by Obla Okoi

It is unfortunate that the Guardian newspaper that is supposedly the flagship of journalism allowed people like Dr. Reuben Abati to use it to attempt to paint General Buhari as a villian. It is clear that Dr. Abati merely used his column in the Guardian newspaper to ingratiate himself to President Jonathan in order to get an appointment at the expense of General Buhari. Dr.Abati should bow his head in shame.

The Guardian Newspaper vindicates General Buhari over post election violence:-

History and God shall always vindictive the Just. The admission and refutation of the allegation by the Guardian newspaper that it falsely and maliciously maligned and defamed General Buhari when it published in its 11th April 2011 edition that General Buhari instigated and incited the violence that greeted the declaration of President Jonathan as the winner of the 2011 presidential election in some States in the North is heart warming.

General Buhari is one of the most honest and incorrigible leaders we can boast of in this hapless country that is in short supply of leaders that are credible. Unfortunately some people out of wickedness, envy, bad politics and malice have always set out to destroy the credit, character and reputation of General Buhari taking advantage of the gullibility of the Nigerian populace. Nigerians were wrongly given the impression that General Buhari is a religious and ethnic bigot. Nothing however is farther from the truth.

General Buhari is a liberal and broad minded leader who does not discriminate against anybody on the grounds of ethnicity, religion and State. General Buhari commanded three divisions in the Nigerian Army and became Head of State and Commander in Chief. The Nigerian military is one of the most national institutions in the country with men and officers from all parts of Nigerian Army ; so if General Buhari is a bigot as some malicious people will want to us believe how could he have reached the pinnacle of his career in the military.

During his long and glorious career in the military he commanded army divisions where Christians were in the majority and no soldier or officer even accused him of discrimination on ground of faith. In his household he has Christians in his kitchen. General Buhari headed the NNPC in the 1970s and Christians were in the majority but no body ever accused him of promoting religious dichotomy. General Buhari is a good Muslim but he respect other faiths in recognising and appreciation of the fact that Nigeria is a multi religious society. General Buhari as a pious Muslim cannot hate Christians.

The Holy Koran regards Jesus Christ (Isa) as one of the revered prophets. The revered Professor Tam David West who worked closely with General Buhari( as Minister in charge of Petroleum while General Buhari was Military Head of State) told me  that he (General Buhari) is very democratic in spirit and inclination and that he amply demonstrated this streak while presiding over meetings of then Federal Executive Council.

It is unfortunate that the Guardian newspaper that is supposedly the flagship of journalism allowed people like Dr. Reuben Abati to use it to attempt to paint General Buhari as a villian. It is clear that Dr. Abati merely used his column in the Guardian newspaper to ingratiate himself to President Jonathan in order to get an appointment at the expense of General Buhari. Dr.Abati should bow his head in shame.

General Buhari is a through and thorough democrat who does not believe in using violence to settle political disputes. When he was cheated in 2003, he challenged the result of the presidential election from the Election Tribunal to the Supreme Court but lost gallantly. Again he was cheated in 2007 he challenged the result from the Presidential Election Tribunal to the Supreme Court of Nigeria. The Supreme Court was split in its judgment by 4-3.

The beneficiary of the election, late President Umaru Musa Yaradua openly admitted that the elections were flawed and constituted a Presidential Commission under the headship of former Chief Justice Mohammed Lawal Uwias to recommend measures to be taken to reform the electoral process in the country. The little improvement we all saw during the 2011 general election is a fall out of the persistence and resilent push by the likes of General Buhari to enthrone a culture of free, fair and transparent election and end impunity.

Again in 2007, he challenged the victory of President Jonathan in the presidential election tribunal and fought all the way to the Supreme Court and lost. However General Buhari has contributed to the development of our electoral jurisprudence. General Buhari thereafter teamed with the indefatigable Asiwaju Bola Tinubu to push for the merger of opposition political parties that led to the formation and registration of the All Progressives Congress. It is the peverts and the corrupt elite who are afraid of their shadow that are in the vanguard of the campaign of calumny and character assassination being waged against General Buhari to destroy his standing among Nigerians.

I am glad that this sinister and nefarious campaign of lies against General Buhari has woefully and spectacularly failed. Recently President Jonathan debunked the allegation peddled among Nigerians that General Buhari was one of those behind the terroristic and murderous campaign by the blood thirsty and nihilistic Boko haram group when he said that group started it campaign in 2002 and that the group is not a reaction to his election. Recall in 2009, late President Umaru Yaradua had ordered the army to clamped down on Boko haram.

This led to the capture of the leader of the group, Mohammed Yusuf by the army in the operation. However the Police blunged a veritable opportunity to unravelled the mystery behind Boko Haram when it extra judicially executed Mohammed Yusuf. The killing of Mohammed Yusuf by the Police led the group to declare a fully blown war against the Federal Government.

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This article was published with permission from Abusidiqu.com
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