emiye:


Dont miscontrue me, what i meant is there is no guarantee that sustained democracy would have helped the Nigerian state.

I took a cursory study of african states, there are 53+ of them, and i discovered that most of the head of the democracies of those period became dictatorial as time progresses and with crude might tried to convert the country to One party state, using the other arms of government like the legislature and judiciary. The 1983 elections was worse off and a greater disaster than the 1979 elections, and UPN Ajasin was rigged off in 1983 for NPN Omoboriowo, Bola Ige of UPN was rigged off for NPN Olunloyo, ....., NPN was drowning UPN , and that Shagari government with majority in the house would most likely have manipulated the constitution to remove term limits before the 1987 elections, that was the trend of that era. Even OBJ tried to achieve term elongation.

I am sorry to mentioned only two cases in Africa, there are close to 20 something cases in Africa.

ACESON:


i love this. Democracy isnt prefect and somtyms real positive CHANGE could mean ousting democracy. Open mindedly speaking.
while the use of armed force isnt encouraged in any form history has shown that it might be necessary sometyms n it doesnt not always have a negative consequence. besides nothing stops Nigeria from forming her own unique system of government especiallt our unique n peculiar ethno-religious diversity and challenges especially tribalism dat has sunk deep into our mentality.

duni04:

It takes patience to whip up the perfect democracy. When you ensure that the masses are the ultimate deciders of their fate and destiny, democratic institutions are reenforced over and over again. That's the secret behind the success of western style democracy. They didn't always have it rosy but the electorate remained the ultimate decider. Buhari stole that from us with with his coup in '83. He set us several steps backwards. He should apologise.

duni04:

It takes patience to whip up the perfect democracy. When you ensure that the masses are the ultimate deciders of their fate and destiny, democratic institutions are reenforced over and over again. That's the secret behind the success of western style democracy. They didn't always have it rosy but the electorate remained the ultimate decider. Buhari stole that from us with with his coup in '83. He set us several steps backwards. He should apologise.

iykofias:
badt babe, kikikiki

ACESON:


i love this. Democracy isnt prefect and somtyms real positive CHANGE could mean ousting democracy. Open mindedly speaking.
while the use of armed force isnt encouraged in any form history has shown that it might be necessary sometyms n it doesnt not always have a negative consequence. besides nothing stops Nigeria from forming her own unique system of government especiallt our unique n peculiar ethno-religious diversity and challenges especially tribalism dat has sunk deep into our mentality.

Abanicwise:
Bullshit democracy that is full of corruption.
I will rather go for coup/military Govt. that is willing to curb corruption, ensure equity and provide succur to the poor than a useless democracy that only promote corruption and pauperize it citizen.

emiye:


Dont miscontrue me, what i meant is there is no guarantee that sustained democracy would have helped the Nigerian state.

I took a cursory study of african states, there are 53+ of them, and i discovered that most of the head of the democracies of those period became dictatorial as time progresses and with crude might tried to convert the country to One party state, using the other arms of government like the legislature and judiciary. The 1983 elections was worse off and a greater disaster than the 1979 elections, and UPN Ajasin was rigged off in 1983 for NPN Omoboriowo, Bola Ige of UPN was rigged off for NPN Olunloyo, ....., NPN was drowning UPN , and that Shagari government with majority in the house would most likely have manipulated the constitution to remove term limits before the 1987 elections, that was the trend of that era. Even OBJ tried to achieve term elongation.

I am sorry to mentioned only two cases in Africa, there are close to 20 something cases in Africa.

MansaMoussa:


Just made an Academic analysis Bruh! Nothing Personal!

vicadex07:


The concept of "democracy" is so soo overhyped, like its the most perfect human invention ever. The current so called democracy being run by PDP is more of an autocracy.

It was widely acclaimed that the then civilian government of shagari was so bleeped up, that it has been likened to what is presently happening under GEJ.

There are some times life per chance bestows strict, stingy and highly disciplined parents on some children, and more than 90% of the time those kids eventually grow up to be responsible and successful members of the society (am talking metaphorically here), even though those kids might hate their parents while growing up.

Corruption is a cancer than must be removed in anyway possible so that the whole body won't suffer. Whether by chemotheraphy or by surgical removal, both methods are pleasant but they are effective.

feelamong:
Totally agree with GMB; as a General you don't deal on regrets, you make mistakes' you accept' learn from it and move on!

Today he is a democrat, contested presidential elections 3 times and went to court for justice on those 3 elections..

yea he was ahead of his time...

his time has come; just like the time of Lula Da Silva who lost elections 3 times before winning the 4th time and eventually became the most loved president ever in history...garnering approval ratings far higher than even Clinton from his people!!

Sai Buhari!

Change is Here!! #GMB15

HNosegbe:


I understand your point. However try to ask yourself if the scenarios you just highlighted would have turned out worse than being ruled by the likes of IBB and Sani Abacha.

emiye:


In a one party state, the electorates are simply sheep, whipped in to a single file by a shepherd.

What tells you , we wont be a one party state by now, Abacha also tried to achieve the one party state, when all the 5 parties in 1998 simply endorsed him as the messiah for planned oct.98 civilian rule, until divine providence change the course of Nigeria. My point is that, there was no guarantee that the country would have been better off with sustained democracy.

emiye:



No guarantees bro. I have a great fear and distaste for a one party state veiled with democracy, in my opinion, it is worse than military rule

J12:
Going through this thread, I feel really sorry for this country. The future of this country is really dim if the people who support Buhari on this thread are for real.

It is safe to say that Nigeria has no future, no hope and no life with the calibre of youths our country has. I'm so sorry Nigeria.

HNosegbe:


How is it worse? Explain.

emiye:
One is pure pretence of what it is not, and very expensive to run.

Waste of money to conduct elections, Waste of money to run rubber stamped legislatures,.......

Mugabe, the hero of 1980 has currently removed his VP on trumped up charges, and even planning to hand over to his wife,,,,,,, should a military coup occur in that country, i will be happy for them, because they will have an opportunity to chart a new course.

HNosegbe:


While I agree that it is possible to progress as a country under military rule, I disagree with the examples you gave - a better example would be South Korea under General Park Chung-Hee.

That said, the major issue with military regimes, like all non-democratic regimes, is that it depends on the magnanimity of whoever happens to be in charge of the country at the time. Yes a country can progress under military rule like South Korea did, but what do you do when the military ruler ends up like Mobutu? Any attempt to change such a leader, or indeed even to register a tinge of discontent, would be crushed with overwhelmingly brutal force. The unfortunate truth is that military regimes in Nigeria have given us more Mobutus than Parks.

To further illustrate the above point, ask yourself if Nigeria would have had the misfortune of being misgoverned by the likes of IBB and Abacha had the 1983 coup not taken place.

The Second Republic was extremely corrupt, yes I agree. But Buhari and the military should have left us the Nigerian people to sort out the mess ourselves. I repeat, the coup was a tragic mistake.

fkaz:


@ first, when did Gen. Buhari contested under PDP or are from chad republic?

HNosegbe:


Your opinion, anyways... though I disagree. Our peculiar experience here has shown that military regimes in Nigeria have been worse than the civilian administrations they replaced, partly because of the complete absence of accountability and partly because those guys typically know next to nothing about governance.

Even in very flawed civilian governments, the elite usually throw some crumbs down to the masses to keep them quiet. Most military regimes have less of an incentive to do that... primarily because they got into power by the barrel of a gun and can KEEP power that way.

Anyway we can always agree to disagree.

duni04:
[left][/left]
The 1999, 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections were also disputed. That in no way gives any soldier the leeway to trample on the rights of millions of Nigerians by staging a coup and ursurping democratic institutions. The question as to whether the NPN was corrupt or not would have been answered at the polls and not decided by Buhari. Buhari wakes up and decides for millions of Nigerians that an administration is corrupt, and stages a coup to "rescue" them from the corrupt politicians? We shouldn't defend that kind of behaviour in the 21st century, and if he wants to be a democratically elected President of Nigeria, he should apologise for thwarting the very institution he maligned and insulted by staging the coup of '83.

MansaMoussa:


To some extent I agree with you Sir, but while u put forth the mobutu, abacha and ibb scenarios as likely sequelae of military interventions, you fail to mention the Theodore Nguemas, Paul Biyas, Compraores, Mugabes, etc who have virtually used democratic institutions to perpetuate their reigns (being re-elected cyclically through massively rigged elections) and forming governing classes whose loyalty does not lie with the people but the regime!
The Shagari Regime was so corrupt that no political means existed to turn things around! The opposition, advocacy groups etc were all pocketed! Same way every institution that should pressurize this regime has been incapacitated by corruption leaving a vacuum only the Opposition can fill even though they fall short of expectations!

iykofias:
ban me? na today we start to dey chop ban like gala

datribune:



Ur trivialization of d issue shows u know little or nothing about what obtained in or d kind of trouble nigeria was in, in those heady days. Hehehehe U hav no idea.
When faced wit d same problem dat nigeria had, Ghana under Jerry Rawlings executed their politicians including 3 former heads of states while nigeria under General Buhari merely overthrew & imprisoned our politicians.
U talk of removing them thru elections & I tell u dat they came in thru an election dat used to be reffered to back then as d stolen presidency. d NPN never believed in & would never leave via free & fair elections.
Pls educate urself about d happenings in Nigeria during d 2nd republic & u will know why decades after & inspite of one of d most vicious media attacks, knowledgeable people still highly revere d General & yearn 4 his return. d nation owes him tons of gratitude 4 stepping up & answering d call of d nation when it needed a leader. History will be kind to GMB.

Abanicwise:
Bullshit democracy that is full of corruption.
I will rather go for coup/military Govt. that is willing to curb corruption, ensure equity and provide succur to the poor than a useless democracy that only promote corruption and pauperize it citizen.

Seun:

He has not accepted that he made a mistake. If you don't admit your mistakes and correct them, you will keep making them.


A cynical person would say that the reason he is doing all this is because he no longer has the military capability to take power by force.

Look, I have decided that it may not be bad to have change, but we need to understand the new man before giving him dominion over us.

HNosegbe:


Your opinion, anyways... though I disagree. Our peculiar experience here has shown that military regimes in Nigeria have been worse than the civilian administrations they replaced, partly because of the complete absence of accountability and partly because those guys typically know next to nothing about governance.

Even in very flawed civilian governments, the elite usually throw some crumbs down to the masses to keep them quiet. Most military regimes have less of an incentive to do that... primarily because they got into power by the barrel of a gun and can KEEP power that way.

Anyway we can always agree to disagree.

datribune:


I disagree.
d two best nigerian govts post-civil war ar military govts - Murtala Mohammed & Buhari/Idiagbon
d two worst govts post-civil war ar civilian govts - Shagari & Goodluck Jonathan

HNosegbe:
The General seems to think the coup was in order, and on that point I disagree with him. It is an undisputable fact that the coup set us backwards. We can agree that the Shagari regime was corrupt, but what about the state governors? Lateef Jakande? Aper Aku? Olabisi Onabanjo? Melford Okilo? Sam Mbakwe? Adekunle Ajasin? Were they corrupt too? Some of these governors were driving development at the grassroots, delivering tangible "dividends of democracy" to their people, but their administrations were also cut short!!! Worse still, they were replaced by totally inept "military administrators" who knew next to nothing about how to run a state!!! Was that progress or retrogression?

The 1983 coup, like that of 1966, was a terrible mistake that set us back by decades.

datribune:


I disagree.
d two best nigerian govts post-civil war ar military govts - Murtala Mohammed & Buhari/Idiagbon
d two worst govts post-civil war ar civilian govts - Shagari & Goodluck Jonathan

Seun:

He has not accepted that he made a mistake. If you don't admit your mistakes and correct them, you will keep making them.


A cynical person would say that the reason he is doing all this is because he no longer has the military capability to take power by force.

Look, I have decided that it may not be bad to have change, but we need to understand the new man before giving him dominion over us.

HNosegbe:


I understand your point. However try to ask yourself if the scenarios you just highlighted would have turned out worse than being ruled by the likes of IBB and Sani Abacha.