BUHARI…so much unlike his predecessors

This indeed, is a turning point in the history of this 54-year old nation. For the first time we have a leader who came to office fully prepared and really contesting for the position. In this respect, he is very much unlike all his predecessors.

How> The first leader was the late Alhaji Abubakar Tafawa-Balewa. He had been holding the position before independence in unelected capacity. It was known to all that the strings were in Kaduna where the late Sir Ahmadu Bello held court as Premier of the Northern Region and leader of the Northern Peoples Congress. It was thus clear that the Prime Minister both in 1957 when he first assumed the office under British suzerainty, and after independence, was an agent of a principal located elsewhere. When issues got so tough, people knew it was the Northern Premier who had the last say. Not the Prime Minister. He died in January 1966 not quite fully showing the stuff he was made of.

Then, after thirteen years of military rule, the civilians had the opportunity of staging a comeback. Those who offered their services to pilot affairs included Chief Obafemi Awolowo who founded the Unity Party of Nigeria, Alhaji Waziri Ibrahim who established the Nigerian Peoples Party as a national political party but was soon shoved aside when the more charismatic Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe stepped on the dais. Waziri then added Great to the NPP and became the standard bearer. Mallam Aminu Kano found his bearing a little later after he had been disappointed by the National Party of Nigeria. He thus came up with the Peoples Redemption Party. He was the leader and flag bearer. Then, in addition to Zik who took over the NPP, there was the National Party of Nigeria that metamorphosed from the National Movement formed during the Constituent Assembly. The party had no single leader but men like the late Chief J.S. Tarka, Chief Tony Enahoro, Alhaji Maitama Sule, the late Makaman BIda and Dr. Olusola Saraki were very prominent in the ranks. Then came the crucial moment of choosing the first President and Chief Executive. Alhaji Shehu Shagari who had succeeded Chief Awolowo as Finance Minister in the Gowon cabinet and was a junior member of the Balewa administration was goaded into contesting in the party primary. The man had a modest ambition of going to the Senate, but the powers that be felt more comfortable having him as leader of the country. Reluctantly, the man agreed. It was the bane of a country that floundered under his leadership.

Again, partly owing to Shagari’s lackluster leadership, the military could only tolerate the Second Republic for four years. In December 1983, another military government head by General Muhamadu Buhari was installed.

The first real attempt by a civilian who nursed the ambition to lead Nigeria and had a manifesto he believed sold to the people was in 1993 when the late Chief Moshood Abiola made an attempt. He fought all the way. Came up with the Farewell to Poverty package and was elected in his own right. But, alas, he was prevented from assuming the office. He died in prison instead of the palace.

And, in 1999, it was time again for the military to step down. The military and civilian wings of the national ruling class settled for General Olusegun Obasanjo who was in prison at the time. He was brought out, polished and packaged for the position. He was prostrate at the time and in no position to contend for power. He lacked all the resources required-economic, moral, political, structural and the confidence. But, he was elected nonetheless. He later made attempts to assert himself in office. the inorganic nature of the resultant administration put the strain on governance and the state bore the brunt.

At the behest of Obasanjo, Alhaji Unaru Yar’Adua who was already planning to take a rest from politics and take more interest in his health was prodded up and the General’s successor in 2007. He had hardly settled in office when his health gave way, succumbing eventually to the cold intervention of death. And, another reluctant President, Goodluck Jonathan succeeded him. The office was apparently too high for him to manage.

Now, the man of history has taken over. The first time General Buhari took interest in running the nation as a civilian elected leader was in 2003 when he had to confront his former boss in the military, Obasanjo, at the poll. He lost. The same happened in 2007 and 2011 when those more favoured by the establishment effortlessly triumphed.

The fourth time, he is singing a new song. Buhari has shown doggedness. He fought every inch and must have been prepared through the years. He did not win because the establishment wanted him. He was always in the opposition and refused to blink when all appeared to have conspired against him. General Buhari is the new occupant of Aso Villa. It is a new reality…a new experience.

So, what do we expect? A man who had taken time to study the country and is familiar with what should be done. One who has been wizened by age and has the clout and will to do what is needed to fix the country. We want to see a President who is an ally of the people.

May God help him all the way.