The Crimes Of Buhari–Wole Soyinka

5 January 2011 written by Republic Report New York ⁠ 822 views⁠ View Comments⁠⁠

New York [RR] ABUJA–this intervention has been provoked, not so much by the ambitions of General Buhari to return to power at the head of a democratic Nigeria, as by declarations of support from directions that leave one totally dumbfounded. It would appear that some, myself among them, had been overcomplacent about the magnitude of an ambition that seemed as preposterous as the late effort of General Ibrahim Babangida to aspire yet again to the honour of presiding over a society that truly seeks a democratic future.

What one had dismissed was a rash of illusions, brought about by other political improbabilities that surround us, however, is being given an air of plausibility by individuals and groupings to which one had earlier attributed a sense of relevance of historic actualities. Recently, I published an article in the media, invoking the possible recourse to psychiatric explanation for some of the incongruities in conduct within national leadership.

[PHOTO: Wole Sonyika, launches "Crimes of Buhuri", campaign.]

Now, to tell the truth, I have begun to seriously address the issue of which section of society requires the services of a psychiatrist. The contest for a seizure of rationality is now so polarized that I am quite reconciled to the fact it could be those of us on this side, not the opposing school of thought that ought to declare ourselves candidates for a lunatic asylum. So be it. While that decision hangs in the balance however, the forum is open. Let both sides continue to address our cases to the electorate, but also prepare to submit ourselves for psychiatric examination.

The time being so close to electoral decision, we can understand the haste of some to resort to shortcuts. In the process however, we should not commit the error of opening the political space to any alternative whose curative touch to national afflictions have proven  more deadly than the disease. In order to reduce the clutter in our options towards the forthcoming elections, we urge a beginning from what we do know, what we have undergone, what millions can verify, what can be sustained by evidence accessible even to the school pupil, the street hawker or a just-come visitor from outer space. Leaving Buhari aside for now, I propose a commencing exercise that should guide us along the path of elimination as we examine the existing register of would-be president. That initial exercise can be summed up in the following speculation: If it were possible for Olusegun Obasanjo, the actual incumbent, to stand again for election, would you vote for him?

If the answer is yes, then of course all discussion is at an end. If the answer is No however, then it follows that a choice of a successor made by Obasanjo should be assessed as hovering between extremely dangerous and an outright kiss of death. The degree of acceptability of such a candidate should also be inversely proportionate to the passion with which he or she is promoted by the would-be godfather. We do not lack for open evidence about Obasanjos passion in this respect. From Lagos to the USA, he has taken great pains to assure the nation and the world that the anointed NPN presidential flag bearer is guaranteed, in his judgment, to carry out his policies. Such an endorsement/anointment is more than sufficient, in my view, for public acceptance or rejection. YarAduas candidature amounts to a terminal kiss from a moribund regime. Nothing against the person of this  I am informed – personable governor, but let him understand that in addition to the direct source of his emergence, the PDP, on whose platform he stands, represents the most harrowing of this nations nightmares over and beyond even the horrors of the Abacha regime. If he wishes to be considered on his own merit, now is time for him, as well as others similarly enmeshed, to exercise the moral courage that goes with his repudiation of that party, a dissociation from its past, and a pledge to reverse its menacing future. We shall find him an alternative platform on which to stand, and then have him present his credentials along those of other candidates engaged in forging a credible opposition alliance. Until then, let us bury this particular proposition and move on to a far graver, looming danger, personified in the history of General Buhari.

The grounds on which General Buhari is being promoted as the alternative choice are not only shaky, but pitifully naive.  History matters. Records are not kept simply to assist the weakness of memory, but to operate as guides to the future. Of course, we know that human beings change. What the claims of personality change or transformation impose on us is a rigorous inspection of the evidence, not wishful speculation or behind-the-scenes assurances. Public offence, crimes against a polity, must be answered in the public space, not in caucuses of bargaining. In Buhari, we have been offered no evidence of the sheerest prospect of change. On the contrary, all evident suggests that this is one individual who remains convinced that this is one ex-ruler that the nation cannot call to order.

Buhari � need one remind anyone – was one of the generals who treated a Commission of Enquiry, the Oputa Panel, with unconcealed disdain. Like Babangida and Abdusalami, he refused to put in appearance even though complaints that were tabled against him involved a career of gross abuses of power and blatant assault on the fundamental human rights of the Nigerian citizenry.

Prominent against these charges was an act that amounted to nothing less than judicial murder, the execution of a citizen under a retroactive decree. Does Decree 20 ring a bell? If not, then, perhaps the names of three youths – Lawal  Ojuolape (30), Bernard Ogedengbe (29) and Bartholomew Owoh (26) do. To put it quite plainly, one of those three  Ogedengbe – was executed for a crime that did not carry a capital forfeit at the time it was committed. This was an unconscionable crime, carried out in defiance of the pleas and protests of nearly every sector of the Nigerian and international community religious, civil rights, political, trade unions etc. Buhari and his sidekick and his partner-in-crime, Tunde Idiagbon persisted in this inhuman act for one reason and one reason only: to place Nigerians on notice that they were now under an iron, inflexible rule, under governance by fear.

The execution of that youthful innocent for so he was, since the punishment did not exist at the time of commission – was nothing short of premeditated murder, for which the perpetrators should normally stand trial upon their loss of immunity. Are we truly expected to forget this violation of our entitlement to security as provided under existing laws? And even if our sensibilities have become blunted by succeeding seasons of cruelty and brutality, if power itself had so coarsened the sensibilities also of rulers and corrupted their judgment, what should one rightly expect after they have been rescued from the snare of power. At the very least, a revaluation, leading hopefully to remorse, and its expression to a wronged society. At the very least, such a revaluation should engender reticence, silence.  In the case of Buhari, it was the opposite. Since leaving office he has declared in the most categorical terms that he had no regrets over this murder and would do so again.

Human life is inviolate. The right to life is the uniquely fundamental right on which all other rights are based. The crime that General Buhari committed against the entire nation went further however, inconceivable as it might first appear. That crime is one of the most profound negations of civic being.  Not content with hammering down the freedom of expression in general terms, Buhari specifically forbade all public discussion of a return to civilian, democratic rule. Let us constantly applaud our media those battle scarred professionals did not completely knuckle down. They resorted to cartoons and oblique, elliptical references to sustain the people’s campaign for a time-table to democratic rule. Overt agitation for a democratic time table however remained rigorously suppressed  military dictatorship, and a specifically incorporated in Buhari and Idiagbon was here to stay. To deprive a people of volition in their own political direction is to turn a nation into a colony of slaves. Buhari enslaved the nation. He gloated and gloried in a master-slave relation to the millions of its inhabitants. It is astonishing to find that the same former slaves, now free of their chains, should clamour to be ruled by one who not only turned their nation into a slave plantation, but forbade them any discussion of their condition.

So Tai Solarin is already forgotten? Tai who stood at street corners, fearlessly distributing leaflets that took up the gauntlet where the media had dropped it. Tai who was incarcerated by that regime and denied even the medication for his asthmatic condition? Tai did not ask to be sent for treatment overseas; all he asked was his traditional medicine that had proved so effective after years of struggle with asthma!

Nor must we omit the manner of Buhari coming to power and the pattern of his corrective rule. Shagari’s NPN had already run out of steam and was near universally detested except of course by the handful that still benefited from that regime of profligacy and rabid fascism. Responsibility for the national condition lay squarely at the door of the ruling party, obviously, but against whom was Buharis coup staged? Judging by the conduct of that regime, it was not against Shagaris government but against the opposition. The head of government, on whom primary responsibility lay, was Shehu Shagari. Yet that individual was kept in cozy house detention in Ikoyi while his powerless deputy, Alex Ekwueme, was locked up in Kiri-kiri prisons. Such was the Buhari notion of equitable apportionment of guilt and/or responsibility.

And then the cascade of escapes of the wanted, and culpable politicians. Manhunts across the length and breadth of the nation, roadblocks everywhere and borders tight as steel zip locks. Lo and behold, the chairman of the party, Chief Akinloye, strolled out coolly across the border. Richard Akinjide, Legal Protector of the ruling party, slipped out with equal ease. The Rice Minister, Umaru Dikko, who declared that Nigerians were yet to eat from dustbins – escaped through the same airtight dragnet. The clumsy attempt to crate him home was punishment for his ingratitude, since he went berserk when, after waiting in vain, he concluded that the coup had not been staged, after all, for the immediate consolidation of the party of extreme right-wing vultures, but for the military hyenas.

The case of the overbearing Secretary-General of the party, Uba Ahmed, was even more noxious. Uba Ahmed was out of the country at the time. Despite the closure of the Nigerian airspace, he compelled the pilot of his plane to demand special landing permission, since his passenger load included the almighty Uba Ahmed. Of course, he had not known of the change in his status since he was airborne.  The delighted airport commandant, realizing that he had a much valued fish swimming willingly into a waiting net, approved the request. Uba Ahmed disembarked into the arms of a military guard and was promptly clamped in detention.  Incredibly, he vanished a few days after and reappeared in safety overseas. Those whose memories have become calcified should explore the media coverage of that saga. Buhari was asked to explain the vanished act of this much prized quarry and his response was one of the most arrogant levity. Coming from one who had shot his way into power on the slogan of displine, it was nothing short of impudent.

Shall we revisit the tragicomic series of trials that landed several politicians several lifetimes in prison? Recall, if you please, the judicial processes undergone by the septuagenarian Chief Adekunle Ajasin.  He was arraigned and tried before Buhari’s punitive tribunal but acquitted. Dissatisfied, Buhari ordered his re-trial. Again, the Tribunal could not find this man guilty of a single crime, so once again he was returned for trial, only to be acquitted of all charges of corruption or abuse of office. Was Chief Ajasin thereby released? No! He was ordered detained indefinitely, simply for the crime of winning an election and refusing to knuckle under Shagari’s reign of terror.

The conduct of the Buhari regime after his coup was not merely one of double, triple, multiple standards but a cynical travesty of justice. Audu Ogbeh, currently chairman of the Action Congress was one of the few figures of rectitude within the NPN. Just as he has done in recent times with the PDP, he played the role of an internal critic and reformer, warning, dissenting, and setting an example of probity within his ministry. For that crime he spent months in unjust incarceration. Guilty by association? Well, if that was the motivating yardstick of the administration of the Buhari justice, then it was most selectively applied.  The utmost severity of the Buhari-Idiagbon justice was especially reserved either for the opposition in general, or for those within the ruling party who had showed the sheerest sense of responsibility and patriotism.

Shall I remind this nation of Buhari’s deliberate humiliating treatment of the Emir of Kano and the Oni of Ife over their visit to the state of Israel? I hold no brief for traditional rulers and their relationship with governments, but insist on regarding them as entitled to all the rights, privileges and responsibilities of any Nigerian citizen. This royal duo went to Israel on their private steam and private business. Simply because the Buhari regime was pursuing some antagonistic foreign policy towards Israel, a policy of which these traditional rulers were not a part, they were subjected on their return to a treatment that could only be described as a head masterly chastisement of errant pupils. Since when, may one ask, did a free citizen of the Nigerian nation require the permission  of a head of state to visit a foreign nation that was willing to offer that tourist a visa.?

One is only too aware that some Nigerians love to point to Buhari’s agenda of discipline as the shining jewel in his scrap-iron crown. To inculcate discipline however, one must lead by example, obeying laws set down as guides to public probity. Example speaks louder than declarations, and rulers cannot exempt themselves from the disciplinary strictures imposed on the overall polity, especially on any issue that seeks to establish a policy for public well-being.  The story of the thirty something suitcases it would appear that they were even closer to fifty – found unavoidable mention in my recent memoirs, YOU MUST SET FORTH AT DOWN, written long before Buhari became spoken of as a credible candidate.  For the exercise of a changeover of the national currency, the Nigerian borders  air, sea and land  had been shut tight. Nothing was supposed to move in or out, not even cattle egrets.

Yet a prominent camel was allowed through that needles eye. Not only did Buhari dispatch his aide-de-camp, Jokolo later to become an emir -  to facilitate the entry of those cases, he ordered the redeployment as I later discovered – of the Customs Officer who stood firmly against the entry of the contravening baggage. That officer, the incumbent Vice-president is now a rival candidate to Buhari, but has somehow, in the meantime, earned a reputation that totally contradicts his conduct at the time.  Wherever the truth lies, it does not redound to the credibility of the dictator of that time, General Buhari whose word was law, but whose allegiances were clearly negotiable.

On the theme of double, triple, multiple standards in the enforcement of the law, and indeed of the decrees passed by the Buhari regime at the time, let us recall  the notorious case of Triple A Alhaji Alhaji Alhaji, then Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Finance. Who was caught, literally, with his pants down in distant Austria. That was not the crime however, and private conduct should always remain restricted to the domain of private censure. There was no decree against civil servants proving just as hormone driven as anyone else, especially outside the nation’s borders. However, there was a clear decree against the keeping of foreign accounts, and this was what emerged from the Austrian escapade.  Alhaji Alhaji kept, not one, but several undeclared foreign accounts, and he had no business being in possession of the large amount of foreign currency of which he was robbed by his overnight companion. The media screamed for an even application of the law, but Buhari had turned suddenly deaf.

By contrast, Fela Anikulapo languished in goal for years, sentenced under that very draconian decree.  His crime was being in possession of foreign exchange that he had legitimately received for the immediate upkeep of his band as they set off for an international engagement. A vicious sentence was slapped down on Fela by a judge who later became so remorse stricken at least after Buhari’s overthrow that he went to the King of Afro-beat and apologized.

Lesser known was the traumatic experience of the director of an international communication agency, an affiliate of UNESCO.  Akin Fatoyinbo arrived at the airport in complete ignorance of the new currency decree. He was thrown in gaol in especially brutal condition, an experience from which he never fully recovered. It took several months of high-level intervention before that innocent man was eventually freed. These were not exceptional but mere sample cases from among hundreds of others, victims of a decree that was selectively applied, a decree that routinely penalized innocents and ruined the careers and businesses of many.

What else? What does one choose to include or leave out?  What precisely was Ebenezer Babatope’s crime that he should have spent the entire tenure of General Buhari in detention?  Nothing beyond the fact that he once warned in the media that Buhari was an ambitious soldier who would bear watching through the lenses of a coup-detat. Babatope’s father died while he was in Buhari’s custody, the dictator remained deaf to every plea that he be at least released to attend his father’s funeral, even under guard. I wrote an article at the time, denouncing this pointless insensitivity.  So little to demand by a man who was never accused of, nor tried for any crime, much less found guilty.  Such a load of vindictiveness that smothered all traces of basic human compassion deserves no further comment in a nation that values its traditions.

But then, speaking the truth was not what Buhari, as a self-imposed leader, was especially enamoured of enquire of Tunde Thompson and Nduka Irabor both of whom,  faithful  to their journalistic calling, published nothing but the truth, yet ended up sentenced under Buhari’s decree. Mind you, no one can say that Buhari was not true to his word. shall tamper with the freedom of the press swore the dictator immediately on grabbing office, and this was exactly what he did.  And so on, and on, and on.

The argument of those who say that, by endorsing Buhari, they are settling on someone who can be guaranteed to give Obasanjo and the NPN a good fight, is one of the most depressing excuses I ever encountered for placing a political noose around a nation’s neck. Buhari owes a debt to this nation, not the other way round. If Buhari wishes to rehabilitate himself in the eyes of the citizenry whom he has so cruelly wronged, he should first scuttle his ambitions, then place whatever following he has garnered in the meantime at the disposal of a consensus candidate among the opposition. To insist on another taste of power, after such a history of gross abuse of power is an insult to any nation that values freedom and human dignity. Buhari should sit with the opposition and coordinate strategies to defeat the most unscrupulous act of political gerrymandering that, we all know, is about to be inflicted on the nation by a desperate incumbent seeking for a clone to secure his exit from power.  The nation has more than sufficient time and strategic intelligence to organize behind a common choice, publicize his or her qualities and defeat the arrogance of incumbency.

What is being eroded, through the power of suggestion, is a people’s confidence in itself, and this is the beginning of mass suicide. Without that confidence, no powers on high or on earth, external or internal, can rescue the community from both the palpable and symbolic chains of slavery. To invite back into power a man who did so much to destroy a people’s self-esteem, dignity, and faith in law and justice, is a sign of self-abasement, lack of self-esteem, a slave mentality that dooms, not only the present, but succeeding generations.

I wish to declare, unequivocally, that those of my party, the ARP/DFPF shall not participate in such a degrading surrender.

TRIBUNE

Soyinka is misinformed – Buhari, PDP

Idowu Samuel and Tope Abiola – 18.01.2007

THE Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and former Head of State and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential candidate, Major-General Muhammed Buhari (rtd), yesterday carpeted the Nobel laureate, Professor Wole Soyinka, over his comments on the health of Alhaji Umaru Yar Adua and the administration of Buhari.

While the PDP said Professor Soyinka was not a medical doctor to speak on its candidate, General Buhari said he (Soyinka) should not see him as an authoritarian leader.

Though, General Buhari, in an interview monitored on Channels Television, admitted that it was true that he took decisions on certain issues that could affect the lives of Nigerians when he was the head of state between January 1984 and August 1985, he said such decisions were made in consultation with the Supreme Military Council.

According to him, �all decisions including the controversial one were taken collectively with the majority decision.� He added that as the head of state, it was his responsibility to accept whatever was done in the government.

Also, the PDP described Soyinka�s comment on Yar�Adua as unfortunate, castigating him for not making enquiries on the state of health of the Katsina State governor before drawing conclusions.

According to the PDP national publicity secretary, Mr. John Odeh, Yar�Adua had always enjoyed sound health with high mental and intellectual condition, which he said surpassed those of other presidential candidates.

Odeh said the party was fully convinced about the ability of the Katsina State governor to carry its flag effectively in the next presidential election, a reason, according to him, members voted for him during the party�s presidential primaries.

The PDP, said Odeh, had an internal mechanism for raising its members for election. The mechanism, he said, had never been faulted, having over the years produced results.

�Soyinka certainly is not a medical doctor, and so we do not know how he had the idea that Yar�Adua has not been enjoying good health.

�Let me state that the PDP presidential candidate enjoys a good health. That is evidenced by high academic background and his fine experiences in business,� he said.

LEADERSHIP

ANPP, PDP Condemn Soyinka�s Attack on Buhari, Yar�Adua

By Chuks Ohuegbe and Andrew Oota, Abuja

Both the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) yesterday dismissed scathing remarks madeby Nobel laureate Professor Wole Soyinka on their presidential candidates, saying that Soyinka was unniformed.

Professor Soyinka, in his press conference on Monday in Lagos, condemned the ANPP presidential candidate General Muhammadu Buhari�s rising profile, questioning his past records as a military leader.

Though Soyinka did not question the credibility of the PDP presidential flag-bearer, Alhaji Umaru Yar�Adua, he picked holes in the process that produced him, saying that President Olusegun Obasanjo wants to �clone� his successor.

The national publicity secretary of the PDP, Mr. John Odey, told Leadership that the Nobel laureate should �acquit himself with the rule of this game�. Contrary to Prof. Soyinka�s position, the PDP spokesman said that the party conducted the best national convention that is yet to be rivalled by any of the other registered political parties.

�Our process has been transparent, all-inclusive and the best so far. The process we used cannot be faulted by anybody. We have been guided by the rules of the game. Professor Wole Soyinka should acquit himself with the rule of the game,� he said.

Also, the ANPP has described the attack on its presidential candidate for this year�s general elections, General Buhari, by Soyinka as uninformed, mischievous and baseless.

The party also called on Nigerians to disregard Professor Soyinka�s comments, adding that General Buhari is a moving training which �20 of Soyinka�s type cannot stop�.

In a press statement signed by the director of publicity of the ANPP, Alhaji Ibrahim Modibbo, yesterday, the party expressed shock and dismay that Professor Soyinka could �launch an unprovoked attack on the personality of General Buhari rather than channel his energy to writing plays and possibly criticisms of a government that has performed below average by all standards�.

ANPP also challenged Professor Soyinka to take his time and go though the records of the former head of state, �then he would realise and be better informed that General Buhari is among the few Nigerians that can be trusted, that are transparent, accountable and have deep sense of patriotism�.

�Soyinka cannot stop this moving train because his records as chairman of PTDF are there; as former head of state, the records are there; so, 20 of Soyinkas with such campaign of calumny cannot stop this moving train,� said the party.�When Buhari was in power, we had a sound economy, the educational sector was functional, health facilities and indeed the health sector was not just consulting clinics, Nigerians did not know anything poverty; so, we want to advise Professor Soyinka to face his academic research which has no place in modern realities; he should know that Nigerians know him for his uncoordinated and unconstructive criticism and they no longer take him seriously.�

The ANPP continued: �Professor Soyinka�s attack was not only baseless, it was lopsided and falls short of international standards.

�Soyinka�s attack on Buhari is dramatic in nature and should best be seen in the light of a dramatist whose penchant for baseless criticisms are what we want Nigerians to disregard. We are calling on Nigerians to team up with General Buhari.

�We as democrats concede Professor Soyinka�s right to air his opinion to him, but such opinion should be done without sentiments; therefore, we totally condemn Professor Soyinka�s unprovoked attack on Buhari which are not acceptable to us.�

THE SUN

Momoh, Balarabe Musa, David-West, others knock Soyinka �Over attack on Buhari

By HENRY CHUKWURAH, Port Harcourt, FRANCIS AWOWOLE-BROWNE, Abuja, KENNY ASHAKA, Kaduna and MUYIWA OYINLOLA, Lagos

Thursday, January 18, 2007

Nobel laureate, Prof. Wole Soyinka may have unwittingly stepped on the tail of a rattlesnake for daring to condemn the presidential ambition of former military Head of State and All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) presidential standard-bearer, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.

The literary icon had, on Monday, at a world press conference in Lagos, faulted the candidacy of the former military leader, describing him as unfit for the nation�s number one job. He said that Buhari was unfit for the post of president because of his past poor human rights record and double standard in governance.

The renowned writer�s position generated an avalanche of hot reactions from across the federation, with prominent Nigerians, among them, Buhari; chairman, Peoples Redemption Party (PRP), Alhaji Abdulkadir Balarabe Musa; former minister of petroleum, Prof. Tam David-West and popular gospel singer, Mr. Sonny Okosuns hitting him hard for his comments.

Balarabe Musa, who is also a leader of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties (CNPP), said Soyinka was not qualified to cast aspersion on Buhari, alleging that the playwright had a worse record of human rights violations.

Buhari, on his part, said Soyinka�s outburst was uncalled for since he had shown enough evidence that he is democrat ready to operate according to the dictates of a civilian dispensation.

Musa said that as somebody who nurtured, supported and sustained the Oodua Peoples Congress, known for its alleged terrorist activities, Soyinka was not in a position to question Buhari’s human rights records. He said that though Soyinka was entitled to his own opinion, his statement on Buhari�s human rights record lacked merit, arguing that Soyinka probably wants to incite human rights organisations against Buhari.

Besides, debunking the criticism of Soyinka against General Buhari�s human rights record, Musa further stressed that Buhari�s “advantage is that taking everything into consideration, he constitutes the least risk as compared with those who are contesting with him� The same assessment that made us to support Obasanjo for the presidency in 1999, in addition to this, Buhari also has five relevant qualifications, viz: He is courageous, independent, credible, can make necessary sacrifice for the nation and also capable of leading the country.

Reacting also, to Soyinka�s outburst, Buhari, through a statement signed by the Chairman of his campaign organization, Chief Tony Momoh and entitled “Wole Soyinka and His State of The Nation Address, ” described the attacks on him as expression of sentiments. He noted: “If we have people who pioneered cultism in the institutions of higher learning, went into radio station to dislocate operations, but have changed by opting for due process to addressing of grievances, why then can we not accept that Buhari, who, at any time and place strongly and vehemently protests acts of injustice in whatever colour it presents itself, should be accommodated if he seeks office under the constitution which he has said he has a commitment to uphold, defend and implement?”

Buhari wondered if Soyinka had not been recruited as part of efforts to stop him from emerging victorious at the polls, while alleging that the outburst was part of a game plan to dissuade Nigerians from voting for him. He accused Prof. Soyinka of selectively presenting facts to justify his position.

Gen. Buhari alleged that Soyinka, in order to make a compelling case why Nigerians should reject him, failed to mention even one good thing that his regime did, which the people could use to judge and form their opinions about him.

“If this approach to enlighten the polity is the example our literary pride wants to set for those who need help, then we must widen our search for people who will man the scales that weigh the good, the bad, and the ugly so that those we lead may be properly advised on what path to take in their striving to secure a more tolerable future for themselves and their offspring,” he said.

Evangelist Okosuns advised Soyinka to leave the question of who succeeds President Olusegun Obasanjo to the electorate, urging him to rather use his wealth of experience and intellectual prowess on how to have a smooth transition. He said that rather than team up with government and give the nation a direction, Soyinka had always been in opposition.

Said he: “We have been following Wole Soyinka�s criticisms all along, with those of other activists. They have done a good job, but it is not necessarily in the interest of the masses. We are really tired of criticisms without solutions. It is good for someone to criticise an issue and offer solution. It is good to form an opposition on condition that the opposition has something to offer.”

David-West, on his part, accused Soyinka of abusing his social status by peddling sentiments and prejudices, affirming that Buhari remained the greatest leader Nigeria ever had and could have, particularly, in respect of probity, integrity, vision, focus and commitment.

GUARDIAN

Buhari team, David-West, Balarabe disagree with Soyinka

From Kelvin Ebiri (Port Harcourt), Saxone Akhaine (Kaduna), Adamu Abuh (Kano) and Oghogho Obayuwana (Abuja)

YOU might brand it a “clash” of two professors. Professor of virology and former Petroleum Minister in the regime of General Muhammadu Buhari, Tam David-West, has faulted Nobel laureate and Professor of Literature Wole Soyinka over the latter’s dismissal of Buhari as unfit to rule the country under a democratic system.

But he agreed with Soyinka that the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) should be voted out of power.

Soyinka had on Monday at a press conference come down hard on the All Nigerian Peoples Party’s (ANPP) presidential candidate listing what he described as Buhari’s oppressive antecedents as a military ruler and asking Nigerians not to vote for such person.

However, David-West was not alone. National Chairman of the Conference of Nigerian Political Parties, Alhaji Balarabe Musa and the Buhari Campaign team also rallied to the defence of Buhari.

David-West who spoke to reporters on Monday evening in Port Harcourt dismissed Soyinka’s pronouncements as “verbal excesses.”

Addressing journalists, David-West said he was irked by what he described as the ‘verbal excesses’ of Soyinka who said Buhari was not fit to rule Nigeria under a democratic system.

Describing corruption as one of Nigeria’s greatest problems, the virologist accused Soyinka of “deliberate ignorance” by not taking into cognisance what he (David-West) termed Buhari’s integrity as the most incorruptible and disciplined leader the country has produced since 1960. He then challenged Buhari’s critics to provide a better alternative to him.

“Our greatest problem (in Nigeria) is corruption. The greatest thing you can look for in a leader is probity. Gen. Buhari is a man of proven probity. While I worked with him, Buhari never interfered with me as Petroleum Minister. He never sent anyone to me for contract because he was not interested in contracts.”

The former minister, who urged critics of Buhari to be circumspect and objective, said they should instead channel their energy to sensitise Nigerians to vote for only disciplined, upright and incorruptible leaders.

David-West recalled that during Buhari’s reign, all Nigeria’s refineries were functioning properly and were even exporting refined petroleum products.

He said Soyinka’s castigation of Buhari for failing to appear before the human rights violation commission headed by Justice Chukwudifu Oputa was misdirected. According to him, the blame should be heaped on President Olusegun Obasanjo who failed to give the commission legal backing.

The renowned virologist, who said he appreciated the concern of those vehemently opposed to Buhari’s candidature, noted that “to fear Buhari’s antecedents and fail to appreciate his antecedents is intellectually flawed. Such concerns are being wrongly articulated with bias and prejudice.”

According to him: “We have no democracy, no federation, we have monocracy. What Wole should be interested in is telling people not to vote for the Peoples Democratic Party. There is need to vote out the PDP government. It is a government that is lawless. A government that disobeys Supreme Court orders. Buhari never did so as a military leader.”

Balarabe Musa yesterday picked holes in Soyinka’s criticism of the ANPP presidential candidate, saying that it lacked merit.

Musa, who reacted to the statement of Soyinka at his residence in Kaduna said the Nobel laureate is not in a position to cast aspersion on the candidacy of Buhari because he lacks the locus standi for such public criticism.

He argued that though Prof. Soyinka “is entitled to his opinion on human rights issue,” because he represents something else, his opinion may call for public guidance.”

The CNPP leader wondered how Prof. Soyinka who allegedly supports and sustains the Oodua People’s Congress (OPC) “known for its alleged terrorist acts” question Buhari’s human rights records, “certainly, he must probably want to influence human rights organisations, but these organisations still remember how he (Soyinka) abandoned late Tai Solarin in Lagos in 1989 on the occasion of an anti-Babangida demonstration.”

Musa said: “The abandonment forced late Solarin to accept Babangida’s offer of appointment as the chairman of the People’s Bank. His criticisms do not take concrete circumstances into account and lacks intellectual balance.”

Musa also stressed that “the criticism of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate, Umar Yar’Adua, is purely on his choice of the political party to contest on.”

Musa continued: “This means that if Yar’Adua had been contesting on the platform of another party other than the PDP, that would have been alright for Wole Soyinka. This shows some level of deficiency in reasoning, because in the case of Yar’Adua, the question is not the choice of the political party but his capacity and the fact that he seems to be a surrogate.”

Musa further stressed that “Buhari’s advantage is that, taking everything into consideration, he constitutes the least risk as compared with those who are contesting with him.”

Musa contended that Buhari “is courageous, independent, credible, can make necessary sacrifice for the nation and is also capable of leading the country.”

According to Musa, the Buhari human rights record which some people are criticising today is relative, “particularly when you take into account what happened during the regimes of Babangida’s, Abacha’s, and now Obasanjo’s.”

“You see, I am the right person to say it because when Buhari took over from Shagari’s government and all those who occupied political offices during a period were arrested and detained, I was one of them.”

Musa stressed further: “I was never interrogated and was never tried and I stayed in maximum Security Prison in Lagos for almost two years. So, I am one of those who know something about this human rights record. But, let me tell you, while I was in prison, I saw why Buhari had to do what he did to some of us politicians.”

In a statement yesterday, the chairman of the Buhari Campaign Organisation, TBO Prince” Tony Momoh urged Nigerians to disregard Soyinka’s invectives because they failed to reckon with the fact that the terms under which the retired general now wants to be president of Nigeria are quite different from the circumstances that brought him to power in 1984.

The TBO led by Momoh, a former Information Minister, decried the coincidence between Soyinka’s outbursts and President Olusegun Obasanjo’s alleged comments bordering on the fact that Gen. Buhari could never operate outside the military mindset. The group lamented that not a single word was mentioned about Gen. Buhari’s positive contributions to the polity under his watch.

In a language devoid of ribaldry, the TBO maintained that the respected Nobel laureate gave an unkind cut to a revolutionary who could not do more than what the tools on his hands and the garb he wore dictated at the time but who is ever the more conscious of all that has changed since his first incarnation in power.

The statement read in part: “…What Prof. Wole Soyinka did at his world press conference was to paint a picture of the past and download it with such emphasis that he would not accept that the object of his own venom was human enough, disciplined enough and civilised enough to have known that a military regime which by its very nature is dictatorial is different from an elected civilian government which derives its power and authority from the people in whom sovereignty resides.”

“If this approach to enlighten the polity is the example our country’s literary pride wants to set for those who need help, then we must widen our search for people who will man the scales that weigh the good, the bad and the ugly so that those we lead may be properly advised on what path to take in their striving to secure a more tolerable future for themselves and their off springs.”

But then, TBO went on, seeking to tackle point by point, all the issues raised by Soyinka.

Maintaining that clues to the Buhari factor had already been provided to the puzzles raised by Soyinka in his booklet: “Many Questions and Buhari’s Answers”, Momoh sermonised: “If Prof. Soyinka had read those questions and answers; if he had accessed the many interviews the general has granted the media since 2003; if he had closely watched the activities of the general since he entered the political arena; if he had been interested in monitoring the titanic battle in the courts to fight the massive abuse of the ballot in the 2003 elections; if he had been fair enough to accept that the discussions and meetings the general has had with different groups cutting across tribes and tongues and ideologies and beliefs, Professor Wole Soyinka would have been much kinder in writing off Gen. Buhari as a man who has no capacity to change his views and obey the rules of due process.”

THE PUNCH

Soyinka should join other progressives to endorse Buhari  Momoh

By Chiawo Nwankwo

Published: Thursday, 18 Jan 2007

A former Minister of Information and Chairman of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari’s campaign organisation, Chief Tony Momoh, has asked Prof. Wole Soyinka to follow his colleagues to discover what they saw in Buhari and endorse his candidature for the presidency, rather than oppose.

Buhari is the presidential candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party for the April general elections and has been adopted by the Chief Gani Fawehinmi-led National Conscience Party; the PRP led by Alhaji Balarabe Musa; and the NAP led by Dr. Tunji Braithwaite.

Momoh, in a three-page rejoinder to Soyinka’s attack on Buhari’s candidature over his alleged abuse of human rights, when he was a military leader, regretted that he had joined forces bent on stopping Buhari at all cost.

He explained that he decided to take issue with Soyinka fully, having read his uncharitable invectives against Buhari in national dailies, just as he reminded him that he was also guilty of the use of anti-democratic methods in addressing national problems.

According to Momoh, it was curious that Soyinka spoke against Buhari the same day that President Olusegun Obasanjo, at a different forum, accused him of still being a prisoner of military mentality.

Prof. Soyinka should see in Gen. Buhari what his colleagues in the progressive camp have discovered, that he is the most viable and credible vehicle for change this country has known and can depend on, he said.

Besides Soyinkas tirade, Momoh alleged that forces bent on stopping Buhari had recruited hirelings, mainly young men and women in the South-South and South-East to poison peoples minds that a vote for Buhari, was a vote to Islamise the country.

______________________________

Pro buhari over to u.and no name calling all I ask is did or did the issues raised by him didn't happen?

And so. you better dont kill yourself over Buhari. shows how vulnerable you are.

Bros I was a weed smoker back in school, a crazy boy for that matter. Now I am a successful family man working for a multinational company. i had a transition point, so is my mentor.


can wole soyinka, at his present age, seize a radio station like he did back as a young man in the 60's

Are you telling me you are a saint? can you please place your candidate side by side with my Buhari? i think i have asked you before.

let me see who can beat him on integrity, patriotism and ascetic lifestyle.

Keep the propaganda going, people are wiser than 2003 and 2007 when you succeeded with your islamist lies

Abeg someone shd summarize it

@mai suya ,
please take time to read thru it, i dont have tym for long read myself but that was mind blowing, you know the guy dont disappoint .

@ gen buhari am not suprised by ur comment the question I asked did the aligations on. Report did it happen or not during ur so calle saint administration?

A real democrat,he has the interest of Nigeria at heart.its a shame that Nigeria don't learn from past mistakes.

Soyinka is a very big hypocrite. He has a party now, he should concentrate on winning elections.

I don't support anybody as u claimed that buhari has turned a good leaf he should come out and appologize for the evil his regime did to nigerian he was given a change but he snubbed it (oputa panel).him and his co planner IBB.he has changed he refuse to bend to reason to form a credidble oppotion for this election.most of u people calling him a stateman and saint don't even have a voters card u come to naira land and blab of how he reduced inflation from 24% to 4% without facts. A regime that hounded opposition and banned freedom of speech,selective justice that favours his tribe and that person is a saint! A man that served under his junior in the most corrupt regime in 9ja history is a saint!!.even the worst politian is far better than a tyrant!.during his regime there were no freedom of speech,but during this political era there is freedom of speech that is why he can go about blabbing and accussing politician.the freedom of speech he refused nigerian is what he is enjoying now .

Akanbi_edu:

Soyinka is a very big hypocrite. He has a party now, he should concentrate on winning elections.

Whatever soothes your nerves!

Buhari is not an alternative. He can be a good commander of a battalion, he can be a good NSA, but a President? NO!

Noblezone,

you better go to the street and start shouting no. because the YES are already winning on the internet and the media. take it to the streets before the the BB campaign train starts soon. and when Bakare talks, bros or madam, u sef go change mind

Genbuhari3:

Noblezone,

you better go to the street and start shouting no. because the YES are already winning on the internet and the media. take it to the streets before the the BB campaign train starts soon. and when Bakare talks, bros or madam, u sef go change mind

I have know the Pastor for years. I have respect for him, but on this matter; me thinks he has gone over board.

The internet yes or no, street yes or no does not in any way bug me. 2011 elections are a few weeks away.
Let us all vote according to our convinctions. A winner will emergy, and we we'll take it from there.

so who do you support?
and who should the pastor support
and where is it stated in the bible or quran that pastors or imams are not to be part of governance?

Buhari is the best of the lots as far as i am concerned.

Ribadu is my 2nd choice, but on arrogance and temperament to manage the highest position in this country? he is out.

GEJ, never an option. corruption stinks from his party

Quote from gen buhari

you better go to the street and start shouting no. because the YES are already winning on the internet and the media. take it to the streets before the the BB campaign train starts soon. and when Bakare talks, bros or madam, u sef go change mind.

Does that address the issues thr prof talked about can Bakare come out and defend his oga.for him to even accept the VP of BUHARI and the way he tried to BLACKMAIL the executive of given him bribe during his campaign days for buhari under the guise of SNG his credibility is less than a used tissue paper is only people like u that he will talk and u will change ur mind because history has no meaning to u.pls answer the simple question I have always asked u DID THE ISSUES THE PROF RAISED DID IT HAPPEN OR NOT DURING HIS REGIME? Defend him with facts and stop depending on a confused and desparate for power pastor!

you be mumu!

did GEJ ever denied he didn't give money. Even his associate never denied it, he just said they can't bribe someone of Bakare's calibre with $50000


so is it $50000 that can sway Bakare, the man who brought SKODA to Nigeria in the early 90's. an accomplised lawyer from Gani Fawehinmi and Rotimi williams chambers?

Guy, i can see GEJ is your man and he had shown how corrupt he is with the $50000 bribe. and he did say at a forum it is normal for transport money to be given to visitors even when he was bayelsa governor. it shows he is valueless! so your clueless foolish GEJ cannot even be compared on integrity level with Bakare and Buhari. how did your GEJ make his money. he ruined OMPADEC with Horsfall! we know who the thieves are

And to answer your question!

It happened, and so what! that was the approach of that time! Rawlings used it in Ghana as well. infact he killed all past rulers! is Ghana not better for it today?

The approach of the moment is democracy and the general has proved in 2 elections and 2 court cases that he is a democrat.

see quote below from the General himself. what else do you want! are you GOD!

[b]I want to assure you that in the last twenty-five years of my life, I have undertaken the necessary journey to transition myself from one-time military head of state to a presidential candidate under a democratic dispensation. I submit to you that twenty-five years after I last wore the uniform of a general, my personal democratic maturity and credentials have been established. My commitment to democratic values in every aspect of our national life has been unflinching. And I believe that my conducts and participation in the last twelve years of democratic experiment in the country can speak for me. The defining moment for my conversion to democratic values occurred during the three-and-a -half year period I was under military detention after the government I led was toppled by a military coup. While in detention, I watched on Television, the dissolution of Russia – which was both an empire and a global superpower. It struck me as remarkable, the fact that a powerful empire could dissolve without a single gun shot – it simply yielded to the popular demand of the people. This trail of thought led me to realize the supremacy of the people (through ballot box) above bullet. I have thereafter believed in the sanctity of ballot box as the best expression of the popular desire of citizens. Going forward, I will always support for ballot box over bullet, as a means of gaining power.
[/b]

Good points by Wole.

Ribadu > Buhari > Jonathan.

However Ribadu has no chance of winning, hence those who would ordinarily vote for him would give their vote to Buhari.

According to the PDP national publicity secretary, Mr. John Odeh, Yar�Adua had always enjoyed sound health with high mental and intellectual condition, which he said surpassed those of other presidential candidates.

Odeh said the party was fully convinced about the ability of the Katsina State governor to carry its flag effectively in the next presidential election, a reason, according to him, members voted for him during the party�s presidential primaries.

The PDP, said Odeh, had an internal mechanism for raising its members for election. The mechanism, he said, had never been faulted, having over the years produced results.

�Soyinka certainly is not a medical doctor, and so we do not know how he had the idea that Yar�Adua has not been enjoying good health.

�Let me state that the PDP presidential candidate enjoys a good health. That is evidenced by high academic background and his fine experiences in business,� he said.

Yeah right

Sadly, Soyinka was vindicated, and still, a lot of my folks believe these PDP people will do right by Nigeria? SMH

Ibime:

Good points by Wole.

Ribadu > Buhari > Jonathan.

However Ribadu has no chance of winning, hence those who would ordinarily vote for him would give their vote to Buhari.

Ribadu is just being a dreamer. He has no chance of winning and will steal valuable opposition vote away from Buhari. Tinubu's ambition will end up gifting PDP with the presidency once again.
This is the best chance to strike PDP when the cracks are everywhere.

Quote from Genbuhari3:
you be mumu!

did GEJ ever denied he didn't give money. Even his associate never denied it, he just said they can't bribe someone of Bakare's calibre with $50000

I knw u will resort to name calling like ur mentor who can't take critics like me thank God and allah for democracy we have informations and freedom of speech like ur mentor u would have made a decree to kill me like him.but the world is a global village ur past must hunt u the people that sweared for him during his regime of injustice against nigerians.I can imagine how mad u are calling a man u don't kwn MUMU! Without been insulted to the bribe issue SNG is an NGO if they didn't want grant from goverment I ask u dis ? Was it govt that invited him or did he request a meeting with FG and blackmail them when they gave him money for his NGO SNG? Is that how he makes noise when his wealthy flocks(mostly 419s and govt official when they make larger sums than what claims to be bribe to finance SNG) talk on the issues raised by the prof I repeat a politician is better than a tyrant

Check out genbuhari's first post, if soyinka can't handle a radio station now as at then, how do u think buhari can handle nigeria better now. Don't forget to ask gerontologist how the aged behave

BUHARI IS FULL OF EVIL