Muhammadu Buhari at 69

I got to know about the birthday of former Head of State, General Mohammadu Buhari (rtd) in the dailies. As a man I so much cherish, because of his uprightness and Spartan disciplined life, I decided to pay him a tribute.It is unfortunate that Nigerians were paying a lip service to the issue of development, if not; the type of Buhari should be president of this nation today. However, Nigerian elite who are benefiting from the status quo are manipulating other Nigerians to reject better materials for those who would help sustain their stranglehold on the nation's jugular. Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo, late Chief M.K.O. Abiola and Buhari were some of those that Nigerian parasitic elite debarred from leading this country. These elite are ubiquitous. They are in the armed forces, religious bodies, traditional institutions, political and business class.Buhari is a tested leader; he had served the nation in different capacities in the armed forces, as a minister, as military administrator, minister, Head of State and Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) Buhari proved his mettle as an astute administrator with unblemished records.He is honest, upright, disciplined and has zero tolerance for corruption. War Against Indiscipline of his regime in the early 1980s would remain a reference point in the fight against indiscipline for a long time to come. During his regime, the Nigerian economy was buoyant because Naira enjoyed stability and was stronger than some international currencies. As such, petroleum products were available at affordable prices. Nigeria's refineries were working at full capacities. All these happened because our economy had not been hijacked by the Bretton wood institution.Buhari is not without his Achilles heel which his opponents have been using against him. He was accused of highhandedness, particularly as regards his policy on drug peddlers and Decree 4 of 1984 which was meant to censor the press.He was equally tagged religious extremist and ethnic jingoist. Opposition had used the above to campaign against his presidential aspiration. Nevertheless, no one has accused him of corruption.The tributes paid to him by President Goodluck Jonathan, Senator David Mark, Northern Nigeria Governors' Forum, etc. were genuine and deep from their hearts in appreciation of his greatness. Discerning Nigerians know that for this nation to grow, we need a leader of Buhari's character but no one is ready to forgo his privileged position and perks accruing from therein. This is why the nation is prostrate, groping in the dark and battling with corruption, insurgency, violent armed robberies, collapsed infrastructure, poverty, comatose economy and energy crisis.Many happy returns, the masses' general.Adewuyi AdegbiteApake Ogbomoso
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