One drawback critics of General Muhammadu Buhari, the Nigerian version of Abraham Lincoln have pointed out is his lack of international appeal. He pales in significance when compared with former President Olusegun Obasanjo. The latter has his global acceptance soar to the high Heavens after handing over power to former President Shehu Shagari in 1979. He then went up to establish the African Leadership Forum which was a local clone of the American Brookings Institute. His books were best sellers albeit controversial and fire stoking. So popular was the Otta based chicken farmer that he contested the United Nations Secretary-Generalship in 1986 narrowly losing to Egyptian veteran diplomat, Boutros Boutros Ghali.
Gmb as he is fondly addressed did not write any book, is not known to be popular on the local and international soap box and rarely courts the western media since leaving office in 1985 after a palace coup or his freedom from detention after a three year house arrest in 1988. This criticism was not one to be taken for granted as it will be a great challenge to lead the most populous black nation on earth without any iota of global clout.
He made a blunder during Obasanjo’s administration by refusing to honour the invitation to testify at the Human Rights Violation Investigation Commission more popularly known as the Oputa Panel. No one disputed the fact that it was not a compulsion but his attendance would have shed off the military toga in him and converted him into a full-fledged democrat. It is instructive to note that Obasanjo appeared before the panel which was modelled after the South African Truth and Reconciliation Committee led spearheaded by Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It was not surprising that he tasted his first electoral blood bath in 2003 and roundly losing to the Owu born General.
GMB performed at an above average rating when he was interviewed by the no nonsense and hard-nosed Christine Amanpour in her widely viewed show on the Cable News Network. He pulled a fast one and drew the rug from the feet of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) by his spectacular speech at the Chatham House in London. The Chatham House is an independent foreign policy think tank and could not be accused of bias.
Here are some quotes from his epoch making speech which rattled his adversaries and opponents alike. ‘I cannot change the past but I can change the present and the future’ ‘I am a former military ruler and converted democrat’ ‘I have heard and read references to me as a former dictator’ ‘I take responsibility for anything that happened under my watch’ ‘Two things have bloomed in the present administration – waste and corruption’ ‘Because of greed, profligacy and corruption, Nigeria’s wealth hasn’t translated to human development.’
Let us take a cursory look at the highlights of the speech. Is he really a converted democrat? Apart from his refusal to appear before the Oputa panel, he snubbed the organizers of the presidential debate which would have given him the golden opportunity to sell himself to the Nigerian public. The bias excuse was not tenable as he could still have sprung up a surprise and scored an additional point as Jonathan declined a debate in 2011. This could have upped the ante in the neck to neck race. I agree that corruption has in no small measure destroyed the fabric of the nation. No one has been prosecuted since the inception of the Jonathan led administration six years ago. Allegations have flown but no one has even been arrested let alone successfully prosecuted. The former Aviation Minister, Princess Stella Oduah purchased two cars with 255 million naira of tax payers’ money. It took gargantuan public pressure for her to forcefully resign from office. After her resignation, she was not even invited by the now lame duck Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) for questioning. As if that was not enough, she attempted to contest a senatorial seat in her native Anambra state under the platform of the ruling Peoples Democratic Party – the same party as President Jonathan. For some time now, the Petroleum Minister, Diezani Allison-Maduekwe has been under fire for spending about 10 billion naira on the hiring of private jets for foreign travel. She still holds her position. The most laughable is that of former Aviation Minister, Chief Femi Fani-Kayode who is now the spokesman of the Goodluck and Sambo campaign organization while still standing trial for graft and corrupt enrichment in office while he held sway as a minister.
As expected knocks came the way of the General from the ruling party. Fani-Kayode opined that it was a stage managed sham of shame. ‘The game is here and not in London. He refused to attend the local debate in Nigeria.’ While we agree with the garrulous former minister that the battle is a home one, nothing on earth stops the General from making a speech abroad. Didn’t the current National Security Adviser, Colonel Sambo Dasuki fly the kite for the postponement of the elections using the same platform? What is sauce for the goose should be sauce for the gander.
However Fani-Kayode accused the General of being in the know about the boko haram insurgency when he said Buhari said ‘An attack on boko haram is an attack on the north’ He went further to say about Buhari ‘Boko haram members should be appeased, pampered, resettled and paid allowances.’ These are weighty allegations and should be deeply investigated by the Department for State Security. The silence by the General with regards to them is also ominous.
While commending the General and his handlers for the great speech, the same should be replicated in great measure locally as charity begins at home. After the annulment of the June 12 Presidential election which has till date has been adjudged as the freest and fairest, the presumed winner, Late Chief M.K.O Abiola ran to London and Washington to reclaim his mandate. At the end of the day, he was allegedly killed with the backing of the same Washington.
A word is enough for the wise!
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