Majority of Nigerians are suffering from permanent aberration, which is gradually influencing even the most reasonable among us. It has weakened their memory, even ours. This behaviour has richly crippled you and me because of the troubles that were largely self-imposed. We are self-interested yet self-inflicted wound is a mushy fact of our daily lives. I do not have the cure, and this is one of my regrets in life. The most unfortunate part is the dynamic tempt it has on those I look up to. Everyone is doing something yet doing nothing.

Otherwise a Buhari would never have stood on the podium preaching democracy, which he had once fought against. Otherwise enlightened ones would not be campaigning for a Buhari ticket for 2007 presidential “selection”. I understand that those shouting Buhari for president have their reasons just like the condemned Reverend King’s disciples have reasons for allowing themselves to be treated like slaves. And both parties love their heroes!

Buhari comes across as a lair or at best a pretender – barbarous pretender. What is the meaning of history when it can be erased just like AgainstBabangida.com, you and I have wiped off morbid imaginations of a brute? Buhari came preaching discipline of which he lacked. He and his comrade, Tunde Idiagbon, introduced WAI (War Against Indiscipline) whilst they trampled on people’s right to live. What of the controversial 53 suitcases! Talking about discipline, 14 year-olds were banned from tavelling to Mecca during that period yet Idiagbon’s 14 year-old son was reportedly went to the “holy land”.

Out of all the coup plotters, Buhari and Idiagbon committed the most grievous mainly because they were the ones who terminated the so-called Second   Republic in 1983. And all of a sudden this man now believes in democratic dispensation. He wants to use the platform he abhors to quench his thirst for power. The man’s decision to rule Nigeria again does not surprise me (I barely expect something tangible from coup plotters, for they are all opportunists. All they ever wanted is power – vicious power). But what of those who supposed to know better and now clamouring for such a leader!

Buhari may not be a corrupt man but he committed judicial murder by the execution of a citizen under a retroactive decree. The names of Lawal Ojuolape, Bartholomew Owoh and Bernard Ogedegbe come to mind. Ogedengbe especially was executed for a crime that did not carry a capital punishment at the time of the crime. One day I hope this man would be charged with premeditated murder.

His followers like to hold him in high esteem as a vanguard of equitable apportionment of guilt when in fact he kept Shehu Shagari, the then deposed president in a comfortable house arrest somewhere in Ikoyi while the vice president, Alex Ekwueme, was detained in Kirikiri prisons. Also, Alhaji Abubakar Alhaji, then a Federal Permanent Secretary, kept undeclared foreign accounts against the decree instituted by Buhari but heaven did not fall whereas Fela Anikulapo Kuti languished in jail for years for being in possession of foreign exchange he had legally received for the upkeep of his band during international appointment.

Buhari punished innocent Nigerians for the crimes committed by certain influential criminals. The have-nots suffered terribly when his regime changed the currency. Though his intentions were targeted against the super rich, it was hardworking populace that bore the brook. My mother, a trader at Agbeni market, lost substantial amount of money because the banks would not change it for her. She did not know someone and the banks were full of those who knew someone. The agony of that period still affects my sweet mama till today.

The Major General may be different from other coup plotters as his followers want us to believe, but he is equally dodgy. If he knew that his actions during his reign were defensible, why did he refuse to appear before Oputa Panel? His offences, according to Oputa Panel, are human rights violations and gross abuse of power. What prevented holy man Buhari from clearing his dented image? Arrogance? And this is the same man talking about equity? Buhari is as serious as Babangida and co who treated Nigerians with unmistakable contempt.

If it was Babangida’s cunning regime he had crushed, and immediately restored the power to the appropriate authority, I would have begged Nigerians to forgive him on the understanding that he did not accumulate wealth as much as his fellow adventurers during those moments of youthful exuberance. Buhari’s brazen effrontery is part of what is wrong with Nigeria . The General should even consider himself lucky, for he could have been executed like Vatsa and other unlucky ones. Or have you forgotten that death penalty is the punishment for coup plotters? I dream of the day they will pay for their deeds – including the incumbent president.

Let General Buhari go back to the army and plan another coup if actually he means to unleash another terror on us. But he must not rule Nigerians through the “ballot” he once suppressed. He must not ever come close to holding any public office. If he likes, let him acquire titles upon titles. I am afraid he might re-introduce decree 2 in order to get rid of you and I like the two journalists – Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor.

His apologists often make implausible excuses for the brutal regime he presided over by saying no one is perfect. We are not talking about individual but government and no government must make silly mistakes. If a government does make any cheerfully irresponsible mistake however, it must be minimal and there must be remorse. Thus any worthy leader knows that leadership means suffering.

By the way, it stinks to hear the likes of Olusegun Osoba of AC (Action Congress) teaming up with Buhari’s ANPP (All Nigeria Peoples Party) to form a “victorious” opposition. Buhari must have possessed certain quality so magnificent for the so-called democrats to be singing his praise. Any further reasons why the likes of Buhari are blowing a loud and lengthy raspberry when those who claimed to have fought for democracy are trying to forge an alliance with a ruler who is unconstrained by law!

I should then presume that certain crops of respected Nigerians have thrown away their ideology. I am afraid they have been the victims of a monumental swindle. It is obvious that these individuals are rallying round Buhari simply to prevent Obasanjo’s anointed son from becoming the next president. This group of Nigerians should be very careful because this particular thinking has been the mode operandi for quite a long time.

Instead of fighting a cause, these people just like fighting individuals, which in turn always backfire. For instance, they fought Gowon to pave way for Murtala/Obasanjo; Shagari to pave way for Buhari/Idiagbon; Buhari/Idiagbon to pave way for Babangida; Babangida to pave way for Abacha; and Abacha to pave way for Abdusalam...

Anyway, endorsing Buhari has opened my eyes to the reality or fallacy of Nigerian politics. I am learning. And this may be a further indication that, those you hold in high esteem; those you think are genuine in their actions concerning Nigeria – may actually be role players. I mean, what then has been the huff and puff of a human rights advocate now endorsing a man who has demonstrated that human dignity is not a priority? Double standard and, or contradiction? We all need to have our heads examined indeed!

@2007   mysmallvoice@yahoo.com

Robot  Villager

# 1 Majority of Ni...Read the full article. Posted by Robot| 17.01.2007 14:02