The problem may not be with General Muhammadu Buhari; it may be with my understanding of him from his recent interview, which appeared to be his most articulate since 1983 when he overthrew President Shehu Shagari and threw into detention most of the political players of that era. One of those he could not immediately lay his hands on, he arranged for foreign free-lance security agents to have crated and shipped back home for being excessively garrulous. He, however, failed in that bid to bring the late Umaru Dikko home to face the music of alleged corruption.
Nonetheless, in one particular area, he succeeded to a fault. In the area of discipline, he sought, together with his deputy then, the late Brigadier General Tunde Idiagbon, to literally whip Nigerians into line. Somewhere along the line, both men spoilt their own game, because, as it turned out, the war against indiscipline was for the rest of us, and not their family and friends.
Idiagbon did not see anything wrong in taking his underage son on religious pilgrimage; while Buhari got himself enmeshed in an inexplicable drama over 53 suit cases that were being allegedly smuggled into the country at a time a clear order banning such was put in place. It turned out that the Aide de Camp to Buhari was facilitating the movement of the suitcases using military fiat. Incidentally, the Customs man who resisted that move is today standing against Buhari in a contest for their party’s presidential ticket.
In the latest interview, the retired Army Major General, who ensured he threw a barb the way of his Minna-based colleague, General Ibrahim Babangida (retd.), made what seemed like a dangerous allusion to plans by himself and his tenders to foist a Muslim-Muslim ticket on Nigeria. What was the more dangerous was his suggestion that he might have lost elections three times in the past because he fielded Christian running mates.
Take a reading: “I told you I joined partisan politics in April 2002. In 2003, I was given a ticket. Whom did I chose as my running mate? Chuba Okadigbo. He was brought up by Zik. And he was senate president and was a serving senator when he accepted to be my running mate. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. In 2007, whom did I pick? Edwin Ume-Ezeoke. He was a Roman Catholic. He was an Igbo. And in 2010, I even chose a pastor. Pastor Tunde Bakare. Honestly, what do Nigerians want me to do? If they don’t believe I’m not a fundamentalist, what also can I do?…. So the question of this Muslim-Muslim ticket, although it was a long way from Abiola and Kingibe [in 1993], all the same, I have not absolutely closed my mind to picking a Christian or Muslim as running mate if I get the ticket. Because I firmly believe that Nigerians, having gone through what they have gone through, realise it is not a matter of religion, but a matter of Nigeria. And the main religions, Christianity and Islam, they know and they believe in the Almighty God. The question of stealing and short-changing people in the name of religion should stop.
“Why did Nigerians line up and elect Abiola and Kingibe, both Muslims? The late Joseph Tarka, in a clearly Roman Catholic environment, brought Ibrahim Imam from Borno, to his constituency to represent Tivland in the Northern House of Assembly in 1961. This new phenomenon of religion is another blackmail political confusionists in Nigeria are bringing to the fore. I will tell you something. Tinubu’s wife is a Christian, Governor Fashola’s wife is a Christian, Governor Amosun’s wife is a Christian, Bisi Akande’s wife is a Christian, Governor Ajimobi’s wife is a Christian. For goodness sake, the children of these political leaders in Nigeria were bred and brought up by Christian mothers. You think those people, wherever they participate, they will bring a religious issue? What kind of people are we? Nigerians will always bring something to cause confusion while we are trying to stabilise the system.”
Repeatedly, throughout his interview, the former military head of state continued to refer to a Borno man representing Tivland in the Northern Assembly, and the fact that Abiola and Kingibe won elections of which fruit they never tasted for a day. He conveniently forgot that was Nigeria where everyone was innocent and the mainly Christian population of the south and the north central of Nigeria could trust Muslims. But today, that innocence has died with the wicked violence that has been targeted at mainly Christians, and a spatter of Muslims as collateral damage.
The retired general, apparently basking in his near glorious days with Idiagbon forgot he himself had made religiously insensitive comments in the past, or had been part of groups like the Miyetti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria (MACBAN) that creates a monster out of him. MACBAN is seen in most of central Nigeria as the political wing of the various Fulani militia groups ravaging that part of the country.
So if Buhari thinks he is still living in 1984 or 1993, he should allow the scales fall from his eyes and wake up to the realities of what is on ground today. Or, perhaps, he should heed the advice of the latest political consultant to Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the All Progressives Congress (APC), General Olusegun Obasanjo, who told him and his fellow travelers that they were jokers considering a Muslim-Muslim ticket against the PDP.
His words: “Sensitivity is a necessary ingredient for enhancement of peace, security and stability at this point in the political discourse and arrangement for Nigeria and for encouraging confidence and trust. Nigeria cannot at this stage raise the spectre and fear of Islamization or Christianization. The idea of proselytization in any form is a grave danger that must not be contemplated by any serious-minded politician at this delicate situation in Nigeria; as this time is different from any other time. Therefore, disregarding the fact that there are fears that need to be allayed at this point will amount not only to insensitivity of the highest order but will also amount to very bad politics indeed.”
Obasanjo’s words should be enough for men of yesteryears like Buhari and his coterie of irascible political minders; otherwise, he and his Party should dare Nigerians with a Muslim-Muslim ticket and see what will happen.
Written by Abba Adakole.
abbaadakole@gmail.com
