“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.”

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.

kazmanbanjoko:
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.

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::::

Oersted:
“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.”

You have completely spoilt your otherwise fine arguments by continually advocating for GEJ. It shows bias.

fittoux:
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::::

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.

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.

Civory:

You have completely spoilt your otherwise fine arguments by continually advocating for GEJ. It shows bias.

And You completely spoilt your comment by quoting him.

Another paid agent of PIG deeP PiG on the loose or may be perhaps, ATIKU handiwork.

Damn!
Don't use post office for your letter bro

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.