PENDULUM: President Buhari: From Deification To Demystification

By Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, let me make a quick confession in my epistle
to you today. I truly, and sincerely, pity and sympathise with
President Muhammadu Buhari and his family, even if it seems the
subject of my pity and sympathy does not appear to care about his
legacy or what the future will record for him. I will explain in a
jiffy. If you’re addicted to social media like me, you will
understand and appreciate the origin of my pity for Buhari and his
family. Any mention of Buhari instantly elicits venomous attacks
and blistering derision. The last time I witnessed anything of this
nature was in those draconian days of the Abacha regime. And it is
much worse this time around because of the multiplicity and
proliferation of social media platforms.

Even if President Buhari is totally oblivious to these vicious
attacks, his family must find it hard to swallow these bitter
responses to anything Buhari. However, someone told me the Buhari
family might not know how terribly bitter the people of Nigeria are
against their patriarch because they leave a sheltered, cloistered
existence. Well, if you are ensconced within the gilded cage of the
Aso Rock Presidential villa in Abuja, it is possible that you’re
not likely to know what is going on outside “the walls of
Jericho.”

Unfortunately, Buhari continues to act like a victim of some
demonic attacks that makes it impossible for one to consider
sensible and reasonable options. Many of his decisions are so
bizarre that you begin to wonder what propels him. I will find time
and space to discuss this theory as we progress.

Not many people would ever have a second chance to amend and
rectify their previous mistakes in life and turn a new leaf. Buhari
had been Nigeria’s Head of State from 1984 to 1985. The coup speech
that brought him to power was delivered by Sani Abacha. It had
identified, dissected, analysed and corrected the intractable
problems of Nigeria and came up with the correct verdict that was
tagged “War Against Indiscipline!” For this reason, it is important
to reproduce the Abacha speech, and I do so below:

“Fellow countrymen and women, I, Brigadier Sani Abacha, of the
Nigerian Army address you this morning on behalf of the Nigerian
Armed Forces.

You are all living witnesses to the great economic predicament
and uncertainty, which an inept and corrupt leadership has imposed
on our beloved nation for the past four years. I am referring to
the harsh, intolerable conditions under which we are now living.
Our economy has been hopelessly mismanaged. We have become a debtor
and beggar nation. There is inadequacy of food at reasonable prices
for our people who are now fed up with endless announcements of
importation of foodstuffs. Health services are in shambles as our
hospitals are reduced to mere consulting clinics without drugs,
water and equipment. Our educational system is deteriorating at an
alarming rate. Unemployment figures including the undergraduates
have reached embarrassing and unacceptable proportions. In some
states, workers are being owed salary arrears of eight to twelve
months and in others there are threats of salary cuts.

Yet our leaders revel in squander mania, corruption and
indiscipline, and continue to proliferate public appointments in
complete disregard of our stark economic realities. After due
consultations over these deplorable conditions, I and my colleagues
in the Armed Forces have in the discharge of our national role as
promoters and protectors of our national interest decided to effect
a change in the leadership of the government of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and form a Federal Military Government. This
task has just been completed.

The Federal Military Government hereby decrees the suspension of
the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria 1979 relating to all elective and appointive offices and
representative institutions including the office of the President,
State governors, federal and state executive councils, special
advisers, special assistants, the establishment of the National
Assembly and the Houses of Assembly including the formation of
political parties.

Accordingly, Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari ceases forthwith to be
the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of
Nigeria. All the incumbents of the above-named offices shall, if
they have not already done so, vacate their formal official
residences, surrender all government property in their possession
and report to the nearest police station in their constituencies
within seven days.

The Clerk of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate
and Speaker of the House of Representatives shall, within two
weeks, render account of all the properties of the National
Assembly. All the political parties are banned; the bank account of
FEDECO and all the political parties are frozen with immediate
effect. All foreigners living in any part of the country are
assured of their safety and will be adequately protected.

Henceforth, workers not on essential duties are advised to keep
off the streets. All categories of workers on essential duties
will, however, report at their places of work immediately. With
effect from today, a dusk to dawn curfew will be imposed between
7pm and 6am each day until further notice. All airways flights have
been suspended forthwith and all airports, seaports, and border
posts closed. External communications have been cut. The Customs
and Excise, Immigration and the Police will maintain vigilance and
ensure watertight security at the borders. The area administrators
or commanders will have themselves to blame if any of the wanted
people escape.

Fellow countrymen and women, the change in government has been a
bloodless and painstaking operation and we do not want anyone to
lose his or her life. People are warned in their own interest to be
law abiding and to give the Federal Military Government maximum
cooperation. Anyone caught disturbing public order will be
summarily dealt with. For avoidance of doubt, you are forewarned
that we shall not hesitate to declare martial law in any area or
State of the Federation in which disturbances occur.

Fellow countrymen and women and comrades at arms, I will like to
assure you that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is ready to lay its
life for our dear nation but not for the present irresponsible
leadership of the past civilian administration. You are to await
further announcements…”

Majority of Nigerians were happy and jubilant that the Messiah
had arrived finally who would instil the fear of God in our corrupt
and profligate politicians. Nigerians were ready to endure any
hardship as long as it would lead the country to its Eldorado.

Unfortunately, the honeymoon did not last long before it was
dealt more than a body blow and the house of straw that the
military adventurers had built collapsed like a pack of cards. The
hypocrisy of a government that promised so much but delivered so
little was soon exposed. Its worst offense was its rabid and
undisguised nepotism. Just imagine sacking a democratically elected
government and clamping virtually every actor from one part of the
country into detention. Many were tried in kangaroo manner and
awarded impossible sentences some of which amounted to many
lifetimes, many hundreds of years. It was soon obvious that this
neurotic and schizophrenic government was on a vengeful mission to
punish some targeted persons and tribes.

Laws were made to be enforced for some and to be broken by
others. Deposed President Shehu Shagari, a Northerner, was kept
under house arrest while Dr Alex Ekwueme, the Vice President, an
Easterner, was subjected to indignity and excruciating pains in a
maximum-security prison. The hatred against the Igbo, long since
established, was further cemented in concrete.

Buhari and his fearsome partner, Brigadier Babatunde Idiagbon,
ruled by decrees, some of which took effect retroactively. And
people were killed under such laws, mainly Southerners. The real
economic saboteurs escaped justice while those who had no
godfathers languished in most wicked detentions. It was a
government of “do as I say and not as I do.” It was only a matter
of time before the chickens would come home to roost. This happened
in August 1985, when the military struck again, and the speech read
by Joshua Nimyel Dongoyaro adumbrated and also elucidated on why
Buhari had to be sacked. The “DOGONYARO COUP SPEECH” follows
below:

I, Brigadier Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro, of the Nigerian Army,
hereby make the following declaration on behalf of my colleagues
and members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Fellow countrymen, the intervention of the military at the end of
1983 was welcomed by the nation with unprecedented enthusiasm.
Nigerians were unified in accepting the intervention and looked
forward hopefully to progressive changes for the better. Almost two
years later, it has become clear that the fulfilment of
expectations is not forthcoming.

Because this generation of Nigerians and indeed future
generations have no other country but Nigeria, we could not stay
passive and watch a small group of individuals misuse power to the
detriment of our national aspirations and interest.

No nation can ever achieve meaningful strides in its development
where there is an absence of cohesion in the hierarchy of
government; where it has become clear that positive action by the
policy makers is hindered, because as a body it lacks a unity of
purpose.

It is evident that the nation would be endangered with the risk
of continuous misdirection. We are presently confronted with that
danger. In such a situation, if action can be taken to arrest
further damage, it should and must be taken. This is precisely what
we have done.

The Nigerian public has been made to believe that the slow pace
of action of the Federal Government headed by Major-General
Muhammadu Buhari was due to the enormity of the problems left by
the last civilian administration.

Although it is true that a lot of problems were left behind by
the last civilian government, the real reason, however, for the
very slow pace of action is due to lack of unanimity of purpose
among the ruling body; subsequently, the business of governance has
gradually been subjected to ill-motivated power play
considerations. The ruling body, the Supreme Military Council, has,
therefore, progressively been made redundant by the actions of a
select few members charged with the day-to-day implementation of
the SMC’s policies and decision.

The concept of collective leadership has been substituted by
stubborn and ill-advised unilateral actions, thereby destroying the
principles upon which the government came to power. Any effort made
to advise the leadership, met with stubborn resistance and was
viewed as a challenge to authority or disloyalty.

Thus, the scene was being set for systematic elimination of
what, was termed oppositions. All the energies of the rulership
were directed at this imaginary opposition rather than to effective
leadership.

The result of this misdirected effort is now very evident in the
country as a whole. The government has started to drift. The
economy does not seem to be getting any better as we witness daily
increased inflation.

The nation’s meagre resources are once again being wasted on
unproductive ventures. Government has distanced itself from the
people and the yearnings and aspirations of the people as
constantly reflected in the media have been ignored.

This is because a few people have arrogated to themselves the
right to make the decisions for the larger part of the ruling body.
All these events have shown that the present composition of our
country’s leadership cannot, therefore, justify its continued
occupation of that position. Furthermore, the initial objectives
and programmes of action which were meant to have been implemented
since the ascension to power of the Buhari Administration in
January 1984 have been betrayed and discarded. The present state of
uncertainty and stagnation cannot be permitted to degenerate into
suppression and retrogression.

We feel duty bound to use the resources and means at our
disposal to restore hope in the minds of Nigerians and renew
aspirations for a better future. We are no prophets of doom for our
beloved country, Nigeria. We, therefore, count on everyone’s
cooperation and assistance. I appeal to you, fellow countrymen,
particularly my colleagues in arms to refrain from any act that
will lead to unnecessary violence and bloodshed among us. Rest
assured that our action is in the interest of the nation and the
Armed Forces.

In order to enable a new order to be introduced, the following
bodies are dissolved forthwith pending further announcements: (a)
The Supreme Military Council (b) The Federal Executive Council (c)
The National Council of States. All seaports and airports are
closed, all borders remain closed.

Finally, a dusk to dawn curfew is hereby imposed in Lagos and
all state capitals until further notice. All military commanders
will ensure effective maintenance of law and order. Further
announcements will be made in due course. God bless Nigeria…”

Buhari and his team had instantly fallen from grace to grass and
slipped into oblivion. It would be the gracious and merciful hand
of God before redemption finally came for Buhari, 30 years later.
General Ibrahim Babangida immediately stepped in and quickly
endeared himself to the people of Nigeria…

From 1985 to 2015, Buhari went into irrelevance and
insignificance. But he quietly nursed the ambition of returning to
power one day. He and his handlers were eventually smart enough to
repackage him as the last saint standing, and the only man capable
of returning sanity to Nigeria.

He realized this dream, eventually, in 2015, with huge adulation
and great expectations. The rest is history. Except for his
acolytes, the popular consensus is that Buhari has failed
spectacularly, a second time for that matter. What a tragedy? It
would have been better if he remained in our fantasies as the
Messiah that never was, instead of coming back to haunt and
disappoint us. A man who was once deified and worshipped is now
completely demystified. And the end is nigh!
Really tragic!

By Dele Momodu

Fellow Nigerians, let me make a quick confession in my epistle
to you today. I truly, and sincerely, pity and sympathise with
President Muhammadu Buhari and his family, even if it seems the
subject of my pity and sympathy does not appear to care about his
legacy or what the future will record for him. I will explain in a
jiffy. If you’re addicted to social media like me, you will
understand and appreciate the origin of my pity for Buhari and his
family. Any mention of Buhari instantly elicits venomous attacks
and blistering derision. The last time I witnessed anything of this
nature was in those draconian days of the Abacha regime. And it is
much worse this time around because of the multiplicity and
proliferation of social media platforms.

Even if President Buhari is totally oblivious to these vicious
attacks, his family must find it hard to swallow these bitter
responses to anything Buhari. However, someone told me the Buhari
family might not know how terribly bitter the people of Nigeria are
against their patriarch because they leave a sheltered, cloistered
existence. Well, if you are ensconced within the gilded cage of the
Aso Rock Presidential villa in Abuja, it is possible that you’re
not likely to know what is going on outside “the walls of
Jericho.”

Unfortunately, Buhari continues to act like a victim of some
demonic attacks that makes it impossible for one to consider
sensible and reasonable options. Many of his decisions are so
bizarre that you begin to wonder what propels him. I will find time
and space to discuss this theory as we progress.

Not many people would ever have a second chance to amend and
rectify their previous mistakes in life and turn a new leaf. Buhari
had been Nigeria’s Head of State from 1984 to 1985. The coup speech
that brought him to power was delivered by Sani Abacha. It had
identified, dissected, analysed and corrected the intractable
problems of Nigeria and came up with the correct verdict that was
tagged “War Against Indiscipline!” For this reason, it is important
to reproduce the Abacha speech, and I do so below:

“Fellow countrymen and women, I, Brigadier Sani Abacha, of the
Nigerian Army address you this morning on behalf of the Nigerian
Armed Forces.

You are all living witnesses to the great economic predicament
and uncertainty, which an inept and corrupt leadership has imposed
on our beloved nation for the past four years. I am referring to
the harsh, intolerable conditions under which we are now living.
Our economy has been hopelessly mismanaged. We have become a debtor
and beggar nation. There is inadequacy of food at reasonable prices
for our people who are now fed up with endless announcements of
importation of foodstuffs. Health services are in shambles as our
hospitals are reduced to mere consulting clinics without drugs,
water and equipment. Our educational system is deteriorating at an
alarming rate. Unemployment figures including the undergraduates
have reached embarrassing and unacceptable proportions. In some
states, workers are being owed salary arrears of eight to twelve
months and in others there are threats of salary cuts.

Yet our leaders revel in squander mania, corruption and
indiscipline, and continue to proliferate public appointments in
complete disregard of our stark economic realities. After due
consultations over these deplorable conditions, I and my colleagues
in the Armed Forces have in the discharge of our national role as
promoters and protectors of our national interest decided to effect
a change in the leadership of the government of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria and form a Federal Military Government. This
task has just been completed.

The Federal Military Government hereby decrees the suspension of
the provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of
Nigeria 1979 relating to all elective and appointive offices and
representative institutions including the office of the President,
State governors, federal and state executive councils, special
advisers, special assistants, the establishment of the National
Assembly and the Houses of Assembly including the formation of
political parties.

Accordingly, Alhaji Shehu Usman Shagari ceases forthwith to be
the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of
Nigeria. All the incumbents of the above-named offices shall, if
they have not already done so, vacate their formal official
residences, surrender all government property in their possession
and report to the nearest police station in their constituencies
within seven days.

The Clerk of the National Assembly, the President of the Senate
and Speaker of the House of Representatives shall, within two
weeks, render account of all the properties of the National
Assembly. All the political parties are banned; the bank account of
FEDECO and all the political parties are frozen with immediate
effect. All foreigners living in any part of the country are
assured of their safety and will be adequately protected.

Henceforth, workers not on essential duties are advised to keep
off the streets. All categories of workers on essential duties
will, however, report at their places of work immediately. With
effect from today, a dusk to dawn curfew will be imposed between
7pm and 6am each day until further notice. All airways flights have
been suspended forthwith and all airports, seaports, and border
posts closed. External communications have been cut. The Customs
and Excise, Immigration and the Police will maintain vigilance and
ensure watertight security at the borders. The area administrators
or commanders will have themselves to blame if any of the wanted
people escape.

Fellow countrymen and women, the change in government has been a
bloodless and painstaking operation and we do not want anyone to
lose his or her life. People are warned in their own interest to be
law abiding and to give the Federal Military Government maximum
cooperation. Anyone caught disturbing public order will be
summarily dealt with. For avoidance of doubt, you are forewarned
that we shall not hesitate to declare martial law in any area or
State of the Federation in which disturbances occur.

Fellow countrymen and women and comrades at arms, I will like to
assure you that the Armed Forces of Nigeria is ready to lay its
life for our dear nation but not for the present irresponsible
leadership of the past civilian administration. You are to await
further announcements…”

Majority of Nigerians were happy and jubilant that the Messiah
had arrived finally who would instil the fear of God in our corrupt
and profligate politicians. Nigerians were ready to endure any
hardship as long as it would lead the country to its Eldorado.

Unfortunately, the honeymoon did not last long before it was
dealt more than a body blow and the house of straw that the
military adventurers had built collapsed like a pack of cards. The
hypocrisy of a government that promised so much but delivered so
little was soon exposed. Its worst offense was its rabid and
undisguised nepotism. Just imagine sacking a democratically elected
government and clamping virtually every actor from one part of the
country into detention. Many were tried in kangaroo manner and
awarded impossible sentences some of which amounted to many
lifetimes, many hundreds of years. It was soon obvious that this
neurotic and schizophrenic government was on a vengeful mission to
punish some targeted persons and tribes.

Laws were made to be enforced for some and to be broken by
others. Deposed President Shehu Shagari, a Northerner, was kept
under house arrest while Dr Alex Ekwueme, the Vice President, an
Easterner, was subjected to indignity and excruciating pains in a
maximum-security prison. The hatred against the Igbo, long since
established, was further cemented in concrete.

Buhari and his fearsome partner, Brigadier Babatunde Idiagbon,
ruled by decrees, some of which took effect retroactively. And
people were killed under such laws, mainly Southerners. The real
economic saboteurs escaped justice while those who had no
godfathers languished in most wicked detentions. It was a
government of “do as I say and not as I do.” It was only a matter
of time before the chickens would come home to roost. This happened
in August 1985, when the military struck again, and the speech read
by Joshua Nimyel Dongoyaro adumbrated and also elucidated on why
Buhari had to be sacked. The “DOGONYARO COUP SPEECH” follows
below:

I, Brigadier Joshua Nimyel Dogonyaro, of the Nigerian Army,
hereby make the following declaration on behalf of my colleagues
and members of the Nigerian Armed Forces.
Fellow countrymen, the intervention of the military at the end of
1983 was welcomed by the nation with unprecedented enthusiasm.
Nigerians were unified in accepting the intervention and looked
forward hopefully to progressive changes for the better. Almost two
years later, it has become clear that the fulfilment of
expectations is not forthcoming.

Because this generation of Nigerians and indeed future
generations have no other country but Nigeria, we could not stay
passive and watch a small group of individuals misuse power to the
detriment of our national aspirations and interest.

No nation can ever achieve meaningful strides in its development
where there is an absence of cohesion in the hierarchy of
government; where it has become clear that positive action by the
policy makers is hindered, because as a body it lacks a unity of
purpose.

It is evident that the nation would be endangered with the risk
of continuous misdirection. We are presently confronted with that
danger. In such a situation, if action can be taken to arrest
further damage, it should and must be taken. This is precisely what
we have done.

The Nigerian public has been made to believe that the slow pace
of action of the Federal Government headed by Major-General
Muhammadu Buhari was due to the enormity of the problems left by
the last civilian administration.

Although it is true that a lot of problems were left behind by
the last civilian government, the real reason, however, for the
very slow pace of action is due to lack of unanimity of purpose
among the ruling body; subsequently, the business of governance has
gradually been subjected to ill-motivated power play
considerations. The ruling body, the Supreme Military Council, has,
therefore, progressively been made redundant by the actions of a
select few members charged with the day-to-day implementation of
the SMC’s policies and decision.

The concept of collective leadership has been substituted by
stubborn and ill-advised unilateral actions, thereby destroying the
principles upon which the government came to power. Any effort made
to advise the leadership, met with stubborn resistance and was
viewed as a challenge to authority or disloyalty.

Thus, the scene was being set for systematic elimination of
what, was termed oppositions. All the energies of the rulership
were directed at this imaginary opposition rather than to effective
leadership.

The result of this misdirected effort is now very evident in the
country as a whole. The government has started to drift. The
economy does not seem to be getting any better as we witness daily
increased inflation.

The nation’s meagre resources are once again being wasted on
unproductive ventures. Government has distanced itself from the
people and the yearnings and aspirations of the people as
constantly reflected in the media have been ignored.

This is because a few people have arrogated to themselves the
right to make the decisions for the larger part of the ruling body.
All these events have shown that the present composition of our
country’s leadership cannot, therefore, justify its continued
occupation of that position. Furthermore, the initial objectives
and programmes of action which were meant to have been implemented
since the ascension to power of the Buhari Administration in
January 1984 have been betrayed and discarded. The present state of
uncertainty and stagnation cannot be permitted to degenerate into
suppression and retrogression.

We feel duty bound to use the resources and means at our
disposal to restore hope in the minds of Nigerians and renew
aspirations for a better future. We are no prophets of doom for our
beloved country, Nigeria. We, therefore, count on everyone’s
cooperation and assistance. I appeal to you, fellow countrymen,
particularly my colleagues in arms to refrain from any act that
will lead to unnecessary violence and bloodshed among us. Rest
assured that our action is in the interest of the nation and the
Armed Forces.

In order to enable a new order to be introduced, the following
bodies are dissolved forthwith pending further announcements: (a)
The Supreme Military Council (b) The Federal Executive Council (c)
The National Council of States. All seaports and airports are
closed, all borders remain closed.

Finally, a dusk to dawn curfew is hereby imposed in Lagos and
all state capitals until further notice. All military commanders
will ensure effective maintenance of law and order. Further
announcements will be made in due course. God bless Nigeria…”

Buhari and his team had instantly fallen from grace to grass and
slipped into oblivion. It would be the gracious and merciful hand
of God before redemption finally came for Buhari, 30 years later.
General Ibrahim Babangida immediately stepped in and quickly
endeared himself to the people of Nigeria…

From 1985 to 2015, Buhari went into irrelevance and
insignificance. But he quietly nursed the ambition of returning to
power one day. He and his handlers were eventually smart enough to
repackage him as the last saint standing, and the only man capable
of returning sanity to Nigeria.

He realized this dream, eventually, in 2015, with huge adulation
and great expectations. The rest is history. Except for his
acolytes, the popular consensus is that Buhari has failed
spectacularly, a second time for that matter. What a tragedy? It
would have been better if he remained in our fantasies as the
Messiah that never was, instead of coming back to haunt and
disappoint us. A man who was once deified and worshipped is now
completely demystified. And the end is nigh!
Really tragic!