Femi: Of one man, one vote

THAT Nigerians have confidence in the 2015 elections is one of the greatest achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan. Contrast that with Buhari who overthrew a democratically elected government. Today, like before, Nigerians remember very well how he defended Boko Haram by protesting the killing of their members and the burning of their houses by Jonathan as heavy handed, only to turn around now to campaign to the Nigerian people that Jonathan is weak in dealing with Boko Haram. Or have Nigerians forgotten that Boko Haram nominated Buhari to negotiate on their behalf in Saudi Arabia. Buhari refused; if he truly loves Nigeria why didn’t he assist Nigeria by coming out to negotiate in order to resolve the crisis. Was it not because he knows that he would be the beneficiary of the crisis? Buhari is the patron of a society known as Confederation of Traditional Herders in Africa, which caters for the interest of Fulani in Africa. Yet with all the genocidal killings of the Middle Belt Christians by Fulani herdsmen, Buhari has not found it necessary to intervene and bring peace by calling his kinsmen to order, yet he was quick to go to Lam Adesina in Ibadan to protest that Fulani were being killed. Despite all these, Nigerians are being told not to discuss his behaviour. Buhari himself says he is not an Islamic fundamentalist because all his vice presidential candidates have all been devout Christians.   

    But Christians are only good enough to be his assistants not presidents. Buhari in his desperation for power does not care that his methods only show Nigerians that elections don’t matter; all you need to come to power is the barrel of the gun, either through a military coup or by insurgency. Buhari’s lack of respect for the constitution and Nigeria’s laws started when he entered the army without the required school certificate and even now blatantly refuses to admit that he does not have it. In the face of this clear fraud he continues to parade himself as “Mr. Integrity” and “Mr. Anti-corruption.” Buhari is the only candidate who did not submit any evidence of minimum qualification in 2003, 2007, 2011 and  now in 2015.Yet he says it does not matter. It does not matter that Buhari was sent to local and foreign (Army) trainings without having the initial minimum entry qualification. How can you build something on nothing? We all know that if you enter the university without a school certificate, at any time it is found out, the university would withdraw your degree if it has already awarded you one. The university would not be blamed as the APC is asking Nigerians to blame the army for commissioning Buhari without a school certificate. What can be more corrupt than this? In other parts of the world, Buhari would be facing prosecution.   

   But in Nigeria he is talking about corruption. He has failed to explain to Nigerians that as petroleum minister 2.8 billion oil money reportedly disappeared at a time when the naira was stronger than the dollar and when most Nigerians had not even heard of a billion naira. What about the 53 suitcases of cash carried by the Emir of Gwandu that passed through the airport on Buhari’s instructions while Fela was jailed for attempting to leave the country with a paltry sum. Nigerians have not forgotten PTF’s missing 25 billion naira, which remains unaccounted for? Yet Nigerians are being told not to speak about these things as they would constitute an attack on personality and not the issues. Jonathan can be attacked and not Buhari. It appears there is one law for Buhari and another for Jonathan. As for Obasanjo, after his failed third term bid, and after what his son Gbenga swore to in an affidavit, and later divorced his wife, the same Obasanjo still goes around clothed as a saint. Little wonder this is Nigeria where memories are short. Nigerians must understand the choice in this election. We either vote Jonathan and the victory of one man one vote or vote Buhari and give Boko Haram the victory by saying that obtaining power in Nigeria is by violence. 

    Today it is Boko Haram; tomorrow it would be another group. Let us not sell our birthright out of fear of Boko Haram. Let us say no to born to rule by force. Let’s say no to fear. On Valentine’s Day, let us vote wisely. Let us shame the forces of violence, a message in service of the truth. 

• Femi is a public issue analyst in Osun State.