Between two bad choices I still won’t vote for Buhari

THE atmosphere of the upcoming elections all over the country is so tense, dire and ecstatic. Nigerians are becoming increasingly anxious and strangely pessimistic and optimistic as the case may be.

    From Sapele to Sokoto, Arugungu to Ado-Ekiti, the sole discourse is primarily about the upcoming elections. Never in the history of this great country of ours has the prelude to a general election been this fraught with extreme danger, anxiety and trepidation.

   With the frequent cross-carpeting of politicians from one political party to another, character assassination, witch-hunting, whistle blowing, security situation particularly in the North-east and the ongoing political violence, no wonder there is a genuine fear that the elections might “make or mar” the economic and socio political future of our country. Clearly, the battle for power is between the incumbent, President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, of the ruling People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and the perennial presidential aspirant, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, of the All Progressive Congress (APC).

    The amalgamation of several opposition parties to form a single opposition in the run-up to this election has indeed given the APC a boost and made the elections more competitive. However, as campaigning by political parties and their candidates have earnestly taken off; the “expose” that the Presidential candidate of the APC did not present his academic qualifications to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has elicited “raised eyebrows” and censure from teeming Nigerians from all works of life. Unlike the PDP presidential candidate, President Jonathan’s academic certificates were conspicuously displayed by INEC upon presentation. However, Buhari’s credentials have, thus far, been missing, without a trace at the commission.

    Subsequently, in a twist of events, the former General via an affidavit he submitted to INEC, explained that, all his academic credentials were with the Secretary, Military Board. The “bone of contention,” however, is the supposition that Buhari seemingly does not possess the minimum academic requirement or its equivalent (i.e. secondary school leaving certificate), for the post of President, as constitutionally stipulated; hence, he is not qualified to run for the presidential office. The former military ruler has consistently failed to submit any such evidence, claiming that he lost the original copies of his diplomas when his house was allegedly raided following his overthrow from power in 1985.

    Also, in the INEC Form CF 001 for the 2015 elections filled by Buhari, in section C of the form, the instruction on the form clearly states “ATTACH EVIDENCE OF ALL EDUCATIONAL QUALIFICATION” – this was however not done by General Buhari. Curiously though, General Buhari did not refer INEC to the Military Board while he contested elections in 2011 and other earlier elections he took part in. That means, in breach of the 1999 constitution, Buhari has been contesting for elections without meeting the mandatory constitutional requirement.

     While Buhari’s educational qualifications or lack of it is continuing to evoke understandable censure from discerning Nigerians, perusing another aspect of the former military dictator which is a source for

concern but has floated below the radar is his intellect, i.e. knowledge and intellectual ability. From a document made available to the public with serial No. 29, which was Buhar’s final report on an Army Staff course from the Defence Services Staff College, Wellington, from 22 January – 24 November 1973, the Chief Instructor Army Wing, Brigadier H.W. Kulkani, graded Buhari who was a Lieutenant Colonel then as having an “average intellect”. The report also states that Buhari “possesses a working of his own Arm but his knowledge of other Arms and Services is just adequate in its extent and application”. It is of no surprise for those close to the former dictator that the former General lacks intellectual ability.

    While he was the military president, it wasn’t a hidden secret that Gen Idiagbon was thought to be the de-facto president, as he was the originator of such policies like the “War Against Discipline.”

    Intellect is one of the major determinants of presidential effectiveness and Buhari’s “average intellect,” if he becomes President, will likely throw us down the abyss of underdevelopment.  Nigeria needs a President who is smart and academically sound. In developed countries, social scientists and climotricians (historians who work with statistics) have developed ingenious ways to connect intelligence with presidential performance. A President’s cognitive trait is very vital for the smooth effectiveness of piloting the vast affairs of the country.

    A country likes Nigeria, with a myriad of problems, diverse ethnicity and religion, surely doesn’t need the likes of Buhari, with his average intellect` mediocrely, navigating the affairs of our country. Perhaps it is because of his intellectual laziness that Buhari and the APC recently passed off an invitation for a public debate with other presidential aspirants to showcase his manifesto.

    In the General’s school report also, the Commandant of the college, Major General S.P. Malhotra, stated as part of his remarks on Buhari that he is of “average intelligence” and that he possesses a “sober” disposition. Now, this damning observation by the Commandant is striking and needs to be critically perused. After also concurring on Buhari’s mediocre intellect, the commandant’s sober declaration on Buhari’s disposition gives us cause for alarm. Being sober may mean being softspoken and calm but it also means lacking brightness and luster, dull and completely lacking in exuberance. Is this the kind of President we want to take us to the “promised land” in the next four years?

     Nigerians deserves a president, who is bright, lively and sharp. We certainly need a president who is up and doing and ready to inspiringly heed the call to duty. We need a President who is not lacking intellectual acuity but active and brisk in his demeanor and carriage. We need a President who has an inspiring charisma, capable of taking Nigeria to greater heights. Having a sober personality and disposition for the number one citizen of our country could indeed prove detrimental to the fortunes of Nigeria, especially in the conduct of our foreign relations. We need a president who can hold his own, protect and project our interest in the international arena and in the comity of nations.

    In developed democracies, a presidential aspirant who lacks or cannot produce the basic educational requirements for the position of President, possesses a mediocre and uninspiring intelligence quotient, who is in the aged year of 72 and who is seemingly nursing a malignant ailment, would certainly not be elected or fit to occupy the exalted office.

    President Jonathan may not be the best material or President Nigeria has had or could produce, but neither is General Buhari. Unfortunately for Nigerians, a choice has got to be made between President Jonathan and General Buhari. At this desperate time when one has to pick between two, not so inspiring choices, I would rather opt for the one who has an above average intellect, possesses working knowledge of issues outside his sphere of practice, has the imagination and commonsense to think outside the box, is sometimes assertive, has gone to University, and has the basic minimum Constitutional requirement to contest for the office of the President of Nigeria; and that certainly is NOT General Buhari.

• Olu Adekanola writes from Osogbo, Osun State