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Open Letter To Buhari;nigeria Does Not Belong To You Alone by Nobody: 1:21pm On Oct 10, 2014 |
“Dear Sir, OPEN LETTER TO GENERAL BUHARI I have been constrained to write you through the media because I do not have an alternative way of reaching you. Permit me to share my opinion on your presidential ambition, which I think is equally shared by many Nigerians of my generation irrespective of ethnic or religious differences. Sir, I heard about you first on the 31st of December 1983. Then I was a ten year old boy in primary six, celebrating with the whole nation on the arrival of our military Heroes. At least so we thought! The jubilations were spontaneous. The nationwide celebrations signalled the demise of the second republic and ushered in the military dispensation commonly referred to as the Buhari/Idiagbon regime. Immediately you launched the War Against Indiscipline and introduced the Nationwide Monthly Sanitation Exercise. The WAI crusade stuck in my brain and still reverberates up till now. To simplify the message my Teacher introduced an Igbo acronym for WAI: Wepu Ajo Ihe; which literally translates: Remove Bad Thing. READ ALSO: Buhari Sure Of 2015 Victory Sir, I must confess that the image that stuck in me about Buhari/Idiagbon was that of two no-nonsense characters, straight talkers, people who meant yes when they said yes and vice versa. This impression I believe was equally shared by many others in my generation. Today, I am a 41 year old Nigerian. A lot has changed. I see things differently now. I am now a fully grown man who can analyse issues critically. One thing I believe passionately is that it is very important for one to set a standard for oneself, but equally more important to sustain the standard. On the final lap of your presidential campaign for 2011, you made an open declaration in front of the media and your supporters, without mincing words you stated emphatically that 2011 would be your last attempt to contest the Presidency. Going by your legacy and standard, many People including I took you by your words. After all Buhari means yes when he says yes. However that promise was short lived. Before one can say Jack Robinson you have joined the race again for the fourth consecutive time, contrary to your open declaration. Of course I concede you have every right to change your mind and contest every election as long as you live. It is however very remarkable to observe that you shot yourself in the foot when you reneged on your promise to Nigerians not to contest the Presidency again. So judging you by your own standard, you have fallen below expectations. The pertinent question people are asking now is ” HOW CAN WE EVER TRUST YOU AGAIN”? Another important questing worth asking you is ” WHAT IS NOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BUHARI AND OTHER POLITICIANS”? I would say none! Oh yes you have got the constitutional right to contest, but eating your words has done your reputation more harm than good. People now see you, and quite justifiably, just like a typical politician who is unstable and unreliable. READ ALSO: Why I Decided To Run For Presidency Again — Buhari Some of your supporters continue to amuse me by claiming that President Jonathan allegedly signed a one term pact with them. Unlike you Jonathan never made any open declaration to serve only for one term. Those of them who continue to make this ridiculous allegation have refused to produce the transcript of the said agreement or tender any proof to substantiate this. So as far as Nigerians are concerned Jonathan never struck any one term deal with us. But you did promise openly and suddenly reneged. In fact you actually sealed the promise with your tears. An elder Statesman of your calibre and pedigree made a promise and shed tears to seal it, that should have been final. It is very symbolic when an Elder sheds tears in the continent of Africa. It was a covenant with Nigerians not to contest again. A promise abruptly broken. But this is politics. Everything is possible in this game. Sir, I know you have many reasons for reneging on your promise but most of these reasons are laughable. Some claim your supporters put pressure on you to change your mind, but this is an old excuse which is as old as Nigeria. Even late General Abacha had people begging him to contest. A principled and disciplined officer like you should have remained steadfast to your open declaration. Others claim you are still young, after all you would be only 72 by the next Presidential election. At 72 you would still be much younger than Mugabe. So they claim! But they conveniently refused to check Mugabe’s next door neighbour Madiba. Suffice it to say that Mandela is the very opposite of Mugabe and the ideal role model for all African leaders. Mandela declined to go for a second term because according to him , age was not on his side. He could have won a second term and transformed to a life President if he wished. But he never did. He voluntarily made way for the younger generation to continue from where he stopped. This is what is expected of you now to retire voluntarily and join the respected league of Elders where you truly belong. Another reason which some of your supporters have tendered is that you are genuinely motivated by service and patriotism. I gladly take this on board. I can give you the benefit of the doubt that you are driven by the urge to serve your fatherland. This is a very valid reason. But Sir, I have an important question here for you. The question is simple, MUST YOU SERVE NIGERIA AS A PRESIDENT ONLY? IS THERE NO OTHER CAPACITY YOU CAN SERVE US EXCEPT THE PRESIDENCY? READ ALSO: Buhari Refuses To Step Aside It is very erroneous to imagine that you can only serve Nigeria only in one capacity. During the regime of late General Sani Abacha, you accepted the appointment to serve as the Chairman of the then Petroleum Trust Fund PTF. The general opinion was that you served faithfully in this capacity. Well done Sir! But you never asked Abacha to vacate office for you as your former subordinate in the army. Never! In fact that would have been a dangerous move, if not suicidal. Rather you served faithfully under your former junior in the army. Sir, imagine if you take on another job like the Chairman of EFCC or ICPC or NDLEA. Nigerians actually need you to serve in one of these capacities much more than they need you in the Presidency. Mere mentioning your name as Chairman of EFCC would drive many corrupt men underground. But you wouldn’t . Either the Presidency or nothing. So it seems! Sir, let us examine your service records. I consider your generation a very privileged one, indeed. In 1975 at the age of 33, you were appointed the Military Governor of the North-Eastern State, present day Borno & Yobe states. In 1976 at the age of 34 you became the Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources. In 1978 at the age of 36 you became the Chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC). Today the reverse is the case. Most Nigerians at age of 35 are still unemployed and still living with parents. Many are still not married. During your time you were already Governor at this age. One major reason for this unfortunate turn of events is that many elders like you have refused to voluntarily handover the baton to the next generation. Life should be a relay race where one runs his race and hands over to the next. In Nigeria many elders like you have run their races and are still holding on tenaciously to the baton. When are you going to handover to the next person? It is either you do it voluntarily or risk disgrace at the polls. In 1983 at the age of 41, exactly the same age as my humble self now, you became the Head of State. Most Nigerians in my age have not had the opportunity to serve, but we still remain committed to the Nigerian project. You should rather be graceful to God and to Nigerians for the numerous opportunities that have come your way to serve Nigerians. Others are begging for just one opportunity to serve. Sir, you have to accept the stark reality on ground that you have served your time already. That is life for you. You run the race, you handover the baton for others to run, you cannot hold on to the baton more than is necessary. As a former head of State you are already a member of the Council of State Meeting. You have every avenue to channel your views across. You don’t necessarily have to be in a frontline role, you can serve in an advisory capacity. That is still service. In conclusion, let me state that the greatest beneficiary should you emerge candidate of the APC would be President Jonathan. It is crystal clear that you cannot defeat President Jonathan in a free, fair and credible election, even in Katsina State. Sentiments aside, Jonathan would cruise to a landslide victory should you emerge candidate of the APC. In fact many political analysts believe that President Jonathan wants you to emerge as the APC flag bearer in order to secure a cheap victory. In fairness to you, any of your Children would pose a serious challenge to Jonathan more than yourself. I do not see Nigerians electing a 72 year old former Head of state to lead us in this Digital era. With due respect to you Sir, you belong to the Analogue age and therefore, will not fit in as president in this digital era. This is the blunt truth. Please do not enter the Guinness book of world records on a negative note. Losing four consecutive Presidential election would not augur well for your reputation. It is in your best interest to assume your position as an elder statesman and allow others to serve. Nigeria does not belong to you alone. It belongs to us all.” 3 Likes 1 Share |
Re: Open Letter To Buhari;nigeria Does Not Belong To You Alone by kazmanbanjoko(m): 1:27pm On Oct 10, 2014 |
This is not a matter of ownership. We all owns nigeria. Its just that some people are never contented with what they have. He still wants to embezzle what he did not finish. I still prefer general olusegun obasanjo to him. 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Open Letter To Buhari;nigeria Does Not Belong To You Alone by fittoux: 1:42pm On Oct 10, 2014 |
kazmanbanjoko:olusegi obasango or who did you say you preferred?you mean the one that confiscated Nigeria(ota) farm?you gotta be kidding the gods...jona 201:::: |
Re: Open Letter To Buhari;nigeria Does Not Belong To You Alone by Civory(m): 2:23pm On Oct 10, 2014 |
Oersted:You have completely spoilt your otherwise fine arguments by continually advocating for GEJ. It shows bias. |
Re: Open Letter To Buhari;nigeria Does Not Belong To You Alone by kazmanbanjoko(m): 2:42pm On Oct 10, 2014 |
fittoux:you see, both PDP and APC are going to make nigeria ungovernable for us. The only solution is for them to merge themselves or they should go and die. 1 Like 1 Share |
Re: Open Letter To Buhari;nigeria Does Not Belong To You Alone by maestroferddi: 3:01pm On Oct 10, 2014 |
A well articulated argument even though the partisanship was hardly hidden. Buhari Sir, it is already sunset for another bite at the cherry. Nigeria can't afford to get stuck in the rut at this critical phase of our national life. 1 Like |
Re: Open Letter To Buhari;nigeria Does Not Belong To You Alone by IfyAwazie(f): 3:10pm On Oct 10, 2014 |
Civory:And You completely spoilt your comment by quoting him. 2 Likes |
Re: Open Letter To Buhari;nigeria Does Not Belong To You Alone by chimerase2: 4:15pm On Oct 10, 2014 |
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Re: Open Letter To Buhari;nigeria Does Not Belong To You Alone by Canme4u(m): 4:34pm On Oct 10, 2014 |
Another paid agent of PIG deeP PiG on the loose or may be perhaps, ATIKU handiwork. |
Re: Open Letter To Buhari;nigeria Does Not Belong To You Alone by Grendel(m): 5:07pm On Oct 10, 2014 |
Damn! Don't use post office for your letter bro |
Re: Open Letter To Buhari;nigeria Does Not Belong To You Alone by ibnjarir93(m): 7:52pm On Oct 10, 2014 |
I'm also against GMB contesting for Presidency anymore although I'm a lifelong fan of him.But most of the issues, ranging from the ridiculous to absurd,raised by this writer are not tenable bar one. Let's try and critique the critic. GMB's promise not to run for Presidency after the 2011 polls is not in the same context as that of GEJ- never mind that GEJ denied it- even though, both is promise and it's made as regards to presidential election. The former's is made of his own volition where as that of the latter is made so as to allow him contest and support his candidature from primaries to general election. So a critical look of this would help you understand that GEJ's promise is more binding on him than that of GMB. You can comfortably accuse GEJ of treachery here. In anyway, I'm disappointed that GMB reneged on his due to the standard he has set for himself, but not the way the writer made much of GMB'S promise and tried to make light of that of GEJ.And this is the only reason, among those raised by this writer, why I think GMB shouldn't run for the presidency. As for Goodluck, the writer would say better on his standards and core principles that he sees. The next issue the writer raised is comparing one million man march during Abacha military junta to that of those pressurising GMB to run for presidency today. Nothing could be more absurd because it's an open secret that one million march was financed by a beneficiary of Abacha's military rule. How then could one compare this to those clamouring for GMB Presidency today? Phew! Now, although, Buhari never told the writer- or declare publicly-that he will not accept any job if it's offered to him in good faith, you based your arguments on your hypothesis and write the remaining claptrap so as to complete your desired word limit. By the way, who do you expect to offer GMB any of the positions you reeled off? PDP-led FG? You are in the best position to answer us because it seems you're only taking a walk on your fatherland. The writer also made the case of GEJ being from the digital age(I assume such since he didn't classify him in the analog era with GMB.) while GMB emanates from the Analogue age. I don't have the littliest clue what he meant by that but all I can say is that GEJ isn't different from GMB when it comes to knowledge of this era. If there is anything then it's corruption and unawareness of GEJ - and his administration- that showcases him as someone that belong in the analogog era or whatever in the world the writer means by that prose. I will add here that supporters of GEJ are under the illusion that because their man is on some social networking site then he belongs in the digital era without minding his conducts and infractions in office! Other issues the writer raised are trivial which can be dismissed even after a cursory look by any careful reader. I will also not talk on the writer's obvious dislike for GMB even though he tried real hard to mask it. And finally, the "Nigeria does not belong to you alone. It belongs to us all" mantra the writer ends his letter with clearly exposed the writer's narrow-mindedness of which the reader can deduce without any difficulty. 1 Like |
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