Buhari: Between Militancy And Leadership

"We are confident that a General Mohammadu Buhari presidency would probe these agencies and divert all stolen revenue back to the development of the region and Nigeria as a whole". These were the words contained in the declaration of support for General Muhammadu Buhari by the Movement for the Emancipation of the Niger Delta(MEND).

Nigerians will for sure be surprised that the sauce gentleman who is revered and respected; so much to be sought after, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, would be linked to any terrorist cell or group of any sort.

It will be sour to the ear to hear that our very own "Peoples general", who has been known for uprightness will be in cohorts with terrorists and enemies of the Nigerian nation to which he has severally pledged his love and loyalty.

However what many have soon forgotten is that Buhari has never hidden his penchant for terror and violence. The army general whose name we all chant and revere, has always had it in him to promote and thirst for violence.

It will be too fresh to forget the frequent defensive outburst by our own very general to lend support to the militant Boko Haram sect. His constant criticism of the Federal troops in their onslaught against these militants.

It is on record that Buhari has severally and consistently criticized government for protecting Nigerians against the attacks of Boko Haram and has gleefully announced that government forces should stop attacking Boko Haram, and in fact, should treat them like the Niger Delta militants; in other words, rehabilitate them, grant them amnesty and pay them every month, concluding that any attack on the Boko Haram sect was a declaration of war on the people of Northern Nigeria.

How soon have we forgotten the massacres and violence that followed his loss in the 2010 elections, where thousand were killed in kano as a result of crisis instigated by this one man? Or is it the bloody Baboon and hyena promise that we are all so quick to forget?

Nigerians for a very long time gave yearned for change, positive change. The longing for change is inate in all Nigerians, such that if we may not becareful in the pursuit of this desire, we may fall in a pit deep enough to bury all our the independent enjoyed so far.

Muhammadu Buhari should be reminded that the first responsibility of a leader is to be responsible for the life and property of his followers and for the presidency also defend the territorial integrity of his nation.

Buhari should also note that a leader without followers is no longer a leader and as such if the North East is ravaged by violence while he sponsors his friends, Henry Okah and his cohorts to wage war against the state, it is pertinent to ask which nation he desires to govern.

Our democracy was painfully gotten and should be preserved jealously, lest we loose it to those who denied us of such precious liberty and joy. We should be careful not to back to the years of non-ending and bogus jail terms, inhuman treatment and sectionalism. We have tasted true leadership and enjoyed the gains of followership enough to go back to dictatorial and violent rule. It is also ripe that Nigerians relate between the desperation to serve and the genuine desire to offer service.

These the general needs educate us more upon.
Charles Ubani a youth activist and President Nigerian Youths Arise for Positive Change ( NYAPC), writes from Abuja.

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Articles by Charles Maxi Ubani