Since Wole Soyinka commented on the eligibility of General Buhari to contest for the presidency of Nigeria the media has been inundated with riposte from Buhari apologists and some in the uncouth language unsurprising of present day Nigerian politicians are busy heaping numerous abuses on the literary sage. Some advised Wole Soyinka to “dedicate his energies to writing and literary exploits rather than commenting on political issues which they say he has little or no knowledge about”, exhibiting once again the crass ignorance of the ruling class as if a man’s bent can not accommodate different interests, least of which is being a judicious observer of the past.

The reaction and response put forth by the Buhari apologists clearly mirrors the dangers highlighted by Wole Soyinka about Buhari as a future president; that a Buhari led government would be a government that would be unable to brook criticism of any form no matter how constructive and that such administration would not be able to respect the freedoms and rights of people and institutions, especially one’s freedom to air one’s view. The Buhari apologists as we know are the “yes-men” or the “boys” that shall fill ministerial positions and other positions of authority in the unlikely event that Buhari becomes president, they shall as in this case try to asphyxiate opposition crudely and with the full toga of authority Wole Soyinka might be in prison for airing his views rather than just writing poems!

A re-examination of the case shows Wole Soyinka on the one hand backing his comment about Buhari in non-partisan fashion with facts and events that happened during the Buhari administration. As is wont with any learned mind, Soyinka gave detailed instances of incalculable crimes of human right abuses perceived bias and bigotry that occurred under Buhari’s watch. Soyinka inadvertently made comments about two other aspirants, Yar Adua and Atiku and in no way were those comments charitable either (It is advisable you read the speech as it makes for great reading!). In all of this Soyinka is guilty of performing his civic duty as a citizen of Nigeria, he is guilty of making a learned observation about a presidential aspirant who aspires to rule Nigeria and most of all he is guilty of not minding his business of writing poems rather poking his nose into politics that does not concern him (so much for participatory politics)!

On the other side is the horde of Buhari apologists. They argue that Wole Soyinka cannot air his view as he does not know what he is talking about. They obviously have not read his present book You Must Set Forth at Dawn,  and are obviously not students of Nigerian history for they would have deduced that long after their names are forgotten in the quicksand of their political sojourning that the name and place of Wole Soyinka in Nigerian politics is forever cemented. Tony Mommoh response makes the closest approach at civilized discourse, but it is a laughable attempt. The erudite Mommoh argued that Soyinka’s comparison of Buhari is unfair as the time Buhari was in power he ruled under fiat when the constitution was in abeyance and it is a completely different time from now which is democratic and the constitution is fully operative.

Mommoh’s reasoning is pooled with holes in many respects and does not hold water in proving General Buhari’s ability to operate in a democratic milieu rather it burnishes the General’s image as a man rendered impotent in a society where freedoms are exercised. In all fairness to Wole Soyinka, Buhari’s antecedents remains the only scorecard to grade the general by, as since leaving power the General has not shown himself to be amused by democratic ideals in any way. His actions during the “Sharia or no Sharia issue” is a recent reminder of his non-engaging attitude and his total disdain to views that are opposite to his convictions. As cited in Soyinka’s speech, since leaving power the General has had ample opportunity to show he possess the ability to operate in a society where the law reigns but the General’s attitude has been less than commendable. His disdain for the Oputa panel is also a recent reminder of his autocratic posture where the General did not seem it fit to answer to allegations made against him, in his view he does not owe the Nigerian people an explanation. The question is begging to Mommoh, were this also times where the constitution was in abeyance?

To hide under the cloak of decrees and behave with such impunity as to make retroactive Laws so that you could judicially murder people to serve as deterrent so that people can desist from a crime is bestial. Buhari’s philosophy of using force as a tool of social correction as evident in his War Against Indiscipline (WAI) stemmed from his lack of appreciation of the Nigerian people and his lack of appreciation of the social forces at work in a society. If Buhari had not been toppled we would have had a society of suppressed, browbeaten citizens regimented by force and societal order sustained by the increasing continual use of force. Thus the unenlightened view that his approach was what society needed at that time is deeply erroneous and ignorant. Buhari like every tyrant chose the easy way out – the use of force, rather than the constructive engagement of social forces. Thus Tony Mommoh’s argument that the comparison is unfair is viscerally rejected as not cogent and devoid of logic.

The General was recently invited to a debate with another aspirant to highlight his economic policies and how he hopes to achieve them, on record the General claimed he could not attend as he had other pressing matters. One wonders aloud what matters could be more pressing to a man who seeks elective office than an avenue to air his plans and policies with the very electorate he hopes to win their votes and govern. This acton is in line with the regimented mentality of the General, as he feels he owes no explanation to no one and the Nigerian people don’t exactly matter. His action also reinforces the notion that the hunger for information in the atmosphere of democracy is too much for the General to bear. As much as the General cannot be hindered from contesting the election as it remains a right enshrined in the democracy his regime was unintrested in, the truth be told that the General represents the parochial, conformist, unenlightened relic of the Nigeria past and it has been proven without a shadow of a doubt that he does not either in his past, his present or his future posses any democratic credentials. His recent accomodation of the democratic faith is a smokescreen to mask his raw ambition for power and his acting is becoming exigent on his true tyrannical colors. 

Democracy affords us today the voice General Buhari tried to kill; it affords us the inalienable right to question without fear the credentials of any man who wishes to lead us - a luxury General Buhari’s gun did not afford us. Where we have come to in our democratic sojourn did not come easy, lives were paid to reach where we are today, so that any one either a poet, a mechanic, a trader, a clergyman or a child can ask questions and demand a response. It is a God given right, it is called FREEDOM – a concept alien to Buhari and his apologists. Buhari’s remains a fish out of water in a democracy and there is no hiding that, thus I join my humble voice with that of the poet Soyinka to say NO to Buhari for president.

Robot  # 1 | 20.01.2007 15:57

To hide under the cloak of decrees and behave with such impunity as to make retroactive Laws so t...Read the full article.

Exxcuzme  # 2 | 20.01.2007 16:23

_____________________________________________________________________ Buhari’s philosophy of using force as a tool of social correction as evident in his War Against Indiscipline (WAI) stemmed from his lack of appreciation of the Nigerian people and his lack of appreciation of the social forces at work in a society. If Buhari had not been toppled we would have had a society of suppressed, browbeaten citizens regimented by force and societal order sustained by the increasing continual use of force, so the unenlightened view that his approach was what society needed at that time is deeply erroneous and stinks to the highest heavens. Buhari like every tyrant chose the easy way out – the use of force, rather than the constructive engagement of social forces. ______________________________________________________________________ Do I hear North KOrea, Sabella Abidde?

SBI  # 3 | 20.01.2007 17:11

Thus Tony Mommoh’s argument that the comparison is unfair is viscerally rejected as not cogent and cannot be agreed with on any note. Sir, Prince Tony Momoh's point was simply that Gen Buhari at the time was acting within the powers available to him then as a Military Head of State, such powers do not exist under a democratic regime. Power to rule by force and cudgel are not available to a democratic Presidency even in our Nigerian variant. Gen Buhari can be said to have understood this fully which would explain why he did not attempt a coup d'etat but pursued his disagreement over his election failure to the highest courts in the land. And, if I may add, without supporting his arguments in court with ghana-must-go. Buhari's appeal to Nigerians is simply his stark patriotism and unimpeachable integrity, which has become the scarcest attribute among leaders across the entire political spectrum in Nigeria. For these qualities alone Nigerians look up to him as a leader that can inspire them to give their best to make Nigeria work. On this note many would agree with Prince Momoh, by his anti-Buhari treatise Soyinka cannot be said to have acted in the overall best interest of the Country. Nigerians expect positive support from a sage like Soyinka in times like this not to dampen what could be our only hope, he's let us down and this piece of yours is un-justificatory. SBI

umuahia  # 4 | 20.01.2007 18:28

The problem I have with this objective analysis by Wole Soyinka is that he fails to lead us to a candidate...In My opinion, why not just come out and say you are in support of Pat Utomi? Even if he does not say so, he should lead us to a direction. I am tired of hearing things I already know (e.g. Atiku and Buhari's past)

AreOna  # 5 | 20.01.2007 21:21

You started with a good point in defending Tony Momoh view and then relapsed into using the depraved excuse of the few that will want to hold us in subjection forever. I ask. How does Soyinka criticism constitute a diservice to the best interest of the country. What is the national interest? When did freedom of speech become a threat to national interest? I guess from our experience of Buhari freedom of expression is a threat. Is it not the same national interest rubish that Buhari used to lock up people. That is exactly what Soyinka was talking about. Is not the same so called national interest that Obasanjo is using to hound his oponents. You all hide behind national interest to further personal interest. The Buhari's chorus boys have proved Soyinka's case. The attack on Soyinka remind me of Femi Fani-Kayode's attack on Obasanjo critics.

tonsoyo  # 6 | 21.01.2007 00:02

=SBI;150097>Sir, Prince Tony Momoh's point was simply that Gen Buhari at the time was acting within the powers available to him then as a Military Head of State, such powers do not exist under a democratic regime. Power to rule by force and cudgel are not available to a democratic Presidency even in our Nigerian variant. Gen Buhari can be said to have understood this fully which would explain why he did not attempt a coup d'etat but pursued his disagreement over his election failure to the highest courts in the land. And, if I may add, without supporting his arguments in court with ghana-must-go. Buhari's appeal to Nigerians is simply his stark patriotism and unimpeachable integrity, which has become the scarcest attribute among leaders across the entire political spectrum in Nigeria. For these qualities alone Nigerians look up to him as a leader that can inspire them to give their best to make Nigeria work. On this note many would agree with Prince Momoh, by his anti-Buhari treatise Soyinka cannot be said to have acted in the overall best interest of the Country. Nigerians expect positive support from a sage like Soyinka in times like this not to dampen what could be our only hope, he's let us down and this piece of yours is un-justificatory. SBI So therefooooree, we should raise Buhari a retired soldier shoulder high, and make him our hero for going to court to challenge an election, what else could he have done? oh I forgot we should be grateful to him for not making a coup as a retired soldier, and " for these "qualities" alone we should look up to him as a leader......." gospel according to a Buhari apologist SBI. Hmmmmmm commom sense is not common after all.

tonsoyo  # 7 | 21.01.2007 00:03

=SBI;150097>Sir, Prince Tony Momoh's point was simply that Gen Buhari at the time was acting within the powers available to him then as a Military Head of State, such powers do not exist under a democratic regime. Power to rule by force and cudgel are not available to a democratic Presidency even in our Nigerian variant. Gen Buhari can be said to have understood this fully which would explain why he did not attempt a coup d'etat but pursued his disagreement over his election failure to the highest courts in the land. And, if I may add, without supporting his arguments in court with ghana-must-go. Buhari's appeal to Nigerians is simply his stark patriotism and unimpeachable integrity, which has become the scarcest attribute among leaders across the entire political spectrum in Nigeria. For these qualities alone Nigerians look up to him as a leader that can inspire them to give their best to make Nigeria work. On this note many would agree with Prince Momoh, by his anti-Buhari treatise Soyinka cannot be said to have acted in the overall best interest of the Country. Nigerians expect positive support from a sage like Soyinka in times like this not to dampen what could be our only hope, he's let us down and this piece of yours is un-justificatory. SBI So therefooooree, we should raise Buhari a retired soldier shoulder high, and make him our hero for going to court to challenge an election, what else could he have done? oh I forgot we should be grateful to him for not making a coup as a retired soldier, and " for these "qualities" alone we should look up to him as a leader......." gospel according to a Buhari apologist SBI. Hmmmmmm commom sense is not common after all.