Custodian Debate: Buhari should not be Nigeria’s next president

By Fola Fawehinmi

One issue pressing firmly on the minds of all Nigerians today is who to vote for in the upcoming presidential election; with the two key contestants being Goodluck Jonathan Ebele (on behalf of People’s Democratic Party/PDP) and Major General Muhammadu Buhari (on behalf of All Progressives Congress/APC). In response to the considerable support APC have garnered through lambasting and scapegoating Goodluck Jonathan for Nigeria’s great current economic failures which are but not limited to; a heavily devalued naira, catastrophically low foreign exchange reserves from oil exports, mass unemployment for most young graduates, inadequate and largely overpriced healthcare services and also limited financial incentives to help small home grown businesses thrive but with too much focus as always, being on encouraging foreign businesses to conduct business in Nigeria.

Two bites at the cherry?

A major gripe the anti PDP camp have against Goodluck Jonathan is that he completed the term of Yar’Adua from 2010 onwards owing to the incumbents’ sudden death while he acted as Vice President; ultimately however different commentators delineate which term Goodluck is about to begin if he is successful in the elections, what remains sure is that he will breach the constitutional limit of 2 terms laid down by sections 135(2)(B) and 137(1)(B) of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The now challenger, Major General Buhari became Head of State in murky circumstances to put it mildly. Using a highly treacherous Military Coup d’etat he held the position of Head of State between 1983 and 1985 having forcefully removed Shehu Shagari. As such, in my view, I feel both candidates have had their window of opportunity so to speak.

Fear of another military rule

Buhari’s military status should cause the average Nigerian great concern and anxiety. Without prying extensively into many incidents of abuse of government power, these are a few noteworthy signposts of the wrongful and unlawful actions of military Governments. It was the military Government which oversaw the promulgation of the Land Use Act (decree) in 1978 which grossly empowered the state by requiring that all alienation of interests in land must have the Governors’ consent. For those who are unfortunate enough to have bought land in Nigeria following the Act and more so in Lagos where for example, the mere partitioning of land of less than two acres in size in Victoria Island requires a payment of 1.5 million Naira to the Governor; military rule in Nigeria has created significant gluttony within Government and has starved many other sectors of much needed investment. The creation of executive immunity under section 308 of the 1999 constitution does little to empower citizens in exercising their desires to challenge the real threat of uncontrolled corruption by Government agents. In short, military leaders are ruthless elitists who only protect their own; beware overly optimistic APC supporters!

Re-emergence of tribal divisions

A native of Katsina State, Buhari is resoundingly Northern. National security in Nigeria remains weak owing to the sporadic plague that is Boko Haram. Areas in the North such as Borno, Kano and Niger remain highly volatile with news of suicide bombings and other mayhem flooding the newspapers far too often. The Northerners of Nigeria feel it’s time to regain the seat of power having been out of reckoning since Yar’Adua’s unforeseen sudden death in 2010. Given the frustration that Northerners feel and their desperation to regain economic and political control of Nigeria, the Yorubas and Ibos should be wary of being usurped by Buhari appointing his own brothers into key ministerial positions based more on tribal loyalty as opposed to appropriate merits.

Could Buhari complete the Sunday Crossword?

Let’s be honest, PDP’s smear campaign of digging up Buhari’s O-level results as a means to investigate whether or not he had actually his passed secondary school exams which is a requirement to run for the office of President, in my opinion was dynamic and utterly entertaining given Buhari’s age of 70 plus. However, of grave concern to the common voter of whichever persuasion, is the intellectual competence of both Jonathan and Buhari. Jonathan and his wife, through many poor public addresses have done little to prove to the country that we are being led by a man with even an ounce of basic intelligence. But, APC candidate Buhari, whilst basking in this great area of Jonathans’ many weaknesses has offered little evidence to support the assertion that he is any more literate and/or academically qualified to cope with the complex and challenging socio-economic problems the country is sure to face in the next 10 years and beyond.

Final remarks

As things stand, what remains clear are the following. Firstly, this is the closest and perhaps most divisive presidential election we have ever witnessed in Nigeria. Secondly, who is likely to win is a question even the most astute political analysts would struggle to answer. In addition, Nigeria’s failing currency and shockingly low foreign exchange reserves; two key afflictions highlight by ex-Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (Charles Soludo) are matters which, if not taken under immediate control, could see our much beloved oil rich nation, needlessly squander our natural resources. Sure, Nigeria needs change. But the question I ask you readers; can Buhari and APC lead us unto greener pastures? I remain sceptical.