Opinion: How I went from being a Goodluck supporter to a Buhari campaigner

by Mark Amaza

In 2011, deciding who to vote for was a pretty simple decision for me: I saw Nuhu Ribadu of the now defunct Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) as inexperienced and Ibrahim Shekarau of the then All Nigeria Peoples’ Party (ANPP) did not have an excellent performance as Kano State Governor to use to convince me. So it came down to the last two main contenders – Goodluck Jonathan of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC).

My vote eventually went to President Jonathan, because of my deep distrust for Buhari based on divisive statements on religion credited to him in the past and the manner in which many Northern politicians within the PDP had tried to use what they call “zoning” to have one of theirs become the party’s candidate. For me, those two issues touched on areas really sensitive to me – my freedom of worship and how my ethnicity was being used by others as a glass ceiling to limit how far I could go in life in Nigeria.

I never for once bothered about Buhari’s past record as a military head of state, whether good or bad, because as a personal principle, I believe any time spent in office under two years is too short for an objective assessment of performance, and knowing that he cannot do as a president of  12-year old democracy what he did as a military dictator. That sentiment has not changed even today.

After the post-election riots in parts of the North by mainly Buhari supporters which largely turned ethno-religious that killed over 800 people, I was convinced beyond every reasonable doubt that I will never vote for him. In fact, I became passionately against him, so passionate that my friends would always come to me when in search of arguments against him.

However, my support for the Jonathan administration began to wane with the gradual escalation of the terrorist activities of the Boko Haram sect and general insecurity in the North-East, especially in my hometown of Maiduguri, the Borno State capital.

Gradually, his actions and inactions chipped away at my support for him, sometimes in bits – such as his statement that Boko Haram members existed in his cabinet, and yet not taking any action on it – and other time in large chunks – like the presidential pardon granted to his former boss, DSP Alameyeseigha.

I could not for the life of me fathom how a president could seem to not be bothered with the terrorist activities in his country, deliberately “unlooking” the states most affected, and only visiting when it seemed expedient to do so because of politics – the first time in March 2013 when the newly formed opposition party, the All Progressives’ Congress (APC) had all its governors in Maiduguri.

How about his presence at his party’s rally in Kano the very day after a deadly bomb blast killed 80 people in Nyanya, Abuja? What about his silence when 59 kids were killed at the Federal Government College, Buni Yadi, Yobe State or when 35 students of the Federal Polytechnic, Mubi in Adamawa State were murdered or on the numerous clashes and murderous raids on villages in the Middle Belt? What about the way his party and people in his government have carried on about the abduction of 219 girls from the Government Girls’ Secondary School, Chibok and their successive attempts to intimidate and discredit the #BringBackOurGirls campaigners?

I have not even mentioned the manner in which his government got increasingly intolerant of criticisms, evident in the way they always attacked the messenger rather than the message. This peaked when all former governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria and now Emir of Kano, Sanusi Lamido Sanusi got for his troubles on sounding the alarm that as much as $20bn in oil revenue had been stolen over three years was to be sacked.

I have not even mentioned the fact that the few successes of his administration are grossly overshadowed by the fact that our record high revenues from oil have not been judiciously used, coinciding with constant revelations of high corruption in government places or the fact that he seems unable to take certain drastic actions, such as not firing Minister for Interior, Abba Moro after the Immigration recruitment scam which cost the lives of 19 people.

Day by day, I was finding it harder to justify my support for him, especially when I was seeing people I know & am related with losing their lives to terrorism and the lucky ones hurriedly moving away from those areas. It was infuriating that the fight against these terrorists seemed to be compromised by those directly profiting from it, or even politicized by people around him. It was time to support someone else – and I threw my weight behind the candidature of former Vice President Atiku Abubakar of the APC.

Sadly, my heart was broken when Buhari won the APC nomination and I found myself with the unsavoury choice of supporting Jonathan again. But it was only getting harder.

In an even more rapid manner, my deep opposition to Buhari was chipped away – starting with the pick of his running mate, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, a man hardly anyone is in doubt about his intelligence and his integrity and the appointment of Kayode Fayemi, the immediate past governor of Ekiti State, a man I greatly admire as his campaign’s Director of Policy. I could hardly argue that the man was going to be clueless about Nigeria’s problems and its solutions as he was rapidly surrounding himself with smart men.

Yet, my stubborn nature came to the fore I stood my ground in my opposition to him. Although I was far less enthusiastic about Jonathan compared to 2011, I was not prepared to entertain the possibility of a Buhari presidency.

Another turning point came when President Jonathan visited Maiduguri twice in eight days last month, despite his handlers saying previously that the area was not safe enough for him to visit. So what miracle made the place suddenly safe enough or was it the approaching elections that made it so?

There was also the fact the APC campaign has by far been more effective and cleaner compared to that of the PDP, with less use of religion in campaigning – I could not help but admire from across the fence. Seeing many people close to me and whose stories are like mine, who used to share the same fears about him now enthusiastically support him was melting the ice in my heart.

But many times, the process of someone changing his mind happens gradually rather than suddenly.

The straw that broke the camel’s back was the postponement of the elections by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on Saturday. I was infuriated with the manner in which national institutions like the military that should be apoliticial were used force INEC’s hand to shift the elections. How else could one explain that the military went from being ready for the elections to saying that they will be unavailable to provide security on the 14th of February as they will be fighting the Boko Haram insurgents?

This was a continuation of past behaviors where these institutions have been politicized – such as the claim of the Department of State Services (DSS) that APC tried to bribe them to rig the Ekiti State elections and that they were attempting to hack into INEC servers from a remote location, despite the servers being offline, yet has not charged anyone to court. It did not help matters that last week, a taped conversation of high-ranking members of the PDP, a couple of them cabinet ministers, and an army general discussing how to rig the Ekiti State gubernatorial elections last year, which PDP won, was leaked.

One has to admire the ingenuity of the incumbent administration – they have realized that gone are the days of brute-force rigging. Thus, they are trying to take advantage of prevailing situations to actualize their aims without actually breaking any laws.

However, they forget that Nigerian voters are much smarter than before and can read in between the lines. For me, attempting to tamper with such institutions is a severe no-no. Many people died for us to have this democracy we are enjoying, imperfect as it is, and it will be a severe betrayal on our part if we allow this democracy to be twisted and its institutions subverted.

If this administration is acting with impunity in its first term, one can only imagine what it will do in its second term – attempt to get a third term, perhaps? There needs to be a punishment for incompetent governments and right now, we have the opportunity to use our votes to punish them by denying them a second term.

I admit that General Buhari is not an ideal candidate, and that the APC is not an ideal party. But right now, we do not have the luxury of waiting for ideal candidates and parties. When as a voter, you give someone your goodwill and he rubbishes it, it is your duty to take it away from him, give it to someone else and ensure that you hold the new beneficiary of your goodwill lest he suffers the same fate.

Goodluck Jonathan has not made good use of my goodwill, and I will very much prefer that I give it to someone else this time around. His efforts and lack of it have turned me from being his supporter to becoming his opponent’s campaigner, dedicating my little time and even money to his campaign.

It is about time that Nigerians experienced change.

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

Comments (23)

  1. i love this piece, he spoke my mind and the minds of hundreds of Nigerians too.

  2. Wow what a write up n forum I’m new here but being compelled to write a bit of my hrart. I’m from Delta state but leave in Lagos, last election was for gej even as I supported ACN then but now its GMB even dough I supported gej n defended till middle last year but with d help of my dad n friends who opened my eyes n even my respected n admired friend Dr Doyin Okupe really made me stand firm on GMB now cos I know to well to b talking like this. He’s a very intelligent person wonder what happened its like he’s ready to die for d obvious wrong reason well wish him well. If what I heard when I was 11 yrs then a GMB regime is real n truth then I would mind seeing Gej, Ffk, Fayose even my friend n others with his girls Uduak, Okonjo n co. Being shipped back in boxes if or when then out of d country AMEN.

  3. Quite an interesting journey through your thoughts. I’ve encountered a few people who with objectivity allign with your position. In my opinion GMB is palpably a symbol of change. My rhetorics ” what manner of change?”. Change for the sake of it or change for a better Nigeria? I would perceive GMB for a man who to the best of my knowledge stands for something and has values many can testify to.He has also surrounded himself with people of definite values ;some still questionable, but we know what the pose to stand for. GEJ on the other has no clear position, I can’t place him. His victory in 2011 to me was more of sympathy vote and deciet. He has perpetrated a government of thievery, calumny and selective amnesia. It’s time we choose. Let’s choose based on our assessment not on what we are told to do, paid to do or benefit immediately from. God bless Nigeria. Perhaps I should say this forum is a pleasant and decent form. Thanks for being a reflection of what this country should be…..decent intelligent men and women.

  4. I laugh when Nigerians use corruption as a basis for decisions. Corrupt people pointing at corrupt leaders … such fun! If GEJ disappointed you and GMB is not looking promising, then quietly vote for another candidate and stop sounding like an GMB apologist. Find that true anti-corrupt figure and vote for him/her — GMB is not clean. My two-cents

    1. The writer made a choice, to vote for the person most likely to achieve his aim of pushing out the incumbent who in his eyes has failed him.
      I for one, will vote for GMB not cos he is the best, but because its high time we the people made it known to those who we put in power, that if you would rather not represent our interests you will be pushed out.

      1. But GEJ represented people’s interest. Probably not yours

  5. Intelligent and excellent Mark… I wish a lot more people could read this so in my own little way, I will share n share n share… How u dey by the way.. Lol..

  6. I don’t think it’s a matter of being a supporter..it’s a matter of govt realizing the power of the voter and accountability to the voter.Nigerian voters have to wake up to the power of their votes.

  7. Excellent write-up. I have not read any write-up as good this for a long time. As for me, all I want to do is vote out Jonathan even though its unfortunate that the only candidate than help me achieve that is Buhari. GEJ has failed woefully. I wish for anybody but GEJ in power.

  8. Mark, just like you I gave my all for GEJ in his first term bid to head this country. I campaigned and pulled support for him without demanding a dime, but sincerity and commitment to Nigeria and Nigerians. He has opted to paly with not the populace but the looters of the country’s treasury and wellbeing. I am from the South-South but dare to say humanity cannot and will never be sacrificed on the alter of tribalism and ethnocentric ideas. Nigeria needs a Nigerian for her leader and not a Southerner, Westerner,Northerner nor Easterner; Muslim nor Christian .GEJ has outrightly failed for chosen to turn a blind eye to the Boko insurgence. For chosen to rule just a portion of this country(South) and giving up the other part (North) to extremists and Fulani gunmen. And if the PDP campaigners believe they can box us in a corner by making trouble of GMB educational background then they should know that the only “educated” candidate they claim to have has failed to show he is educated nor applied his supposed “degree” to better the lives of common Nigerians. We don’t want educated but education. We don’t want a president without shoes whose strategies has been on getting the best of footwears rather than the sacrosanct of the survival of the country. Let GEJ tell nigerians why he has promoted corruption instead of fighting it. Let him tell us the whereabout of the missing pension fund, fuel subsidy, the bankruptcy of the NDDC, etc. The wolf that chooses to live above its park, would end up being a meal to another.

  9. Marc, you still don’t get it, he actually doesn’t support GMB explicitly, he’s just against GEJ. From what he’s saying, he really doesn’t care who GEJ’s opponent is. The point is punishing GEJ for letting him down after voting for him in the last elections. Voting and campaigning against him is the only true power he has in punishing GEJ.

  10. ..from being his supporter to becoming his opponents campaigner..Seems you dont want to be referred to as his supporter-just yet

  11. Great article. Very true to point. Full of reason devoid of sentiments.

  12. A well written article where the writer expressed his opinion. I have sympathy for ACN in 2011 but could never consider voting for the sentimental Nuhu Ribade because I regarded the man as a clown and that the people who put him forward were not serious and were jokers. Who could have voted for Ribadu even today? I gladly voted for Buhari then because my believe is that he is the only one that can do the job. Am I vindicated or not? As far as I am concerned, I did not loose my vote and I thank God for not contributing to the very bad situation we find ourselves today.

    Is it now in 2015 when he has a brighter chance of winning the election that I will abandon him? He again has two votes from me already. We need to clean up this country. I am totally fed up with total darkness in my own area of Lagos, Magodo phase one. I spend over N10k every week on diesel to put on my generator for just 4 hours daily to listen to news and know what is going on Nigeria and the world. My small cottage firm cannot run because I cannot afford a generator of N1.5m. Even when I buy it, operating expenses will bankrupt the business just as I had to close my bakery because of lack of power supply some few years ago. Do you know the number of people I could have employed? These people are killing the dreams of millions of Nigeria.

    Imagine how much these people have shared on electricity since 1999? Why should we continue like this? Whose heart will not ache for the over 200 girls abducted by BH? Only GEJ and his wife and PDP members. Who is proud about our hospitals, roads, schools,etc? I am still shocked to read one of the achievement of PDP as revitalising our railway system. How many of these people can ride these trains from Lagos to Kaduna, Kano, Maiduguri etc and for how many days will the trip take? The trains are at best meant for transportation of cows

    What do we see now? Jega to go on compulsory leave while PDP’s Prof Mimiko to take over. Election postponed and who knows what next? The PDP is toying with python’s tail and we are waiting for what will happen next in Nigeria.

    1. Bro,Nigerian politics has gone beyond consciousness,it is within d ethnic,religion,tribal and sentiment divides. An unbiased Nigerian can’t stand against d government of gej bc he or she knows what governance is all about not ur so called opposition that is very much determined to bring d government in pwr down violence(boko haram) not minding the gory effect on d populace. the change of tinubu an obj. God forbid. We shall leave to see d outcome of d election comes 28 March.

  13. Excellent article. The writer has clearly assessed the situation, and I agree completely.

  14. Written just the way the heart felt it. I know this story all too well and I am with you on it

  15. An interesting piece. Truth is: “we do not have the luxury of waiting for ideal candidates and parties.” The mentally deranged terrorists might get to us before that time…

  16. Mark as usual great write up from you. It is as though you visited my mind and copied my thoughts. The only difference is that I never supported Atiku. Everything else is so exactly my point of view. The part I love most is where you said
    ” I admit that General Buhari is not an ideal candidate, and that the APC is not an ideal party. But right now, we do not have the luxury of waiting for ideal candidates and parties. When as a voter, you give someone your goodwill and he rubbishes it, it is your duty to take it away from him, give it to someone else and ensure that you hold the new beneficiary of your goodwill lest he suffers the same fate.”

    God bless all writers of good conscience.
    Big up Mr. Mark

    1. Same here Wakbul. I also like this statement ‘There needs to be a punishment for incompetent governments and right now, we have the opportunity to use our votes to punish them by denying them a second term.’
      The writer try. Well said.

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