Those of us who were too young to have appreciated the military regime of the then military Head of State, Major General Muhammadu Buhari were taught to believe that General Muhammadu Buhari was then a nationalistic and a patriotic Nigerian but was hated by his military colleagues and the politicians as it were then because he was ‘patriotic’.
That General Ibrahim Babangida and his buddy in arm General Sane Abaca had to overthrow Major General Muhammadu Buhari because he was a patriotic soldier.
But later events and actions in the life of Major General Muhammadu Buhari has proven the above theory to the contrary. The near exclusive employment of Hausa Fulani Muslims into the PTF by General Buhari as the PTF Chairman and the complete neglect of the Southern part of Nigeria roads it seemed showed a different version of General Buhari.
Again fast forward to the year of our Lord January 2002 AD, venue was Sokoto in Sokoto State. Scene and occasion was the “almajiri quranic recitation competition”.
Our ‘patriotic’ Major General Muhammadu Buhari was the Special Guest of Honour. He never contemplated then that he will ever join the murky waters of Nigeria politics because he hated politicians with a passion. Neither was he aware of the Book of Proverbs in the Bible. Proverbs 13:3 to be precise which says that: “Opening your mouth can ruin everything.” So it was reported in all the print and electron media that General Buhari was quoted to have advised Hausa and Fulani Muslims to vote for Muslims candidates in elections.
Unfortunately for Major General Muhammadu Buhari, October of the same year 2002, he was dragged into the murky waters of Nigerian politics.
Since then till date he has contested for the office of the president three times and has been defeated three times by General Obasanjo, Umaru Yar’adua and Dr Goodluck Jonathan.
The allegations his opponents have always used to campaign again him to the electorate in the Middle Belt and the South has been that he is an Islamic fundamentalist.
The above allegation was perfectly conformed by the 2011 presidential election as General Buhari was only able to win in the eleven sharia states in far Northern Nigeria and Niger State only in the Middle Belt.
Dr Goodluck Jonathan won in all the Southern States and the Middle Belt States except Osun State in the South which went to the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
In fact for the first time in the history of presidential elections in Nigeria, the winner beat the runner up with twice the margin of votes scored and over.
But why is General Buhari always getting it wrong?
As it was in 2002, General Buhari was quoted in 2010 yet on the eve of the 2011 elections to have told the almajiri boys in Hausa language to lynch people and make the country ungovernable should he should lose the 2011 election.
Behold Major General Muhammadu Buhari lost the election and behold ever since Northern Nigeria has not known peace.
Boko Haram has been on the loose killing and maiming Christians and the Nigerian symbol of the state particularly the security agencies and the national institutions.
While smart politicians like Atiku Abubukar have come out to condemn the Boko Haram out rightly, General Buhari it seems has always given tact approval to the Boko Haram menace.
General Buhari has never for once come out to condemn the wicked Boko Haram for killing innocent Christians in their Churches.
He has always been silent even when Boko Haram has committed mass murder against Christians like the Catholic Church bombing in Madalla in Niger State where 40 worshippers mostly children were murdered. The Jaji Military cantonment Church attack, where 67 worshippers were killed. The BUK attack in Kano, where 16 Christians were killed including three (3) Professors.
But strangely confirming the suspicion in some quarters that General Buhari might be one of the sponsors of Boko haram, he was copiously quoted in the Daily Trust of Wednesday May 22nd 2013 as sternly warning the Federal government not to kill Boko Haram members.
His accusers and pundits easily make reference to the fact Boko Haram nominated General Buhari as one of those who will negotiate on their behalf with the government. They tie it down to the fact that it was as a result of General Buhari’s instigation in 2011 that Boko Haram went violent and virulent.
General Buhari was equally quoted to have totally condemned the imposition of state of emergency in Adamawa, Yobe and Borno States.
General Buhari should rather have Boko Haram on the loose to continue to kill Christians, the military and the police.
Strangely and surprisingly too, it was the same Buhari that was supporting the imposition of state of emergency in Plateau State! So what has changed so sudden one may ask?
Coming to the issue of General Buhari and his support for Boko Haram, that is totally un-statesman like especially as a former Head of State and a retired military officer.
With 2015 around the corner, I expect General Buhari to conduct himself with decorum and dissociate himself publically from Boko Haram and their atrocities against Christians and the security services. But nay rather Muhammadu Buhari is condemning and attacking the military for defending themselves from Boko Haram attacks.
As a former Head of State, General Buhari should act like a statesman in the likes of Abdulsalami, Gowon and others. Condemn the violent attack by Boko Haram against Christians and the Nigerian State. Direct Boko Haram Insurgents to lay down their arms and embrace peace.
As it stands now, Major General Muhammadu Buhari has missed the votes of Christians, the security services and moderate and liberate Muslims in the 2015 elections.
To compound his case, Boko Haram has destabilized Borno, Yobe and Adamawa States and probably Kano State. Chances of elections holding in these states in 2015 will be very slim. That is like subtracting three states from the eleven states Buhari won in the North in the 2011. That will leave General Buhari with eight states in 2015.
Predictably it will be a moon slide for Dr Goodluck Jonathan with 23 states plus the FCT in the 2015 presidential election as against General Buhari’s eight states. That is if CPC or APCN will still make the mistake of presenting Major General Buhari as their presidential candidate. Even if he nominates Pastor EA Adeboye or Pastor WF Kumuyi as his running mates, he will be defeated woefully worst than in 2011.
As for APC or APCN, if they want to make in-road in 2015 election, they should present Raji Fashola as their presidential candidate or Adams Oshiohmole as the case may be.
As for Major General Muhammadu Buhari, I think he is a spent force and need to retire. With his tact support for the Boko Haram insurgency, he has ruined his political career. More so that he has powerful enemies in high places.
As it is now, the once acclaimed patriotic Major General Buhari has now been reduced to a local Hausa Fulani Muslim champion defended by almajiri Islamic fundamentalists.
Ndiameeh Babangida Babreek
ndiame_2005@yahoo.co.uk
