George Orwell said “In the time of universal deceit, telling the truth is a revolutionary act”. Although General Buhari, the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) can fool some of the people all the time and all of the people some of the time, but he cannot fool all of the people all of the time.
I jolted out of my reverie and now forced to write this article as a rejoinder and reaction to the speech delivered by Gen. Buhari at the Chatham House in London on Thursday 26th where he propagated and embellished bundle of lies shrouded in complete misinformation regarding the state of Nigeria nation and about his person during his despotic and tyranic days as a military head of state of Nigeria where obnoxious policies were decreed at will.
The speech was indeed utter falsehood, a flamboyant deceit and a wild attempt to cover lies with other lies thereby exposing the ineffectiveness, ineptitude and caprices of General Buhari. The content of the speech is nothing to write home about but an exposure of the Gen. Buhari’s lack of administrative acumen and understanding of how government functions under a democratic government.
Anyone who is well-informed, acquainted and conversant with present happenings in Nigeria will realise the great work President Jonathan is doing in raising the standard of education. In four years, president Jonathan has established 6 federal universities, upgraded colleges of education and polytechnics which went down a notch and fell abysmally towards a complete brain drain state before he became president.
Prior to President Jonathan’s election, most of our past leaders only paid lip services to the education sector, infrastructural developments were below average upon the dilapidating state of available structures, a situation that led to students non-commited to education. In fact the situation was so bad and sympathetic that the chemistry students are being taught in laboratories without chemicals that are windowless and without door.
The pot-holes on our high ways had increased trenmendously and were death traps while re-asphalted roads under the previous administrations were falling apart while it was an eyesore that the federal roads leading to the cities were capable of destroying and putting two or three vehicles out of use on a daily basis, but the Transformation Agenda under this present administration of president Jonathan has repaired, renovated and reconstructed nearly all the federal roads in Nigeria.
Let the propagators and advocates of the arguments that president Jonathan has failed be informed that Nigerians, both at home and abroad, have witnessed the tremendous transmogrification of Nigeria courtesy of the working master plan of president Goodluck Jonathan. However, this is not to say that this is the best Nigeria can be but the progress made so far despite the daunting security challenge in the northern part of Nigeria is a pointier that there is hope. Especially now that the war on terror is seen to be yielding positive results ,as evident in the causalities suffered by the terrorist.
It is quite appreciated that General Buhari agreed that he was a despotic leader that got to power through coup, it is equally a welcome development to see him now as a convert; a democrat. General Buhari, however, goofed when he failed to apologize for his actions during his reign of terror: for jailing the late Pa Adekunle Ajasin, Odumegwu Ojuku, Obafemi Awolowo and host of other sages who did nothing wrong but still received unwarranted abuses against their fundamental human rights.
It’s expected of a democrat, though he argued that he couldn’t change his past but pomised to change the present with the view for building a new Nigeria, to also note that it is very difficult for one to give what he doesn’t have; how can Gen. Buhari promise to fight and eradicate corruption when he surrounded and adorned himself with corrupt politicians of note.
Will Gen. Buhari prosecute Atiku Abubarkar, Governor Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano, Rotimi Ameachi of Rivers, and others when they have already invested in his political struggle?
Let’s remind General Buhari that charity begins at home. The biometrics and finger prints authentication of civil servants under Goodluck Ebele Jonathan has blocked leakages and wastes. So, what other method is the old General planning to adopt in blocking wastages?
May I quickly draw General Buhari’s attention to another error of omission which cannot be overlooked especially in the academic community; he agreed that a social scientist asked a question regarding economic growth and development that has not reflected in the poverty level and employment of her citizens but he failed to cite and reference the usage; this is plagiarism sir. The fact General Buhari is old and an ex coup plotter, who truncated democracy, has ones again shown that he’s physically and morally unfit to be the president of Nigeria.
Above all, he has proved to be incompetent and all his arguments, manifesto and thoughts lack merit and the all seem jejune and lacklustre. The old dictator lacks motivating drive and a political lilliput that will remain infinitesimal in administrative progression, youth empowerment and societal development. In conclusion I want to appeal to all Nigerians to collectively join hands with Mr . President on the ongoing war against Boko Haram, so that the economic growth can be re invested during the President Jonathan Second Term.
A word is definately enough for the wise.
Oluwaloseyi Babaeko ,School of Politics, University of Leeds U.K
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