By Adam Bashir Muhammad
The nation especially the people of Kano State and that of the Federal Capital territory witnessed a grand assemblage of personalities from all walks of life across the globe. One need not argue that the first family and the only son of a onetime most revered, admired, highly rated, and certified honest and incorruptible president of the most populous black nation on earth getting married to a princess from one of the most respected emirates in Africa deserve such grace.
President Muhammadu Buhari came into power through a historic and celebrated moment as the only one man General (with no ex-military generals’ support) but the will and power of the most underrated yet powerful voice and ballots of masses who saw him as the only savior that can salvage the country from its deep-rooted poverty, unemployment, lack of social and economic amenities as well as the extravagant lifestyle of the elites (with public funds) ingrained by the successive military and civilian regimes.
The President has been the hallmark of the poor and downtrodden right from his first three consecutive attempts and his alleged rigged out by the then PDP government. The semi-god, God sent savior and self-acclaim corruption fighter that many revered, campaigned, voted, donated cash, and invested so much time, resources, and in some many severance of friendship and family ties.
The pre-2015 actions of the poor Nigerians were seen as a complete departure from what was witnessed in the past where the money for votes installs the highest benefactor on the sits of power. Our experience from the 1993 MKO Abiola’s June, 12 annulled election, 1999 and 2003 elections that brought Olusegun Obasanjo to power down to that of late Umar Musa Yar’adua in 2007 and later Goodluck Ebele Jonathan in 2011 have shown how the masses both in urban and rural area traded their votes in exchange for cash, noodles, toiletries, soft drinks, snacks, etc.
The emotional speech of the then General Muhammadu Buhari was groundbreaking. It was Wednesday, the 14th April 2011, at the International conference center, Abuja while addressing the gathering on the nation’s problem including votes trading by the masses at a program organized by the Congress for Progressive Change, the onetime peoples’ General wept intermittently. The event was sobering as virtually all personalities in attendance either wept or struggle to hold onto their strayed tears.
The 2011 post-election violence in some parts of the North was a turning point that marked the end of votes trading. The merchants of votes buying houses and properties were looted, set ablaze, and destroyed by a section of irate pro-Buhari’s youths. The revolutionary message was clear.
Political actors on their part re-strategize a new political episode of alliance between the political big wig of the South-West and the one man General and hope of the masses from the North was consummated.
Despite the presence of the most powerful, rich, and influential former president, ex-governors, serving governors, former ministers, and former and serving senators, there was only one man to lead the contest-the masses, General!
The die was cast! Masses that were in the previous elections induced with money and provisions in exchange for votes turned to fundraisers and voters at the same. The likes of Malam Jaafar Jaafar, a veteran journalist, and publisher of Daily Nigeria was seen in the street of Kano sensitizing Nigerians and offering the fundraiser scratch cards to enable President Muhammadu Buhari mobilised many funds to matched other contestants’ financial will.
Today, Jaafar Jaafar’s expectation of good governance, economy, security and fight against corruption was not only a mirage, but the worst nightmare to his personal and professional life as he is forced to fled and seek asylum in the United Kingdom for the innocent ‘sin’ of whistleblowing and exposing corruption.
The whistle-blowing policy equally becomes a mockery of the poor as some whistle-blowers were either not paid or given the assured percentage, protection, or in some instances twisted, charged, tried, and convicted for the offenses of false information and/or defamation of character.
The economy with which President wept and shed crocodile tears becomes worsen each day of his stewardship. The poor Nigerians that fed one or twice a day or fed on malnourished meals no longer enjoy that luxury. The fat is becoming slim, while the slim ones are becoming slimmer except for the President whose skinny and shrink skin has now turn chubby, moist, and fleshy.
The security of lives and properties which the President entered into covenant with Nigerians has been breached. It is now ‘each man for himself and God for us all.’
Those who should protect us are now asking us to defend ourselves. Sad.
The inveigled poor Nigerians become puzzled. Some raise and ascribed endless defenses. Some blamed opposition politicians and other leaders. To some, the sixteen years damages cannot be remedied in four years. To some, President Buhari was not able to make it out of his sickbed and Nigeria was led by an imposter or Jibril Al sudani.
Yet, the majority of Nigerians keep the faith. Given another four years to President Buhari was not a bad idea. Once again, mobilized and raised the sum of Forty Million, bought the form for the President, and reelect him for the second time.
As Gimba, L.P rightly said-“The truth is not even Sir Ahmadu Bello, Tafawa Balewa, Nnamdi Azikwe, and Obafemi Awolowo got the type of financial support that Buhari got from the poor people of Nigeria.
In 2020, even his praise singer got 57 million Naira to sing a song for him. But he hasn’t released the song to date.
Everything humanly possible to show Buhari they are with him in the fight against corruption, insecurity, and the “rot” of the 16 years of PDP – the poor people did but were neither recognized nor rewarded for it.”
Despite all these fates, the costs of commodities and services are on the rise; criminal activities of the bandits and kidnappers are flourishing, ethnoreligious and/or tribal conflict everywhere. Many are homeless, hungry, and dying. The whole country is in a state of mourning with no justice given to either the victim or the aggressor.
The monumental posh ceremony of the President’s only son shocked Nigerians, not because Yusuf shouldn’t have a lavished presidential wedding, but for the lack of empathy shown to the plight of the poor Nigerians. It was viewed by many as eaten sumptuous and burped on the face of your starved and dying peddler. An adage in Hausa goes-“Ana barin Halal dan kunya”-meaning “one forego his right to dignify others”.
To add more salt to the injury, past leaders whom the President blamed for the sixteen years rot and promised to jail flown in private jets to dine with the President instead of being at various correctional homes across the country. What an irony!
Buhari’s administration has created nothing in us but misled victims, disappointed citizens, and a failed state. While his clique of rich and powerful keep thriving.
Are we being dignified or mocked?
Adam Bashir Muhammad is a legal practitioner in Kano.
Can be reached via: adambasheer08@gmail.com
