More than 30 years after he ruled with an iron
fist, jailing the corrupt and championing the
virtues of military discipline in all things, Muhammadu
Buhari is now being billed as Nigeria’s saviour.
The 71-year-old retired army general on Thursday
won a landslide victory for the main opposition All
Progressive Congress (APC) ticket to challenge
Goodluck Jonathan for the presidency next year.
A win would be fourth time lucky for Buhari after a
previous failed attempt against Jonathan in 2011
and unsuccessful bids in 2007 and 2003.
His latest candidacy was met with scorn by the
ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who said the
moustachioed former military ruler has nothing new
to offer.
Jonathan, in power since 2010, said the February
14 vote was “a choice between going forward or
going backwards, between the new ways and the old
ways, between freedom and repression”.
PDP spokesman Olisa Metuh added: “Apart from
changing to a dinner suit, General Buhari has not
changed the tired ideas and provocative
utterances that Nigerians rejected in previous
elections.”
Yet far from being dismissed as one of the old
guard, Buhari’s methods are seen by some as the
only way to help Africa’s troubled giant change
course.
The APC points to his record tackling corruption,
while even the PDP founder, former president
Olusegun Obasanjo, has said that Buhari would be
better placed to end the Boko Haram insurgency.
– ‘War against indiscipline’ –
Nigerians who were around when Buhari overthrew
civilian president Shehu Shagari on December 31,
1983 recalled the changes he brought about in a
country blighted by years of graft and
inefficiency.
“Buhari’s government introduced ‘War Against
Indiscipline’ and everybody inculcated the culture
of orderliness in doing things, without cutting
corners,” said 60-year-old Samuel Adebowale.
“Under him, corruption and impunity were prohibited
and anyone found wanting would be sent to prison,”
the businessman told AFP in Lagos.
Water vendor Musa Wushishi, 42, said he expected
Buhari to reintroduce such methods if elected —
and believed he would have widespread support.
“Buhari will defeat Jonathan this time because we’re
tired of this government. Buhari is an honest man.
He’ll fight corruption and all those who have stolen
Nigeria’s money will be dealt with.
“He did it before… Nigeria will be great again under
Buhari. He will crush Boko Haram and there will be
peace everywhere,” he said.
In the APC stronghold of Lagos at least, those
either too young or not even born when Buhari
headed Nigeria’s Supreme Military Council from 1983
to 1985 expressed similar views.
“I was told Buhari was very tough as a military
head of state, that he killed drug pushers and
jailed pressmen and all that,” said university
student Demola Akinlabi, 17.
“We need somebody with an iron hand to govern
Nigeria. Look at Jonathan and his government.
Nothing seems to be working anymore. No jobs, no
light, the roads are bad.
“Look at the killings in the north. He cannot do
anything about it.”
– Dictator to democrat –
For analysts decrypting Nigeria’s election
campaign, Buhari is seen as strong on anti-
corruption and military nous but weak on policy and
the day-to-day of political life.
Chris Ngwodo, a political commentator, said Buhari
may be helped by the “demographic dividend” of
young voters that has transformed his image from
dictator to democrat.
“The passage of time has polished his record and
created a myth,” he told AFP in a recent interview.
Certainly, the softly spoken Buhari’s strong-arm
tactics were not applauded by human rights groups
at the time, with critics of the regime, including
the Afro-beat legend Fela Kuti, thrown in jail.
Drug traffickers were executed and limits imposed
on the media.
Buhari himself has promised a more conciliatory
approach.
“I do not intend to rule Nigeria. I want to
democratically govern it with your help,” he told
APC delegates on Thursday.
But for Dapo Thomas, a political scientist at Lagos
state university, the fact that voters may be
willing to overlook Buhari’s past record of
draconian rule is telling.
Unemployment is rising, security worsening,
infrastructure crumbling and the country’s oil-
dependent economy is tanking due to a fall in the
global price of crude, he said.
“The emergence of General Buhari is an answer to
the yearnings of the people for change,” he said.
“For a long time, Nigeria has suffered from bad
leadership. All the indices of development and
positive governance are lacking…
“The Jonathan administration is clueless and does
not seem to have the capacity to arrest the
drift.”
Post a Comment