presidential system of government in practice today; most of their past presidents have military background. From George Washington, who was the Commander in Chief of Continental Army during the American Resolution to President George Bush, who saw combat at World War II, 36 American Presidents have military background.
These American President had their democratic profile enhanced by their military background. Bill Clinton was one of the few American Presidents without military background and is often derided for allegedly dodging military draft.
Therefore Buhari’s military background cannot be a hindrance to his recognition as democrat. The former Head of State has been an active participant in the democratic process since the restoration of democracy in the country.
In 2003, General Buhari began one of the biggest mobilizations of the masses for a leadership change that could rescue the country from the throes of misrule and corruption. He was the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP). He campaigned vigorously across the country. Based on his antecedent as a squeaky clean politician who is intolerant of corruption, he attracted large followership. It is widely believed that he got majority of the votes in the 2003 presidential election that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was declared the winner. Buhari headed to the court and filed a petition seeking to nullify Obasanjo’s victory on account of electoral fraud and serious irregularities at the polls. He lost at the court of the first instance, yet he was undeterred, as he took his grievences to the Supreme that finally ruled in favour of Obasanjo in 2005.
Speaking for the Supreme Court, the then Chief Justice Muhammadu Uwais said: “I have come to the conclusion that the election was conducted substantially in compliance with provisions of the Electoral Act.” He however added that there had been irregularities in some states.
With the legal battles brought to an end in 2005, Buhari began the preparation in earnest for the 2007 election. That election was also massively rigged by the PDP in collaboration with the Independent National Electoral Commission. Both Local and international observers said vote-rigging was so rampant that the results were not credible. Again Buhari headed to court, and again he was disappointed.
Over all these years that the PDP used rigging to prevent him from providing leadership for the country, the biggest losers have been the impoverished masses who are groining under the heavy yoke of the very corrupt PDP government in place.
At the run-up to the 2007 election Buhari had the most comprehensive programmes for the development of the country, but Nigerians were not privileged to witness the implementation of these programmes.
However another opportunity is beaconing for the masses as Buhari has since formed his own political platform, the CPC, the new political party has taken the country by storm.
The CPC has become the fastest growing political party in the country, driven by Buhari’s integrity and growing democratic profile. In many part of the country credible aspirants are dumping their corruption infested platforms for the CPC. Already there are talks of alliance with the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) to form a political force that would challenge the PDP for the presidential seat. With the crisis bedeviling the PDP, there is growing confident among the supporters of Buhari, that this is the time for him to become the civilian president of the country. This distinguished General has built one of the greatest cults following in the history of the country. He has also embarked on more voter education for the masses than the INEC could ever do. He has told his supporters to not only vote but to guard their votes from vote thieves.
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