Category: Politics

There seems to be no end in sight to the controversies generated by the recent de-registration of 28 political parties by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). In this report, ERIC IKHILAE and GBENGA OMOKHUNU examine the suit filed by the National Conscience Party (NCP) and submit that it holds the answer to the outrage over INEC’s action.

The contest between the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and the 28 deregistered political parties has continued to generate rumpus on the nation’s political scene. The political parties are looking up to the courts to declare INEC as lacking the powers to strike off the parties from the register of players on the electoral stage.

Although some of the affected parties have headed for the court, an imminent answer to this question exists in a suit instituted last year by the National Conscience Party (NCP), established by the late activist, Chief Gani Fawehinmi (SAN).

Justice Okon Abang of the Federal High Court, Lagos has fixed March 6, next year for judgment in the suit marked: FHC/L/CS/1084/2011. He chose the date on December 7, after entertaining final arguments from parties to the suit. NCP and one of its officials, Tunde Agunbiade are listed as plaintiffs, while the National Assembly, the Attorney General of the Federation (AGF) and INEC are named as defendants.

The plaintiffs are, by the suit, challenging the legitimacy of Section 78(7) (ii) of the Electoral Act 2010, which empowers INEC to deregister parties for failing to win at least an elective position legislative or executive during a general election.

It wants the court to void the provision on the ground that the National Assembly exceeded its bound in enacting such a law. NCP argued that provisions of section 78(7) (ii) of the Electoral Act violates citizens’ right to freedom of association guaranteed under section 40 of the Constitution.

Section 78(7) provides that: “The commission shall have power to deregister political parties on the following grounds: (i) breach of any of the requirements for registration and (ii) failure to win presidential or governorship election or seat in the National Assembly or State Assembly.”

The plaintiffs are praying the court for two declarative and injunctive reliefs. They want the court to declare that the provision of section 78(7) (ii) of the Electoral Act 2004 (as amended) is inconsistent with article 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Rights and section 40 of the Constitution, and therefore null and void having regard to the provisions of section 1(3) of the Constitution.

They also seek a declaration that the provisions of paragraph 18(1), (4) and (5) of the First Schedule of the Electoral Act contravene section 6 (6) (a) and (b) of the Constitution and therefore null and void in view of the provisions of Section 1 (3) of the Constitution.

The plaintiffs are also praying the court for a perpetual injunction restraining INEC “from further disbanding or deregistering the first plaintiff (NCP) or any political party in Nigeria for that matter, in breach of the provision of the Constitution.”

Arguing the plaintiffs’ case on December 7, their lawyer, Marcus Eyarhono, urged the court to grant his clients’ prayers and void INEC’s power to deregister parties under the Electoral Act. He argued that the provision contained in section 78(7) (ii) of the Electoral Act infringed on the freedom of association guaranteed under section 40 of the Constitution and Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and Peoples’ Right.

“We submit humbly that the combined effects of the provisions of sections 38, 40 and 42 of the Constitution, the right to freedom of association, particularly, as it relates to political parties, is inviolable and inalienable, save as provided by the constitution.”

The AGF declined to respond to the case. But the National Assembly responded and defended the commission’s powers to deregister political parties. The National Assembly argued that, in empowering INEC to register and deregister political parties, it acted within its legislative competence as provided in Section 4 of the Constitution.

INEC contended that its powers to deregister parties which failed to win any elective position was not an infringement on the fundamental rights of the citizens as guaranteed under section 40 of the Constitution and Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

They both urged the court to dismiss the suit, arguing that the laws being challenged by the plaintiffs were validly made.

Specifically, the National Assembly argued in its written address, that aside the legislative powers vested on it by Section 4 of the Constitution, Section 228 (d) further empowers it to enact laws that regulate INEC’s activities.

It urged the court to hold that the provisions of Section 78 (7) (ii) of the Electoral Act was validly made and it is within the ambit of its powers to make. It also argued that the provision did not negate the provision of section 40 of the constitution and Article 10 of the African Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

INEC argued that the suit was premature as it failed to disclose any cause of action against it. The electoral body noted that the plaintiffs have not shown that it has taken steps to deregister NCP. It contended that the plaintiffs have failed to establish any wrong doing on its part.

On December 7, INEC’s lawyer, Adeniyi Lawal urged the court to dismiss the suit on the ground that it is incompetent and amounts to abuse of court process.

He urged the court to hold that INEC is empowered by the Constitution and a validly enacted Act of the National Assembly to deregister parties.

Lawal, who argued that his client had not infringed on the plaintiff’s right in any way, contended that the National Assembly is constitutionally empowered to make, enact and amend the nation’s laws.

Also, National Assembly’s lawyer, Oluwatosin Apata urged the court to disregard the plaintiffs’ claims. He contended that Sections 4 and 228(d) of the Constitution empowers the National Assembly to exercise legislative powers to enact laws that regulate the activities of INEC, including the power to register and deregister political parties.

Apata further argued that the right to form and join political party is not an absolute right as Section 40 of the Constitution cited by the plaintiff, provided for the non-recognition of political parties.

“The constitution does not explicitly spell out criteria for the recognition of political associations as political parties and so by virtue of Section 4(1)(2)(3) and item 56 of the Exclusive Legislative List in Part 1 of the 2nd Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the National Assembly is empowered to make laws that specifically cater for the criteria and other details with respect to regulation of political parties.

“Thus, the provisions of the Electoral Act 2010 as amended and particularly, Section 78(7)(ii) was validly enacted,” Apata said.

Prior to the last hearing date, the court in June ordered parties to maintain status quo. It warned INEC against proceeding with its said purported plan to deregister NCP pending the determination of the suit.

Justice Abang warned that his court would not hesitate in nullifying any step taken by INEC which violates the law and forms part of the prayers contained in the plaintiffs’ interlocutory application, seeking an injunction against the electoral body.

On September 12, Justice Abang ruled on the Plaintiffs’ application for interlocutory injunction and further restrained INEC from deregistering NCP. The judge held, in a ruling that the order shall subsist pending the determination of the suit by NCP.

The judge ordered the plaintiff to endorse a Form 48 (notice of consequences of disobedience of court orders) and serve it along with the court order, on INEC’s Chairman, Prof Attahiru Jega personally.

Justice Abang refused the second leg of the plaintiffs’ prayer to the effect that INEC should be restrained from deregistering any political party in the country.

The judge held that it was improper for the court to make an order in favour of parties not before it. He noted that the other political parties were not parties in the suit before the court.

Justice Abang also noted that the need to restrain INEC from deregistering the plaintiff before the determination of the main suit was with the consent of parties, particularly INEC’s lawyer, Lawal, who undertook that INEC will not deregister the plaintiff until the main suit is decided.

The judge, who noted that INEC defaulted in filing processes within the stipulated time, granted the commission additional time to respond to the suit. His decision, he said, was informed by the need to ensure justice to all parties.

The plaintiffs had, in an affidavit supporting its application for interlocutory injunction, argued that unless restrained, INEC would carry out its alleged threat to deregister some parties.

“If the third respondent (INEC) is not restrained promptly from deregistering the first plaintiff (NCP) or any political party pending the determination of the substantive suit, it may carry out its threat to do so, and this will cause irreparable damage to the plaintiffs,” the party had argued.

Meanwhile, Intense anger was expressed and deeply felt at the parley which was held in Abuja, the federal capital. The conveners of the meeting were pillars of the 28 political parties that were struck out of existence by the INEC, the nation’s political empire.

In utter indignation, it was a barrage of criticisms from the conveners who wondered why the Prof. Attahiru Jega-led INEC would kill what they described as constitutionally recognised political parties. The INEC decision, the parties contended, was shocking and unexpected.

Enraged leaders of the affected political parties at the meeting described Jega’s action as unlawful; hence, they vowed to disregard INEC and continue to operate as political parties in line with provisions of the constitution. The embittered leadership of the parties expressed further expressed profuse outrage at INEC’s action even as they accused the Commission of reckless abuse of constitutional dictates.

The aggrieved parties’ spokesman who is also the National Chairman of African Liberation Party (ALP), Chief Emmanuel Okereke, said Jega went ahead with the de-registration of parties in utter disregard for the subsisting court order to the contrary, thus, according to him, acting in contempt of the Federal High Court.

He told The Nation that the parties had resolved to ignore the said de-registration and go ahead with their normal activities pending the final decision on its court case challenging INEC’s action. His words: “We are warning him (Jega) to tender his resignation letter because what he has done is a clear indication that the commission under him cannot conduct a credible election. He has shown that he is no longer capable of managing our electoral process. His actions are deliberate.”

Okereke accused INEC of carrying out a premeditated act, having caused the sudden switch in the date of April 2011 general election from the date it was earlier scheduled for.  According to him, it was this sudden change in the election date which had huge cost implications that led to the dismal performance of the weaker parties.

He said that N180 million was appropriated in this year’s budget for INEC to organize meetings with parties but that the chairman never held any but simply pocketed it.

“INEC has a hidden agenda. The agenda is to reduce parties in the country to two.  Since Prof. Attahiru Jega assumed office as Chairman of INEC, he has never called a meeting of political parties, “he said.

Another party’s National Chairman, Mr. Damian Ogbonna of the People’s Progressive Party (PPP), while reading resolutions of the parties, said INEC acted in a most reckless manner unknown to democratic world and against constitution of Nigeria by embarking on such an “anti-people, anti-democratic and grossly illegal escapade.”

He accused INEC of waging war against the rights of the free people of Nigeria to freely associate.

He said: “INEC acted in contemptuous disregard of court proceedings on the constitutionality of deregistration of political parties and the provisions of the Electoral Act being litigated against at the Federal High Courts in Lagos and Abuja. In fact, an application for a judicial order to restrain INEC from the de-registration of any political party was filed and served on INEC as far back as May 23, this year.

“The key element of our freedoms as citizens in a democratic country is the freedom of association as enshrined in our constitution. This freedom is now under attack and is being dangerously undermined by INEC, the very body empowered by law to nurture, safeguard and advance democratic ideals.

“The right of Nigerians to freely associate, including the right to form and belong to a political party of choice is fundamental. This right is enshrined under the Fundamental Human Rights Schedule, Section 40 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended). INEC has no constitutional powers to tamper with these rights; neither does any law made by the National Assembly. Unfortunately, INEC is now waging a war of attrition against the rights of the free people of Nigeria to freely associate.”     Speaking further, he said: “Political parties existed as political associations prior to the transformation by virtue of Section 229 of the Constitution of Nigeria. Political associations transform into political parties as directed by Section 229 of the Constitution of Nigeria, having satisfied the conditions precedent as clearly spelt out in it. It then follows that the political parties will continue to function as political parties with all rights inherent to contest all elections. No inferior law or misguided prescription by INEC of any other organ of government will change that fact.

“The mere fact that the constitution empowers the National Assembly to make laws on the administration of political parties and their relationship with INEC does not in any way confer on any government organ, any power to alter the Constitution of Nigeria by a mere exercise of legislation. The government cannot and does not have the powers to legislate away the peoples’ rights.”

“This is a country where the culture of rigged and stolen elections under the eye of INEC is threatening our democracy. Rather than pursuing frivolities in the guise of action, INEC would be better off working to eradicate its own culture, which unfortunately encourages and cultivate massive electoral corruption.

“In the light of the INEC’s action, we the political parties of Nigeria will continue to function as full-fledged political parties in strict compliance with the provisions Section 221-2/9 of the Constitution of Nigeria. We urge Professor Attahiru Jega to stem the current lawlessness that has become so pervasive in INEC and to be law-abiding, failing which we the political parties of Nigeria will move to protect our inalienable rights as a free people to our cherished freedom by every conceivable means. The attempt to turn this country into a nation of one or two state-sanctioned political parties will not stand,” he further said.

Some of the party leaders who spoke at the meeting made reference to what obtains in other parts of the world where the number of political parties is as high as 177.

For instance, the party leaders said South Africa has as many as 159 registered political parties while the United States of America (USA) has 210 recognised parties.

Only time will tell when and how this battle will end, but it is the expectation of all that the right path is followed to settle the lingering issue.

Writing about Governor Patrick Ibrahim Yakowa of Kaduna State, in the past tense, was not part of my plans for the last days of the year 2012. Working with the governor, the Commissioner of Economic Planning and others, we had just produced the 2013 budget which he had looked forward to faithfully implementing, so as to continue to deliver democracy dividends to the people. My plan was to market the budget to the people of the state and take some journalists for project inspection to the new teaching hospital, and the 30 megawatt solar power project that Yakowa was passionate about. And then, I would shut down for the year.

Though my senior by more than 16 years, I have never deluded myself that I would write his obituary or even that of my 85-year-old father, because nothing on earth says I could not have died before him or before my father. As a mortal being, he definitely knew, his wife knew, same for his lovely children and friends, that one day he will answer the inevitable call. I want to stress that he was more than aware of this fact , because as he took decisions his standard line was “ can I justify this before my God.” Nevertheless no one expected his death either in the manner, nor the time it came. And this is the ace that God continues to have over us. In spite of this fact, we continue to hope and pray that we will live to be old, in fact more than the three scores and ten , the bible promises us. To die peacefully in our sleep and for those that have “made” (read stolen) money never to die, if possible.

At the flag off of the construction of WAEC road Kawo Yakowa publicly joked about people looking for his seat. To many people present on that day, it was the usual joke about the incessant pressures occupiers of public office go through. But It was his own way of letting people know what he was going through. About a month ago, he talked about the latest threat, anonymous telephone calls, that he would never finish his first tenure, let alone go for a second term. Yakowa was bluntly told: “You are not going to finish this tenure.” There were many other threats, from a very tiny minority. He took it all in his stride and as a devout catholic, he continued praying to God. He shared his experiences several times,including that of a ‘good’ spiritualist who called to assure Yakowa that he would not be harmed, because his crystal glass revealed Yakowa was a good man. He however admonished Yakowa to remain committed to his ideals of equity, justice, and fairness. From who or which quarter(s) did the threats come? Nobody can say. But did some people desperately want his job? Yes. But did they kill him? A big no. To everything, there is a time. A time to be born, and a time to die. Yakowa’s time was up. Was the 14 days, after his 64th birthday, his extra time?

As a believer, I don’t subscribe to the “they killed him “ theory , because if in the view of the Almighty God, Yakowa had not completed his race, nobody would have been able to take his life. My message to the small and misguided minority, be they Christians or Muslims, that reportedly celebrated the death of a “Christian governor,” which he never was, or of a “stingy governor,“ who refused to play father Christmas with public funds, is: Please, live for forever! I am consoled that many Muslims are genuinely mourning him, just as I know some Christians are rejoicing that Ramallan Yero, has taken over from a “stingy” Yakowa. This is life and life is all about interests. So, to my fellow Christians, I say don’t allow the actions of a tiny minority define your relationship with Muslims because some of our fellow Christians are equally happy. We must learn to live with one another in peace and this will be our greatest tribute to him. The truth is that there is no area in Nigeria that is “religiously clean”. This we must always have at the back of our minds and after our turn-by-turn leadership, we must go back to the drawing board and agree that religion and tribe will not be the main issue when it comes to electing a leader.

To those pushing for his wife to become deputy governor, I say please leave the poor woman alone. She is not power-hungry and has suffered enough humiliations in the hands of people without character, that she will put herself forward for more humiliations. What is unknown to many people is the fact that she had made it abundantly clear to her husband that she had had enough of the so-called life of glamour and power. She once told me “He (Yakowa) knows that after 2014, he is on his own.” Her other prayer is that they leave the Government House with their two legs and not in a casket. How prophetic has she turned out! Many people only saw the glamour, the siren; they never knew the other side and so would never appreciate the price the Yakowas paid for being the first Christian family in the Government House. Other governors have also had their challenges, they were just lucky not to have paid the supreme price. I know that by now, people who want to control the new governor would have taken his name and picture to all manner of places.

There is no doubt about it, that among the reasons Nigeria is backward is the activity of demonic forces. They want to control governors, ministers, presidents and anybody of influence to award contracts. It is all about money and power. It has nothing to do with public good. We must continue to pray for our leaders.

It was meant to be a quick trip to honour Oronto Douglas, an aide of President Goodluck Jonathan. Some people have questioned the wisdom of his decision to attend the burial of “just an aide” to the president. Who is Oronto Douglas? Why didn’t he send a delegation? I heard some mourners question? First, Oronto is a human being. Secondly, he must have enjoyed some relationship with him and as such, nothing could ever equal being personally present at the burial of Oronto’s father. That is Yakowa for you – ever selfless. He never changed as governor, nor as a minister or as whatever he was. Up to his last day on earth, he didn’t change. This much was attested to by Cosmas Asogwa of Premium Times who took the last picture of Yakowa and Azizi on earth. Asogwa wrote: “He even took time to cheer up his kinsmen who were at the corner butchering cow meat for the occasion. I don’t understand Hausa, but the smiles on the face of the Hausa butchers following their conversation with Governor Yakowa smacked of fulfillment and excitement.”It wasn’t beneath his person to chat up butchers or the madman at the NEPA roundabout in Kaduna, about the need to move so the place can be cleaned.

One can go on and on about the many sides of Yakowa. He was largely a good man. Every being has his own shortcomings. But deliberate mischief is certainly not one of his.

It is time to say farewell to a friend and confident, an epitome of selfless service, humility and simplicity. An astute administrator, a honest, patient and hardworking leader. Fare thee well sir, until we meet at the feet of our Lord.

On his short tenure, history will judge him positively and this has nothing to do with the fact that I worked for him. By the Grace of God, I was critical of him. And God Bless him for indulging me. I would always tell him: Your Excellency you are doing well, but you should be flying; your benchmark is Ahmed Makarfi. If you don’t surpass him, then you have failed. He agreed to that benchmark and we were working with some people on the areas that were holding him down – decision making, access to people, his cabinet, funding, the bloated civil service, wage bill etc. Not many powerful men will agree to self-assessment. Dr. Shola Adeyanju of the Mass Communication Department of the Ahmadu Bello University was to administer a questionnaire, which purpose was to assess performance areas of strength and weakness in Yakowa and his appointees. He knew the expectations and was determined to succeed.

I can go- on about the man that became better known as Yakowa na Kowa, meaning: Yakowa that belongs to everyone. We must thank his family that gave him to us. We must thank God for sending him to us and taking him at the time and how he did. Like Shakespeare said the world is a stage. The challenge of governing Kaduna State is now on the lean shoulders of Ramallan Yero. Will he govern the state with fear of God, justly and fairly? Will the Vice–President, his mentor support or hinder him? Will the Zazzau Emirate become more overbearing, covertly and overtly? Will the Yero tenure exclude or include people in governance? The Southern Kaduna people believe the Vice – President doesn’t like them. How will he treat Senator Makarfi, the man who, despite all opposition, helped install him as governor? Without him being a governor, there is no way Sambo would ever have become the Vice–President. This is the time to reach out to the Sothern Kaduna people and indeed everybody. I pray against the omen that I see of people behaving like war lords. Men of goodwill must stand up to be counted at this critical time. The choice is Yero’s and that of the Vice-President.

Emmanuel Ado, was External Media Consultant to Governor Yakowa

General Muhammadu Buhari, a former Head of State and three-time presidential candidate, has just clocked 70. Assistant Editor AUGUSTINE AVWODE reviews the political career of the General  from Daura, Katsina State. In view of plans for the opposition parties to present a united front against the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in 2015, could the General beat the field at the fourth attempt?

IT is 28 years since he took the country by storm. His firm, fine and athletic figure find suitable complement in equally firm resolve to tackle a system that was about to spiral out of control. Together with his band, he struck on the very last day of the year, December 31, 1983. When he later addressed the nation, he sought to bolster the courage and determination to end the national drift.

“This generation of Nigerians, and indeed, future generations, have no country other than Nigeria. We shall remain here and salvage it together”. It was the high point of a nation wide broadcast by Muhammadu Buhari in January 1984. He was then a Major General and just 42 years old. The broadcast signalled the end of the Second Republic under the leadership of Alhaji Shehu Aliyu Shagari.

The last four of those days were marked by a near total breakdown of law and order, a burgeoning insecurity that stemmed from the bitter political wrangling generated by the 1983 general elections. The polity was characterized by endemic corruption, greed, avarice, and a lack of public probity and accountability. It was another sad military intervention in the affairs of Nigeria political history to halt the aimless drift of the ship of state. Nigerians embraced it for whatever value it promised to offer.

For Buhari, there was need to instill a sense of nationalism and patriotism in Nigerians. He sought frantically to arouse a sense of pride in their country, which was fast being eroded. Besides, he saw the urgent need to begin a culture of “doing the right thing in the right way”. And the regime demonstrated its commitment to the vision by quickly identifying indiscipline as the bane of the nation’s ills.

The regime’s War Against Indiscipline (WAI) was launched in different phases. The policy became very popular with Nigerians as it established orderliness, cleanliness, reduced corruption and rekindled nationalistic fervour and hope among Nigerians.

There was WAI (a) Queuing (March 20, 1984), (b) Work Ethics (May 1, 1984), (c) Nationalism and Patriotism (August 21, 1984), (d) Anti-Corruption and Economic Sabotage (May 14, 1985), (e) Environmental Sanitation (July 29, 1985).

Many would argue today that he was more of a fascist, having led a government that forbade discussion of national affairs and herded politicians before military tribunals that handed long sentences to almost all. Even those against whom nothing was found, men like Alhaji Lateef Jakande, former Vice President Alex Ekwueme and Second Republic President Shehu Shagari, were kept behind the bars for the 20 months that Buhari took charge of the federation.

On August 27, 1985, he was over-thrown by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.

Military / public career

General Buhari started his military career when he joined the Nigerian Military Training School, Kaduna, in 1963 about two years after completing his secondary school education. In October of the same year, he was sent to the Officers’ Cadet School in Aldershot, the United Kingdom, was thereafter commissioned Second Lieutenant in 1963 and posted to the 2nd Infantry Battalion, Abeokuta as Platoon Commander.

He became the Commander, 31st Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, in February 1970 and in July 1971 became the Assistant Adjutant-General, 1st Infantry Division Headquarters. In September 1974, he was made Acting Director, Supply and Transport, Nigeria Army Corps of supply and Transport. And in August 1975 became the Military Governor, North Eastern State of Nigeria. He was appointed Federal Commissioner for Petroleum Resources in March 1976 and held the position till June 1978. He also emerged the Chairman, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, June 1978 and returned to full military duties as Military Secretary, Army Headquarters, in July 1978.

Meanwhile he had been appointed as a member of the Supreme Military Council since March 1976, the highest policy making organ in the country then and remained a member till June 1979. He became the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 4th Infantry Division, August 1980 to January 1981; General Officer Commanding (GOC), 2nd Mechanised Infantry Division, January 1981 to October 1981 and the General Officer Commanding (GOC), 3rd Armed Division, Nigerian Army, from October 1981 to December 1983. It was from there he emerged as the Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces on December 31, 1983 till August 1985.

Apart from the numerous formations where he worked in leadership capacity in the Nigeria Army, he left indelible mark in the various political offices and appointments he held. It was during his tenure that the Nigerian National Oil Corporation and the Ministry of Petroleum Resources were reorganised to form the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC), and he became its first Chairman. He spearheaded the construction of 20 oil depots throughout the country, a project involving over 3200 kilometers of pipelines. Under his leadership both Warri and Kaduna Refineries were built. He later served as the Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund established by the late General Sani Abacha.

Search for second chance

Eighteen years after he was removed from office in a bloodless coup, Buhari began the process of seeking for a second chance to lead the country again. He firmly believes in the enormous potential of Nigeria to be a great nation owing to the abundance of human and natural resources. Unfortunately, this has been so grossly mismanaged to the eternal chagrin of the people and the country.

In 2003, Buhari contested the presidential election as the candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). But the results did not favour him. He was defeated by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP)’s President Olusegun Obasanjo. Buhari’s supporters and other members of the opposition claimed that in some states, like Ebonyi, there were more votes than there were registered voters. Although some allegations of fraud were proven in the courts and the conduct of the election was criticized by the Commonwealth Observer Group, the courts decided that the level of proven electoral fraud was not sufficient to affect the outcome of the election and to warrant the cancellation of the whole Presidential election.

On December 18, 2006, Buhari was nominated as the consensus candidate of the ANPP. His main challenger in the April 2007 polls the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua of PDP, who hailed from the same home state of Katsina. He was again defeated but rejected the results. After Yar’Adua took office, the ANPP agreed to join his government, but Buhari denounced this agreement.

In March 2010, Buhari left the ANPP with some of his loyalists to form the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He emerged as the CPC presidential candidate in the April 16, 2011 general election, running against incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP, Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and Ibrahim Shekarau of ANPP. They were the major contenders among 20 contestants.

He scored 12,214,853 votes to place second to President Goodluck Jonathan who polled 22,495,187 votes and was declared the winner.

Making it the third time he would be aiming to lead the country again.

While concluding his campaign for the 2011 election, General Buhari wept for Nigeria. Almost a year later, he explained to journalists why he wept.

According to him, the appalling state of Nigeria and the hardship of the citizens in the midst of abundance compelled him to weep openly for the nation in 2011. In his words: “This is a country that is well-blessed both materially and otherwise. God has blessed us more than we expected. We have so much land for agriculture.

“But majority of Nigerians can’t send their children to school, can’t afford medicine for their children, and no potable water to drink. Where does the money go to? This was why I broke down when I was rounding off up my presidential campaign in 2011.

“From the level of exporter we have moved to the level of importer of oil? Are you surprised? All the infrastructure were allowed to die and decay. And now they say they want to remove subsidy. I was there when the refineries were built with Nigeria money and we didn’t borrow any kobo to do that,” he explained as he visited the headquarters of the CPC in Utako, Abuja in June this year.

What hope for the future?

After three attempts, and now 70, is there any hope of realising his ambition to rule Nigeria? Will 2015 finally reward him for his tenacity of purpose?

Buhari had initially given signals that the 2011 presidential contest would be his last. While drawing the curtain on his presidential campaign for the 2011 election, he said “unlike the previous two – 2003 and 2007, our victory is assured as evidenced by the unprecedented turnout by people and spontaneous popular acclaim all over the country. This campaign is the third and last one for me since, after it, I will not present myself again for election into the office of the president”.

But, he later said he would wait for the outcome of the case in court before deciding on his political future. The apex court affirmed the victory of President Goodluck Jonathan and Buhari soon served notice that he could take one more chance in his bid to ostensibly rescue Nigeria.

While hosting members of his party from Niger State at his Kaduna residence in May, Buhari said: “God willing, something will happen in 2015.” He urged the electoral umpire to ensure a free and fair conduct of the 2015 elections so that Nigeria can move forward”. he however warned that “If what happens in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood.” He was roundly condemned by critics who said the General has a penchant for instigating violence. But his supporters and the opposition rallied round him and explained that he has been misinterpreted. The opposition insisted that only a mind fixated on rigging would be afraid of what Buhari said.

Since that time, events have moved on to the fast lane as the CPC, the ACN and ANPP have proved beyond any doubt, at least for now, that they are ready to merge into one party strong enough to give the ruling party a good fight in 2015.

Speaking in September, Buhari promised to join forces with other well-meaning Nigerians to ensure free, fair and credible elections in 2015. He acknowledged that opposition parties’ merger plans were on course to wrest power from the PDP in 2015.

“The type of rigging pattern perfected by the PDP must be stopped. People must be allowed to vote for candidates of their choice. If our election processes are free, fair and credible, there will be no problem in Nigeria.

“The PDP has said that they will rule forever and I know this is not possible”, Buhari said. He added that : “I am sure if you go down memory lane, you will see what we have gone through. In 2010 when opposition parties tried to merge and form an alliance, there was no time. And there must be understanding from parties to accept an alliance. Now, the time is on our side. The ACN, the CPC and the ANPP have realised now that to defeat PDP, opposition parties must come together. The merger is on course.”

The same optimism has been expressed by the ANPP which has revealed that efforts would be made to conclude the merger arrangement with other opposition political parties by the first quarter of 2013 in order to produce the next president in 2015.

Speaking in Enugu at its 2012 South-East zonal summit, the party’s national chairman, Rebuilding and Interparty Contact Committee, Mallam Ibrahim Shekarau, said the 21-man committee would come out with the new identity of the merger by 2013.

Shekarau said the ANPP was already in merger talks with the CPC, ACN, Democratic People’s Party (DPP) and Governor Rochas Okorocha’s faction of the All Progressives Grand Alliance, among others.

According to the former Kano State governor “The merger plan will be concluded not later than the first quarter of next year so that we would have at least two years to go into every nook and cranny of the country before the 2015 general elections. This committee was put up by the party to catch up with the views, aspirations and visions of ordinary Nigerians for change for the better”.

Given his towering figure, the large followership which he enjoys, especially in the North, Buhari may yet again get the nod to vie for the plum position the fourth time. And given the strength of the opposition just now in the country, which has succeeded in reducing the absolute majority hitherto enjoyed by the PDP, and with little luck in terms of good performance by the electoral umpire, who knows, General Muhammadu Buhari may yet realise his dream to help reshape Nigeria to make it the country of our dreams.

However, his critics have been unrelenting in painting him as a sectional leader who is not fit to rule the country again. They not only describe him as an ethnic jingoist, he is nearly always portrayed as a religious bigot following comments credited to him on the need for implementation of Sharia Law in the country.

Besides, those who have an axe to grind with him describe his prosecution of the WAI programme, for which he is famous, as highhanded. His regime is alleged to have flouted or violated some of the cardinal principles of human rights.

Besides, some of his Decrees are said to be too draconian, self serving and the worst in the land. Critics readily point to such decrees as Decree 2 of 1984 (State Security (detention of persons), which gave the regime wide discretionary powers to detain individuals. The Public Officers (Protection against False Accusation) Decree. The Exchange Control Anti-Sabotage Decree; The Robbery Firearms (Special Provisions) Decree, among others.

Admirers’ testimonies

But notwithstanding the opinion of critics, his admirers have been singing his praises and pouring encomiums on him. National Leader, Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, in a goodwill message to Buhari on Monday said: “General Muhhamadu Buhari represents discipline, modesty, integrity and fidelity, four traits rare in our political establishment. As such he is a precious commodity and it is wise for us to value and celebrate what is precious among us. Apart from the revered Aminu Kano, no other individual in the North has gained the passionate followership among the common people as has Muhammadu Buhari.

“His politics are people-centric and borrowed heavily from Aminu Kano. He has transformed himself from a military leader to a warrior for democracy and good governance. As a democratic warrior, he has been tireless and he will not stop until victory is achieved.

“Unfortunately, General Buhari has had to fight a political system so heavily infused with corrupt money that the will of the people is regularly shortchanged. This principled and decent man not only stands firm but shall stand tall when the history of this period is written. That history will say here was a man who could have sided with the powerful and the elite to live a life of soft comfort and easy choices. Instead, he joined hands with the poor, humble and broken. He did this because he wanted to be on the side of those who sought to save Nigeria, not those who tried to milk and bleed her to their own advantage.”

Prince Tony Momoh, the national chairman of the CPC said this of him: “As a citizen, the inimitable discipline and dedication – firmly rooted in your being – speak eloquently of your patriotic fervour four your nation. As a family man, you have shown tenderness and loving devotion.

“As a soldier, you were never wanting in courage and loyalty. During the civil war, you humanely supported the weak (among the enemy) whilst not compromising unwavering commitment to your commission.

“As a politician, you have shown decency, honesty and truth, rather than employing the despicable tactics of the unconscionable politician in this clime, you have consistently chosen to ventilate your grievance against the pervasive corruption of the nation’s electoral system in courts.

“As a national leader, you have shown humility and honour. In the midst of bare-faced imprudence and kleptomania among the leaders in pulverizing the nation, you shine like a million stars.

… We stand on the high mountain of the land to trumpet the worthiness of your character and the integrity of your persona. May your tribe increase”

Coming from such a high pedestal, and as has been generally attested to by almost all, friends and foes alike, to say that General Mohammadu Buhari (GMB) is a Nigerian in a class of his own, cannot be an exaggeration. It is simply a statement of fact. For now, finger are crossed and Nigerians wait for what happens in 2015.