Opinion: Not every cough from pro-Buhari is a sign of ailment

by Izuchukwu Aniagu Aguani

Our country is deeply polarized, we know. And it is common to meet people who hate one another for the most silly reasons you can ever imagine. I have constantly met people telling me how much they hate President Buhari in particular and all that. Yes, some people hate him because he is Hausa or Muslim and worst even, for no apparent reason. And I know some have said it’s quite normal because some Nigerians, especially Muslims, hated Jonathan too. But that’s not true. His case was quite different.

For us, Jonathan was a man who failed to make the smallest impact after 6 years and some Christians, and I mean real Christians like me, got fed up and didn’t return him to power. I used the word “smallest impact” because we didn’t expect him to perform miracles; we understand Nigeria’s problem is too big. But even those who voted him admitted he couldn’t have done any better with another term. So not only did we not vote him, we ensured he wasn’t able to steal our votes from us. But does that mean we hated him? No. We simply chose country first, refused to vote him, never regretted it and still wouldn’t.

But if that caused some people a huge tear down the eyes, please cry no more. It is your right to demand for the same measure against Buhari if he fails after 4 years or more to make at least the slightest impact. But for now, you may have to chill out and stop bombing and raiding some of us who still support him.

I’m particularly referring to the people in the South East. Being where I’m from, most of the people I encounter are sympathetic to the previous government. And believe me, telling them that I’m a supporter of PMB is probably more evil than saying I’m a kidnapper who primarily focuses on kidnapping and selling babies.

In fact, it appears that since the recession began more folks seem to practically cry and scream at Buhari’s supporters to at least now see reasons to hate on him and I bet I haven’t seen anything more terrible. Such behavior is most appalling and I don’t think any real character can allow himself to be easily bought into such charade for any reward whatsoever.

The truth is that some PMB supporters like me will still support anyone and anything we believe in for the sake of a better Nigeria whether coming from the Jews or the Romans. We will support a Muslim as much as a Christian whether Igbo, Yoruba or Hausa, if we’re well informed on that.

It’s fine and healthy with people not agreeing with a particular leader. As a matter of fact that is the beauty of democracy. We didn’t agree with Jonathan and it’s anybody’s choice not to also agree with Buhari. But let our support and opposition as much as we can be based on facts rather than sentiment – even though that may prove difficult atimes.

As citizens, our duty is not to hate the leaders but to censor the government and encourage independent mindset. We can only achieve credibility and good governance by ensuring that our criticisms are well balanced and based on fact.

There is a saying that goes thus, “he has a right to criticize, who has a heart to help; but he who hates is he who kills. Therefore, it is not normal if we get but critical with one another and to the present government. And even as supporters of Mr President, each time we cough in his front door, may it not be seen or misunderstood that we are dying of tuberculosis or bronchitis but from fair criticism, that alone is the most effective check and balance on any government.


Op–ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija

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