SIR: I was not born at the time General Muhammadu Buhari was Head of State from 1983 to 1985 but I have read and heard a lot of different accounts of his reign. I read that he overthrew Shagari’s democratic government; I also read that he was a tyrant and an extremist who made sure that all critics of his government were thrown in jail. That he also passed Decree Number 4, which stifled communication (written or spoken) that would bring the military government, the state government or any public officer to ridicule.
The mere fact that we would consider casting our votes for a man who stands accused of many wrongs is a clear indication of the failure of the Jonathan led administration, a once loved, widely voted government which presently wallows in unpopularity and rapidly increasing disfavour with the people.
I voted for the first time in 2011, circumstances and age having stopped me from voting in previous elections. I voted for President Goodluck Jonathan. I was convinced at the time that I was doing the right thing. I was happy that my vote would count too. I was glad to lend my puny strength to the cause of a better Nigeria. “Fresh air” was the slogan at the time, very much like the “Change” I presently cry. I believed that the President was not a chip off any old block; I believed that the President was a deviation from the norm of recycled leaders and that he represented our hope for a better, progressive Nigeria where visionary “young” people would pilot the affairs of the nation.
Buhari had no prayer of winning that election, not with the zeal and the passion with which we trouped out to vote the President. As at the 2011 elections, Buhari’s chances of winning the presidency were at their lowest. Four years on, the chances of the same man, with the same history are at their highest. Many Nigerians who voted the President in 2011 (myself included) will now rather vote Buhari. There is deafening clamour for change and the clamour is not restricted to geographical zones or religion or age. The clamour is all thanks to the failures of the present government.
For every year of Jonathan’s tenure, Nigerians have suffered great setbacks and problems that could have been addressed by quality planning and decisive leadership. To usher in 2012, we had the subsidy removal which increased the burden of the citizens, crippled the nation for weeks (the strike) and later was the source of the huge legislator/businessman bribery scandal (now under the carpet). In 2013, the universities were on strike for more than half the year, our future leaders (if they ever get the chance) were denied of an education in a rapidly declining education sector.
In 2014, the doctors were on strike for the greater part of the year, in response to the strike, the President fired all resident Doctors and after the Doctors called off their strike, JOHESU went on strike. Need I refer to the Chibok case, to the many bomb blasts and unrest in the north-east? The sad heart-rending case of the FGC Buni-Yadi students burnt in an attack? The recent Baga case that went largely unnoticed?
Hit after hit, pain after pain and our “transformational “President in whom we put a lot of trust and hope remained inactive. Making promises, fulfilling nothing and returning in the face of our anguish to declare his intentions. Really?
The failures of the present government make exceedingly light the tyrannies of the Buhari government. Buhari’s heavy-handedness fades into insignificance for Nigerians who have experienced the Jonathan’s non-delivery. The frenzy is on; mudslinging campaigns on pages of newspapers fly back and forth. The campaigns make no difference to me. All I see are years of hope and trust betrayed. They speak louder than any campaigns for and against.
Thought of another Jonathan Presidency? No, thanks.
• Nneoma Anieto
adaanieto@gmail.com
