Will Buhari Lead like Buhari? Part. 1 Written by FT Okubadejo July 2016

‘If you choose correct leadership, there won’t be any need for the military regime’ Mohammadu Buhari, Oct 2005.

Throw back – Military ruler of Nigeria from 1983 to 1985

A group of people across the nation were sent to prison as part of a battle against squander and fraud. Many perceived this as a strong and oppressive repression from the General while the others couldn’t but rain praises to a uniform-man, worthy within his league to inject a bit of sanity into the system by fighting the widespread corruption menace that has engulfed the growth of Nigeria success as a nation.

His characteristics followed him amongst his military group, first as a Military ruler of Nigeria from 1983 to 1985. His dogged position with the politicians was unwavering due to his anti-corruption campaign. Using his military assault to introduce “War Against Indiscipline” initiative, hindsight looking like an approach to copying western style of citizens patiently waiting in turn at public places but with a twist under the watchful eye of narrow well art metal instruments and strong willed members of the military willing to enforce his directives.

This is a memory that remains glued in the minds of the people during his period and its story continually shared as a part of his history. These actions flowed into the civil service establishments as well impacting on staffs who report to work late, the whole nation was a hybrid military modus operandi, both parents and children experiencing military punishment of “frog jump”; this is still used as a mode of punishment today in homes and schools across the nation.

Alas, memories definitely not forgotten and scars remains a site of remembrance to the people.

The General has always been admired amongst the underprivileged of the north, regarded for his anticorruption crusade by the south. These were key outputs of General Buhari that could be remembered as a leader, once a military head of states and as a disciplined military man.

History is cast on the stone for his acts towards moving the people and not the nation forward. His never been a quitter but dogged towards his belief and actions. An attribute that reminds me of many military generals that chose to face the other way when compared to him.

Furthermore, his actions to set the nations civic finances to an appropriate level by restricting imports and heading the nation’s number one exporting commodity led to scores of people loosing either there business or monthly paid employment and squeezing the economy in the process. In comparison his records on human right cannot be flouted, his current government inability to identify and prosecute is another issue to be discussed.

To be continued