BUHARIS ANTITHETICAL APPROACH TO STRUGGLE FOR POWER Politics is sometimes defined in very brief words as the struggle for power. This struggle for power can be seen in terms of apportioning resources, opportunities, interests, privileges, etc and the determination of policies and programmes for the people or the governed. It includes the protection of certain rights, interests and privileges of a certain number of persons with specific goals set to be achieved. The entire term is about a desire to achieve laid down objectives. Purposefully viewed, the welfare (simplified to mean happiness) of the greater number of the generality of the people is considered paramount in the desire. These few words may not capture a complete picture of what struggle for power connotes. But the words would ve shown a path to the direction of an intention. Here, the essence of power is not intended. Such that the totality of what struggle for power is cannot and is not exhausted here. In understanding the course of struggle for power of a particular person, the total personality of such a person is put in issue. Flowing from the above, Gen. M. Buhari would briefly be the subject here. Buhari joined the Nigerian Army from a rural background. Death snatched his father from him at a tender age. His upbringing was borne mostly by his mother. In the army, he rose thru the ranks, fought the Nigeria civil war and entered into the murky waters of a soldier of fortune. This last experience made an indelible mark in his person. As military officer, his learning was laid on his childhood foundation. He was known to be reserved and easy going. However, harsh and unfriendly among his peers, he was known not to be involved in much sporting activities. His appointment as a Governor and Minister b4 1979 by the military govt, having enjoyed the perquisites of power, aroused his undying interest, endless desire and unquenchable love of power. In a xter that was well known, his quest for power was hidden behind his reserved and easy disposition. All these, as a single shield, concealed his ambitious outlook. He played an active role in the overthrow of Gen Gowon in 1975. He was rewarded with several political appointments. He even headed the NNPC with time. This is the xter we are beaming our searchlight on. In the course of holding all these offices, he was known to nurse a hypnotic tribal bias in favour of his Fulani race. A proud admirer of his Fulani origin, this he never failed to emphasis among his peers. He is a xter you cannot trust with matters of mutual understanding. He is known to be swift and slippery. He has no regard for frienship and he is blessed with an unforgiving spirit. So, he does not forget. All these elements did not mix well in him and a xter that was not shrewd emerged in him. He was very very close to former President Shagari b4 his coup against Shagari on 31st December, 1983. He had his traditional contacts in the political circle. It was in this circumstance that he was brought into the planning of the coup. He knew about the coup and in the 1st week of December, 1983, Shagari invited him from Jos to the State House, Lagos, where the President informed him that he heard of a planned coup under his supervision. He bluntly denied and assured the President of his loyalty. In spite of his closeness to the president and after the Presidents plea that he should dissuade his colleagues from the coup, he went ahead and executed the coup. Now, his colleagues agreed among themselves that he was the most senior officer and he should lead. Thus, he was pronounced the HOS and chairman of the SMC. He swung into action with arrogance and total disregard of sympathy and fairness in his leadership. He became full of himself by disassociating himself from his co-conspirators. He did not listen to the advice of his co-travellers. His biased appointment of ministers to the near exclusion of Southern military officers and civilians was a subject of disagreement with his co-plotters. The crude and inappropriate manner in which he arrested, detained and tried the civilian leaders caused disaffection among his colleagues. His selfish and superior stance in all issues was strange to his co-travellers. Regrettably to his colleagues, was his abdication of office and his almost total transfer of same to the Chief of Defence Hqtrs. He became a loner and saw his colleagues as enemies. He had no plans and was not taking advice from his colleagues. He abandoned the original plans set to be pursued and concentrated on fighting perceived enemies. His arrogance reared its head. He forgot so easily that we are all human beings. He imposed pains on Nigerians and there was need for change. He was overthrown and detained in Benin City. After his overthrow, uptil his appointment as head of PTF by Gen Abacha, he led a quiet life. Yet, his habit of calculating, patience and taking advantage of circumstances were put into use in PTF. He defended Abacha with all his ability while dubiously enriching some young men of, and concentrating his efforts on a section of the country. He prepared himself for politics but beguiled all those around him. PTF was a total failure despite initial success that was recorded. He eventaully abdicated his office for some young turks who are today men of timber and caliber. These men own chains of bizes and the most known are Daily Trust and Leadership newspapers - these papers are today his mouthpiece. One of them was a shadow contestant in the APC primaries that saw to his emergence. After Abachas death and the appearance of OBJ in the scene, he began his political mischief by urging and successfully instigated the Northern Governors to embark upon a legal regime described as Sharia Law. He became a champion of sort. This is the knife (sharia law) that has cut Nigeria into two. He authored it. Since then, he has become a northern political gladiator whose approach to win power is far from that employed by Ahmadu Bello. His is totally retrogressive and has worsened the political terrain more than that of the 1st Republic. His politics is not pan Nigerian. But religion and tribe are uppermost. Hence he found an alliance in the Yoruba tribe with a huge islamic following workable. He does not campaign in the south. With his outreach to the Yoruba, he might do so now. In a nutshell, here is the divisive xter/personality that is presenting himself for votes in Nigeria with an ambition to lead you and me. He is suspected to have a hand in the Boko Haram violence. He has threatened to make Nigeria ungovernable. He singlehandedly instigated the 2011 killings that followed the general elections of that year. Finally, Nigerians must appeal to the intl communiity esp the Intl Criminal Court at Hague not to abandone Nigeria in 2015 cos of the trap set by Gen Buhari and Amaechi.
Posted on: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 00:44:15 +0000
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