OPEN LETTER TO NIGERIANSWHY BUHARI SHOULD NOT BE RE-ELECTED

In exercise of my Constitutional Right to Freedom of Expression, in a democratic system, as guaranteed under Section 39 of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended), I write this article without prejudice.

So many Nigerians, prominent and otherwise, have expressed their deep concerns about the state of affairs of Nigeria under the watch of President Mohammadu Buhari.  But he seems to be unperturbed about their concerns and the failing Nigeria state he presides over. While I refrain from the alleged leadership incompetence of Mr President as opined by so many Nigerians, including past leaders, I will restrict myself to the direct impact of Buhari’s administration on Nigerians and Nigeria. If nation building is a collective effort, this is my own way of contributing to the course of nation building. If the President choose vendetta on this, it confirms his narrow heartedness and if he accepts it in good fate, it shows how large his heart can accommodate, which is expected of a true leader.

History tells us that on December 31, 1983 General Mohammadu Buhari interrupted a democratic process under President Shehu Aliu Shagari, by a military incursion. Military governance being characterised by rule of force and dictatorship, Nigerians had their share of it under the military regime of Buhari.  On assuming office again on May 29, 2015 as civilian president, little did Nigerians know that they were in for hard times and overthrow of our democratic process under a supposed democratic government?  It all began with a propaganda of blame game, even though it is a common knowledge to great minds that good leaders do not pass blame, rather they solve problems. Those who advised Mr President to deploy the approach of propaganda and blame game actually exposed his inefficiency to the world; either unconsciously, ignorantly or deliberately to disparage his administration, as only a lazy workman blames his tools.

It is no longer news that Buhari’s desperate desire to become Nigerian’s  president led him to threateningbloodshed of the citizens he sought to lead. (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2012/05/2015-ll-be-bloody-if-buhari/). Which true leader would issue a threat that “…the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood” if he loses an election?  In the above report Buhari faulted fuel increment and insensitivity of government which he is also grossly guilty of today. Having assumed leadership, Nigerians saw a president that was never prepared for development but for revenge, vendetta, propaganda and blame game. Let me refresh our minds on the large scale insecurity, ethno-religious divisions, massive blood shed by terrorist organisations like the Boko Haram and Fulani herdsmen attacks on not fewer than ten states that has characterised the Buhari administration. Buhari’s poor economic policies sent foreign investors packing from Nigeria and forced local businesses to shot down, with overall effect of unemployment, where thousands lost their job. The triple effect is the thousands of other dependants and family members who have to bear the brunt through hunger, frustration and eventual suicide. Nigerians witnessed the height of nepotism which is the highest form of corruption, where appointments are seldom based on merit. ( https://punchng.com/buharis-alleged-lopsided-security-appointments-split-southern-northern-senators/ ) ( https://punchng.com/southern-groups-knock-buharis-pro-north-security-appointments/) The effect of Buhari’s choice of persons (predominantly from the northern and muslim extraction), to head the security apparatus of Nigeria, is the reason for the spate of unabated killings. His reluctance and lack of will power, as a former Military General, to completely dissipate and eradicate the terrorism of Boko Haram and Fulani insurgents, who are largely untrained, yet overwhelming our military and army, rated internationally as one of the best infantry fighters, has brought the nation to her knees. Under Buhari’s administration, Nigeria is now rated by Global Terrorism Index (GTI), as the third most terrorised nation after Iraq and Afghanistan for four consecutive years. See the link below for full report from the GTI December 2018 ranking. (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/299425-nigeria-third-most-terrorised-country-for-fourth-consecutive-year-report.html). For reasons of sentiments, Buhari’s adminisration have refused to deal with the corruption in the military. Soldiers’ outcry against poor welfare and inadequate weaponry which has amounted to premeditated command for suicide mission, despite huge security budget, has left us with the highest loss of security personnel in recent years, outside the civil war of 1967-1970. Recent example is the reported Boko Haram onslaught on our army in Metele, Borno State on November 18, 2018 where over 100 soldiers were killed and over 150 were declared missing. The US Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) also reported in mid-2018 that it has recorded nearly 20,000 (19,890) deaths in Nigeria from Fulani Herdsmen and Boko Haram attacks, under the Buhari administration since June 2015. The unabated killings became worrisome to the United Kingdom’s Parliament which held a debate on the development, in which worries were expressed on the inability of the government to end killings in Nigeria, warning that ethno-religious violence in the country may escalate to the Rwanda type genocide, if the federal government remained complacent about it.  (https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/07/01/nigeria-has-recorded-nearly-20000-deaths-under-buhari-says-us-body/). These kinds of report leave one wondering if the lives of Nigerians matter much to this administration?

Mr President, in his  preconceive vendetta on Nigerians and the institutions of our democracy launched attacks on the judicial and legislative arm of government, which are the last resort of the common man and the coordinated voice of the people respectively. It began with deploying the security forces to raid and destroy the homes of judges, using state resources to further a personal fight and perceived corruption, in a bid to erode public confidence in the judiciary. Buhari could not conceal his desire to have control over the legislative arm of government by launching a fight (of unsubstantiated criminal case) against the senate president. For personal reasons, Buhari refused to forward the name of Justice Walter Onnoghen, to the National Assembly for confirmation, after he was recommended by the National Judicial Council for the office of the Chief Justice of Nigeria(CJN), being the most senior justice of the Supreme Court of Nigeria and in accordance with the provisions and requirements of the law. Read this report from a US based Nigerian Lawyer and Judiciary Expert. (https://scannewsnigeria.com/opinion/buhari-refusal-to-forward-onnoghens-name-for-cjn-and-implications-by-ogebe/).

As the 2019 general elections approaches, by plausible deniability, Buhari again launched an attack on the Chief Justice, in a bid to horridly unseat him, without due process, on premeditated allegation of improper asset declaration. (https://www.thecable.ng/fg-to-arraign-onnoghen-before-cct-on-monday). The political undertone is so glaring to Nigerians. Mr President suddenly forgot the constitutional provisions on how the CJN can be removed from office. These are obvious violation of our existing laws. With no regard for the rule of law and court rulings or judgements, Buhari refused to comply with court order for the release on bail of detained Sheikh Ibrahim El zakzaky (leader of the Shia Islamic Movement of Nigeria) and Sambo Dasuki. Mr president, even made himself a god and a law in Nigeria, during a courtesy visit to his office, by a delegation from Benue State in November 2018, when he said, “anyone caught stealing from public funds should dare him, they will be jailed”. Here is the report (http://saharareporters.com/2018/11/23/i%E2%80%99ll-deal-anyone-caught-%E2%80%98red-handed%E2%80%99-stealing-public-funds-says-buhari). Then I asked if Buhari is the law that should take its course? This is nothing but the voice of a dictator. At every given opportunity, Buhari does not fail to denigrate and demonise Nigerians before foreign media. Tagging us corrupt, and our youth unwilling to work. (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2016/05/nigeria-fantastically-corrupt-buhari-admits/). Read the comments and reactions of Nigerians against Buhari’s denigrating comments on Nigerian youth .(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5k3gzjsIcOk).

The Buhari administration have been severally accused of  shielding and harbouring corrupt persons and have no political and moral will to fight corruption perpetuated by persons in his administration. The President reinstated the Executive Secretary of the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) who was suspended by the Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole on July 6, 2017 on alleged fraud of N919, 000,000, without waiting for the Anti-Corruption Agencies to conclude their investigation and come up with a report. Nigerians witnessed this.  (https://www.businessdayonline.com/news/article/lawyers-others-disagree-reinstatement-nhis-boss-buhari/). Mr President, exonerated the Secretary to the Government of the Federation SGF Babachir Lawal, for receiving N200, 000,000 contract sums to clear grass in Yobe State, through a company he has stake in. He was indicted by the senate committee headed by Senator Ahmed Sani? (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/221411-buhari-writes-senate-clears-sgf-lawal-grass-cutting-contract-scandal.html).  It has become the norm for Buhari to shield politicians he once perceived as corrupt, the moment they defect to his party and the party has become a safe haven for corrupt politicians. This is clearly a novel approach to the fight against corruption. Can Mr President with all honesty and sincerity, boastfully tell Nigerians that his hands are clean, that he truly is a man of integrity? Can he challenge Nigerians to come up with facts, if they have any, against him bothering on corruption in his administration, nepotism and sincerity of purpose and his sworn oath to protect the lives and property of Nigerians and to defend the territorial integrity of Nigeria? 

TO NIGERIANS BOTH AT HOME AND IN DIASPORA

Nigerians have over time been at the worst end of bad leadership, and all efforts to right the wrong have yielded little and insignificant results, on the nation and the citizens at large. We have had leaders who are widely travelled but are hardly able to replicate the good governance and working system of the developed nations they visit and even keep reserves. They attend global leaders’ summit and the likes, but can’t seem to effect changes back home. For a very long time the citizens have been relegated as slaves to the leaders; constantly having to worship the leaders, even when they obviously demonstrate bad leadership and incompetence. Some of our leaders even take actions that are detrimental to the nation and tantamount to civil unrest and disintegration of the nation. Their insatiable appetite for money and power at the expense of the nation have made them  unconscionable. We seem to be sentimentally attached to our leaders by religious, tribal and political affiliations and based on financial benefits. We do the worst injustice to ourselves when we openly support bad leadership and ill-governance for reasons of sentiments.

Facts and evidence speak for themselves. The present government of Buhari may have found grounds  to criticise the previous administration. But truth be told, the situation of Nigeria and Nigerians have steadily grown worst under the Buhari administration. Sycophants have been deceiving the president with a false impression of a working system and some gullible Nigerians at home and in diaspora are held spell bound believing Buhari is indeed fighting the hydra-headed monster called corruption, when in fact, his administration is contributing in no small measure to corruption. This is manifestly undisputed in the Transparency International Corruption Perception Index ranking of Nigeria in the last three years. If I must restate facts that are already visible to the blind, let me reawaken the sensitivity of Nigerians. Not a few Nigerians have been at the receiving end of Buhari,s vendetta and harrowing style of ruler-ship. Buhari never gave Nigerians governance but ruler-ship, in that his administration hunts down perceived enemies, opposition members, and civil rights activists who dare to speak up against the negative effects of his government. Examples are the deployment of the police force against the peaceful protest of Charles Oputa ( son of the late Justice Chukwudife Oputa, popularly known as “Charly Boy” ) on August 8, 2017 against which the court awarded a N50m damages against the Nigerian Police and a national apology to Charles Oputa (http://saharareporters.com/2018/10/22/court-orders-police-pay-charly-boy-n50m-attacking-him-during-resumeorresign-protests); there is the arrest and detention, by the Nigerian police of another Kaduna based rights activist, Segun Onibiyo, for allegedly being too critical of President Buhari’s administration. (https://www.newsexpressngr.com/news/64902-Adegboruwa-calls-for-the-release-of-Segun-Onibiyo-activist-arrested-in-Kaduna-over-Facebook-posts ). Let us not forget the recent detention of a popular Civil Right activist Deji Adeyanju currently being incarcerated by the police, for exercising his constitutional right to freedom of expression and leading a protest against the partisan nature of the Nigerian Police under the leadership of  IGP Ibrahim Idris an appointee of  Buhari (http://saharareporters.com/2018/11/28/police-arraign-deji-adeyanju-criminal-facebook-posts).

For soundness of arguments, it has become imperative to analyse Buhari’s three-arm manifestoes of: fighting corruption, insecurity and revamping the economy. 

ON SECURITY 

 The security of lives and property is the primary duty of any government. Let it be known that a government that cannot guarantee the security of the lives and property of her citizens is a failed government. If we cannot see it or do not know it, or have conspired to be complacent and indifferent about it, the international community is certainly watching. The insecurity situation in Nigeria has become a subject of concern to both US and UK based groups - the United States Council on Foreign Relations (CFR) and the United Kingdom Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW). It has also become a topic of discussion in the UK parliament. The link below gives further details of their findings: (https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/07/01/nigeria-has-recorded-nearly-2000-deaths-under-buhari-says-us-body/). The US president Donald Trump had to make a statement regarding the spate of killings in Nigeria under the Buhari administration. Trump Tells Nigeria’s President that Church Attacks Must Stop: (https://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2018/april/trump-nigeria-president-buhari-fulani-church-attacks-benue.html).  Since Buhari assumed office, Nigerians have witnessed  an escalation of unabated killings in the hands of terrorists – Boko Haram, Fulani Herdsmen, Armed Bandits, Kidnappers and Ritual killers. The terrorist group, Boko Haram with its affiliation to the Islamic state terrorist network metamorphosed into Islamic State West Africa (ISWA)  while Buhari, a military General hold sway as the President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Read this report on the complacency of Buhari and his government and tell if the killings are mere coincidence( http://saharareporters.com/2018/07/10/president-buhari-and-kilings-nigeria-coincidence-facts-and-questions-2019-elections-and). The damning report of the number of death casualties from Boko Haram and Herdsmen terrorism alone, since Buhari assumed office is in the public domain (http://dailypost.ng/2018/08/02/22600-nigerians-extra-judicially-killed-three-years-buhari-intersociety/). Buhari’s appointee was reported to have asked Nigerians to give up their land to the Fulani herders in exchange for their lives (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/07/giving-land-ranching-better-death-presidency/). This came after Buhari himself reportedly claimed that the Fulani herders terrorising Nigerians are foreigners, not from Nigeria, blaming their attack on late Gaddafi of Libya (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/264764-buhari-blames-gaddafi-for-killings-across-nigeria.html). In another report Buhari asked Benue people and by extension Nigerians  to accommodate the Fulani herdsmen as fellow citizens of Nigeria without a corresponding action to stop the killings (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/01/buhari-benue-traditional-rulers-accommodate-country-men-restrain-people-retaliation/). The question is why should Nigerians be at the mercy of foreign machineries and also be asked to accommodate them and their terrorist activities and even give them our ancestral lands in exchange for our lives, if actually they are foreigners? What presidency would choose to defend foreigners at the expense of her citizens? Buhari is a Fulani by tribe and the umbrella body of the Fulani herders-Miyeti Allah Cattle Breeders Association of Nigeria have been in constant clash with farmers in some parts of the country resulting in casualties.  The same association even threatened more bloodshed if the Anti-Open Grazing Law passed by Governor Samuel Otom of Benue State, to protect his state from the onslaught of the terrorist herdsmen, is implemented. Buhari’s soft spot for the Fulani herders group is the reason he cannot muster the will to stop their killings and proscribe them as the terrorist group that they are, but very quick to proscribe a non-violent IPOB members of the South-East as terrorist, for which he deployed military troops against them, resulting in civilian casualties. There are plethora of reports, both on mainstream and online media, on the degenerating security condition in Nigeria and death toll in the last four years of Buhari’s administration. Nigeria was recently ranked in 2018 as the 3^rd most terrorised nation, only behind Afganistan and Syria (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/299425-nigeria-third-most-terrorised-country-for-fourth-consecutive-year-report.html). It is disheartening how many insensitive Nigerians both at home and in diaspora still continue to chant the praise of  Buhari. The question is have we suddenly lost our sense of humanity and judgement?

ON CORRUPTION

On the issue of corruption fight, it is no longer news that Buhari’s fight against corruption is lopsided and has become the biggest deception propaganda of his administration, especially to those in diaspora. How come the only people not corrupt in Buhari’s perception, are those who are within his party affiliation? Is the Special Assiatance on Prosecution to Buhari, Mr Okoi Obono-Obla not accused of using forged certificate to gain admission into the University of Jos? How come when other so called corrupt individuals, who fear being investigated and prosecuted, defect to Buhari’s APC, they all together become saints? We are all aware of the corruption allegation against Godswill Akpabio (former governor of Akwa Ibom State) which were suddenly dropped the moment he defected to APC. (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/08/akpabio-we-know-why/).  We have not forgotten the allegations of corruption against Rotimi Amaechi (former governor of Rivers State) soon after he left office.( http://dailypost.ng/2018/11/30/reps-summon-rotimi-amaechi-corruption-allegations/).  Since he joined APC the dust settled. The national chairman of APC, Adams Oshiomhole was quoted on the 17^th of January, 2019 as saying “ …once you have joined APC, all your sins are forgiven.” ( http://www.informationng.com/2019/01/once-you-join-apc-all-your-sins-are-forgiven-adams-oshiomhole-to-nigerians.html ). Since 2016 a Human Rights Activist and Anti-Corruption Crusader had petitioned EFCC to investigate Adams Oshiomhole the past governor of Edo State and now National Chairman of APC, on the source of the funds with which he built for himself a palatial paradise while in office as governor and on sundry allegations of financial misappropriation, illegal and corrupt property acquisitions and violation of due process. The petition is attached with 86 exhibits with pictorial evidence of houses worth billions of naira belonging to the former governor, which he could not have acquired through legitimate earnings. Frustrated by the EFCC’s refusal to take action, the Human Rights Activist dragged both the EFCC and Adams Oshiomhole to the Federal High Court asking the court to compel EFCC to investigate Oshiomhole. (http://saharareporters.com/2018/06/15/oshiomholes-fraud-efcc-blindness-and-buharis-endowment-corruption-bishop-dr-osadolor). The court through justice Anwuli Chikere gave the order on October 9, 2018, yet no corresponding action had been taken by the Anti-Graft Agency. Similar petition against the former governor had been brought to the EFCC on May 4, 2012 by one Matthew Edaghese, which the EFCC equally ignored.  Let Nigerians take a look at the aerial view of Oshiomhole’s paradise and all the infrastructures therein, through this link and confirm or otherwise that his salaries both as a governor and labour leader was sufficient to get him those property     (https://www.google.com/url?q=https://www.youtube.com/watch%3Fv%3D0wA9oJzhYTo&sa=U&ved=0ahUKEwj7hcm6yPHfAhXJ2OAKHQpfAH0QFggFMAA&client=internal-uds-cse&cx=partner-pub-2698861478625135:3033704849&usg=AOvVaw15XN_UBqnY8jNxkxJkfBUs). But because the EFCC and her boss, Ibrahim Magu have long been compromised by the Buhari administration and reduced to a mere hammer in the hands of Buhari for harassing, intimidating and hunting oppositions, no form of prosecution is in view. Both the EFCC and Buhari could not muster the will power to proceed with investigating and prosecuting Adams Oshiomhole and other APC members and loyalist who have been fingered in corruption allegations. What about the case of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation-SGF, Babashir Lawal who was indicted by a senate committee on grass cutting contract enrichment and was subsequently sacked? After the senate indictment, Buhari set up a panel headed by the vice president to further consider the allegation and the panel found him and former head of NIA, Lawal Oke culpable. Dissatisfied, Buhari asked the EFCC to conduct investigation into the allegations. (https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/247792-buhari-asks-efcc-proceed-investigation-babachir-lawal-oke.html).  Despite the indictment by senate committee, the sack of the SGF and the EFCC investigation, Buhari still claims he has no proof of fraud against him and as such cannot prosecute him. (http://dailypost.ng/2019/01/17/cant-prosecute-ex-sgf-babachir-lawal-fraud-buhari/). The sacked SGF has since been a major campaigner for Buhari’s re-election in his home state, Adamawa. There is the corruption allegation that rubs on the president’s moral standing concerning the fraudulent and questionable acquisition of Keystone Bank and Etisalat by a close friend of Buhari, Isa Funtua, through his son-in-law, Ahmed Kuru, who was planted as CEO of AMCON, by Buhari without the expiration of the tenure of the former CEO, Chike Obi. Kuru helped his father-in-law who is a friend of Buhari, using the resources of Assets Management Corporation of Nigeria-AMCON in connivance with CBN and NCC to acquire Keystone Bank and Etisalat without following due process. If this is not corruption, I wonder what Buhari will call it.( http://newsroom247.com.ng/?p=21166 ). Have EFCC suddenly lost her powers under the law?  What about the certificate saga trailing the president and members of his cabinet. Did WAEC not fabricate a certificate for the president when he could not stand the heat from Nigerians asking him to show his O’Level certificate being a minimum requirement for the office of the president? Did Buhari not appoint a finance minister (Mrs Kemi Adeosun) who forged her NYSC Discharge Certificate and was she not given a lee way to escape to England when her forgery was discovered?(https://www.premiumtimesng.com/investigationspacial-reports/275319-exclusive-finance-minister-kemi-adeosun-skips-nysc-forges-certificate.html ). ( https://www.nigeriaserve.com/index.php/2018/09/16/shamed-former-apc-minister-kemi-adeosun-flees-nigeria-escapes-on-justice/ ). The man described as the face of Buhari’s Anti-corruption fight, Ibrahim Magu, who currently heads the anti-graft agency, the EFCC occupies that position without due process of our law. He was indicted by the DSS on issues bothering on corruption, undue financial enrichment and living a flamboyant life above his earnings, yet appointed by Buhari to head the EFCC.( https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2016/12/16/damning-dss-report-indicts-magu-for-corruption-living-double-life/ ). Consequently he was refused confirmation by the Nigerian Senate. Buhari refused to reappoint another competent person to head the commission, instead allowed the said Ibrahim Magu in acting capacity for over three years. What moral grounds has the kettle to call the pot black? Nigeria still continue to rank high in the Transparency International’s Corruption Perception Index for 2018 released in January 29, 2019 and published by Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC), with Nigeria ranking 144 out of 180 countries, under the Buhari administration (https://prnigeria.com/2019/01/29/transparency-report-corruption-ngeria/). It was just one day after this damning report that the Buhari administration, shamefully ordered the EFCC to file charges against the sacked Babachir Lawal, former secretary to the government of the federation (SGF) and Ayodele Oke, former Head of the Nigeria Intelligence agency (NIA) who was removed from office after millions of dollars belonging to the agency was found in an apartment(https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/308926-efcc-files-corruption-charges-against-babachir-lawal-ayo-oke.html).

ON THE ECONOMY

Lastly on the issue of the economy, I want to point out how much the economy of Nigeria nosedived under Buhari’s administration. Such that the exchange rate of naira to dollar skyrocketed from N197 to $1, prior to Buhari taking over the saddle, to above N500 to $1 immediately after, and currently N360 to $1. Before Buhari assumed office fuel pump price was N65 but today it is N145 for an oil producing nation like Nigeria. Buhari government told Nigerians the pump price was up because government subsidy payment to oil marketers is being removed. But that was not true. Government still pay subsidy to the tune of trillions of naira for fuel importation. See this report on subsidy payment  by the federal government to oil marketers as at 14^th December, 2018 (https://www.tribuneonlineng.com/177666/).  Another report puts Buhari under fire for astronomic fuel subsidy bill (https://guardian.ng/news/buhari-under-fire-over-astronomic-fuel-subsidy-bill/). One would ask, why is fuel pump price on the increase together with subsidy regime still on going? There is more to it than meet the eyes. The corruption in NNPC under Buhari’s watch as the minister of petroleum, as revealed in this report is mind blowing (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2018/11/subsidy-buharis-nnps-as-cesspool-of-corruption/).   The inflationary rate continues to rise from 9.01% in 2015 to 15.7% in 2016. Then to 16.5% in 2017 and then dropped to 12.4% in 2018 (https://ww w.statista.com/statistics/383132/inflation-rate-in-nigeria/). Assessing Buhari’s mid-term performance in 2017, it was show that the fragile economy had gone bad with inflation rising from a single digit to double digit, government’s policy on dollar weakened the naira against dollar such that for the first time, the dollar exchanged with the naira at the rate of N520 to $1; fuel pump prise rising from N65 to the current N145, all resulting in general hike in prices of commodities and food stuffs and the nation falling into recession. While Nigerians were suffering the heat of the recession mostly occasioned by this administration, it was reported by the Economic Confidential Financial Magazine, that the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission approved for the president and vice president, 50% of their ‘annual basic salaries’ as hardship allowance(https://www.legit.ng/972507-recession-nigerias-suffer-buhari-osinbajo-receives-hardship-allowance.html). More worrisome is the fact that Nigeria has acquired huge debt from borrowing under Buhari. According to the Debt Management office, Nigeria’s debt as at June 30, 2018 stood at $73.21 billion (N22.38 trillion), which is approximately three years budget of the nation. Under Buhari, Nigerian’s Human Development Index ranking by the UN dropped to 152 out of 188 countries and our National Health Care ranking by the WHO dropped to 187 out of 189 countries. All these and other economic issues bothering on hardship, poverty, joblessness and insecurity were reported by the Economist Intelligence Unit (EIU) of the global economist magazine and a multinational banking and financial services company (HSBC) WITH A WARNING THAT: “The Economy Of Nigeria Will Continue To Be On A Stretcher If President Mohammadu Buhari Is Given The Opportunity To Govern The Country For A Second Term”(https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/09/16/the-economist-hsbc-reports-a-timely-warning/). Nigeria was again ranked in 2018 as the poverty capital of the world, a nation with the highest number of poor people having overtaken India (https://punchng.com/).

Unarguably, if a government has good policy, it does not take too long before the people begin to see the effect. The same is true of a bad policy. How long did it take for the dollar to exchange with the naira at an all-time high exchange rate of N520/$1, owing to Buhari’s poor economic policy and restrictions on foreign currencies in Nigeria? If for four years of governance Buhari still blames previous administration for his failures, it means he neither had an economic policy plan nor blueprint for nation building before assuming office. Buhari should have been the most prepared president because he had been a serial contestant since 2003. Yet it took him 6 months to set up his cabinet. If he had not been the president, some Nigerians would have said Buhari was the best president Nigerians never had. But today we have tested him and seen his capacity. Very poor!  Even the outspoken former CBN governor HRH Sanusi Lamido gave his expert opinion on the negative effect of Buhari’s economic policy (https://www.newsexpressngr.com/news/27547-Sanusi-slams-Buharis-economic-policies-writes-off-economic-management-team-Warns-of-impending-economic-doom).

CONCLUSION: ADVICE  

My candid advice to well-meaning Nigerians is to beware of Buhari and his party APC in the 2019 general election. They mean no good for Nigeria and Nigerians. Their governance is characterised by division, intolerance, violence, insecurity, nepotistic corruption, bloodshed from Fulani Herdsmen terrorism, subjugation of the rule of law, violation of due process, weak economic policies, flagrant disobedience to court orders and incompetence. Buhari and his APC have undoubtedly become a threat to the unity of Nigeria. Never in the history of Nigeria have we been so sharply divided as under the Buhari administration. Every well-meaning Nigerian must lend their voices against the miss governance of Buhari. Nation building is a collective effort and as such we cannot sit and watch Buhari, destroy Nigeria and her democratic process. Buhari is reintroducing a new form of “democratic dictatorship”. We all need to savage our nation from Buhari’s divisive, sectional and incompetent leadership. It has been severally confirmed and corroborated that if Buhari returns to power, he will be brutish and tyrannical than we have seen. There would neither be rule of law nor freedom of speech and the press. He will use the police force and the military to gag opposing voices. Buhari’s administration and the security forces under him, are returning Nigeria to the dark days of dictatorship and suppression of the voice of the press and civil society organisations. The Nigerian military have recently asked Amnesty International to vacate Nigeria because of their damning report on the military operation in the troubled north east region. And on the 6^th of January, 2019, the army  raided the premises of Daily Trust Newspaper in Bornu State and seized their computers under a democratic government. And Buhari wants Nigeria to vote for him for a return with a “Next Level” mantra. With all that Buhari could offer in his ‘First Level’, I can only imagine how terrible that “Next Level” would be for Nigerians if he is returned.

But let me bring it to the notice of Nigerians and poiticians whether in APC or PDP or any other political party, that the return of Buhari will change the economic and political landscape of Nigeria. Let it be known that Buhari is not a politician; neither does he have regard for party loyalty or for instituted authority. Those who think they are shielded by Buhari today and those who think they are on a jolly good ride with Buhari today will be disappointed at his returns to power, irrespective of party affiliations. Some may have to go on self-exile. His tyrannical rule, vendetta fight and nepotism would infuriate sections of the nation, capable of sparking up uprisings, agitations and revolution, which could lead to disintegration of the entity called Nigeria. It is not a prediction; it is the fact flowing from Buhari’s antecedent.

Buhari’s desperation to retain power by all means is reflective in his compromise of the electoral body and process. How can a free, fair and credible election be guaranteed when the electoral umpire, INEC have to appoint Buhari’s relative (niece), Amina Zakari as Head, Presidential Election Result Collation Committee? This was explained away by the INEC Chairman and APC party men that Amina Zakari is not Buhari’s niece. That she is from Jigawa State while Buhari is from Katsine State. And that she is only a foster daughter to Buhari’s sister who got married to Amina’s father from Jigawa State. (Meaning she is the daughter of Buhari’s brother-in-law). What a ridiculous explanation!  The Oxford dictionaries define Niece as “the daughter of a person’s brother or sister, or of one’s brother-in-law or sister-in-law. Even the online Dictionary.com extended the definition to include the “daughter of a person’s spouse’s brother or sister. This privileged report further explains the family ties between Buhari and Amina Zakari.    (https://www.pmnewsnigeria.com/2019/01/06/amina-zakari-is-lying-about-her-relationship-with-buhari/). All of these are evidence of affinity in the relationship between Buhari and Amina. How can the February general elections be credible when Buhari’s mercenary, Governor Nasiru El’Rufai of Kaduna State is issuing death threat to international observers, promising their return home in “body bags”? Statements capable of inciting violence.(https://www.thecable.ng/your-threat-cant-stop-us-eu-replies-el-rufai/amp). Let it be on record that El’Rufai would be held responsible in the event of any mishap or casualty recorded on account of local or foreign election observer and any violence resulting from his inciting statement, in the course of the February general elections. It is obvious El’Rufai does not want the election monitored by observers so that his party can perfect their glaring sinister move to manipulate the process. How can the election be fair when the Vice President, (Pastor, Professor) Yemi Osinbajo (SAN) and his so called N10,000 ‘Traders Money’ suddenly metamorphosed into vote buying exercise across the nation, where gullible Nigerians were subjected to either disenfranchisement or premeditated vote sale and voting in advance for Buhari in order to access the N10,000. Osinbajo made the people compromise their electoral rights and indulged them in pre-arranged voting even before the election dates, thereby securing fraudulent votes for Buhari for fear of electoral failure, in the wake of the president becoming increasingly unpopular among Nigerians. His modus operandi is in the public domain. The same government that claims it is fighting corruption is neck deep into corrupt practices. Osinbajo should be aware that he is only being pushed against the law, only to be abandoned soon and later left to face the consequences of the law alone.

Again have someone bothered to ask why the militarization of the south east in the name of “operation python dance”, weeks to the general election? I will not be surprised if it is a premeditated plot to deploy the military across that region, being the strong hold of several oppositions, for the purpose of intimidating the electorates during the election. The biggest display of desperation by Buhari is the eventual removal of the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Walter Onnoghen and replacing him with his stooge, Justice Tanko Mohammed, apparently to do the president’s bid in manipulating the outcome of the 2019 general election, as it is most certain that the election results would be subjected to petitions and trials up to the supreme court. (https://www.vanguardngr.com/2019/01/uproar-as-buhari-suspends-onnoghen-installs-mohammed-as-ag-cjn/).

Let it be drummed into the ears of Buhari that his plans to manipulate the election to retain power would spark a nationwide revolution that he and his cohorts would not be able to curtail. His actions have already placed the nation on the precipice of disintegration. And any further push will occasion a grave consequence. May I also warn all those currently joining force with Buhari to destabilize Nigeria for selfish, party and individual interest, against the will of the people of Nigeria, to get prepared for the aftermath? You cannot take up hot coal in your palm and expect not to be burnt. After inciting violence, hostility and setting the nation ablaze, bear in mind that you have nowhere else to hide, not to other nations for safety. I wonder how so insensitive they all are to make themselves, enemies of the people of Nigeria and agents of destabilisation of the nation. I pity how much so hypnotised they have become, to be personally instrumental in pulling down their own country. How so debased their brains have become, with their level of education and exposure, to allow a recently glorified WAEC holder, at the helms of affair, to play on their intelligence and manipulate them for personal vendetta and sinister agenda. How much they have soiled their earned degrees in the mud. Even though some of them are PHD holders, Professors of Law, Senior Advocates, Authors, Business moguls, experts in their respective disciplines, respected Nigerians and Religious title holders, yet they have consciously and unconscionably desecrated the supposed honour and dignity of their personalities, for parochial interest; violating the rule of law and our democratic principles, in an attempt to unlawfully rewrite our laws without repealing or amending same. Let it be known to you that history will never forgive you and your names will remain odious and contemptible for attempting to truncate the course of our nation building and drag Nigeria back to the dark days of colonialism and dictatorship. History can never forgive you for unconscionably dragging Nigeria into another civil war, all for parochial interest. You have allowed party interest and affiliation to erode your sense of patriotism. What makes you feel Buhari care so much about you? By the time Buhari’s motives are fully unleashed on Nigeria, you will all regret your roles and participation, if you are not all together charged as accomplices.

I call on the international community and the International Criminal court of Justice (ICJ) to be notified of the attempt by the Nigerian president, Mohammadu Buhari, together with his mercenaries in government, to plunge Nigeria into a state of dictatorship and war. I call on the US, UK and EU observers not to be deterred by the threat of one of Buhari’s men in government, Nasiru El’Rufai, but to stand by the truth and help salvage Nigeria from imminent catastrophe. Thank you all.

By: E.I.IMOUKHUEDE (ESQ)

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