President Muhammadu Buhari spoke on Tuesday, warning troublemakers in the country that the picnic was over, and the next day, I saw this comment online from a Buharist, as lovers and admirers of the President are known:
“I just finished watching the President on TV reading the riot act to troublemakers, and I couldn’t be prouder of the President. I suddenly remembered why I fell in love with the President.”
That respondent sure spoke the minds of millions of Buharists in Nigeria and the Diaspora. The man we fell in love with is of iron and steel, one ready and willing to knock sense into contumacious heads, whipping everyone into line. And being kind to us in the process. A kind bully, if you like the oxymoron.
How did things unfold that Tuesday afternoon, that led President Buhari to make the speech that is perhaps the most epochal in recent times?
Chairman of Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Mahmood Yakubu, had led top guns of the electoral body into the meeting room with the President, shortly before the scheduled time of 3 pm.
Like clockwork, President Buhari came in at the dot of the appointed time. He never misses it. And Prof Yakubu began his briefing. What were the main points?
*The spate of attacks on INEC’s offices and facilities nationwide has grave implications for elections and electoral activities in Nigeria.
*So far, there have been 42 of such attacks across the country since the 2019 General Election. The incidents occurred in 14 states for a variety of reasons, including bandit attack, 1, Boko Haram, 1, EndSARS protest, 18, post-election violence, 4, thuggery during elections, 6, unknown gunmen and hoodlums, 12.
*Thirty out of the 42 or 71% of the attacks happened in the last 7 months. They appear to be targeted at future elections, with the intention to incapacitate INEC, undermine democracy, and precipitate a national crisis.
The INEC Chairman enumerated the immediate implications of the development, unfolded actions taken by the Commission, and asked for the intervention of Mr President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces.
Confronted by such graphic display of anarchy, what should a President do? Throw up his hands in surrender, acquiesce, and tell everyone to go home in defeat and capitulation?
Remember how we started this piece. President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) was once General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB), the army commander who gave Chadian forces who made incursion into Nigerian territory a bloody nose. He dealt with Maitatsine religious fanatics. He gave a red card to hard drug traffickers, who were executed by firing squad. He introduced War Against Indiscipline, and generally attempted to make us prim and proper. He was succeeding, before hidden, hostile hands terminated the regime. Thirty years later, Nigerians yearned for that GMB, and massively voted him back to power.
The response of the President to INEC elicited different kinds of reactions from different people and groups. What did he say?
*Those behind the attacks on national assets want the Administration to fail, and enough is enough. Soon, they will receive the shock of their lives.
*Many of those misbehaving today were too young to know the destruction that attended our Civil War (1967-1970), but those of us that were in the fields, fighting to keep the country together, won’t just fold our arms. We’ll rather speak to them in a language they would understand.
*I lead the country according to our Constitution, and anyone who wants to destroy the country would answer for it.
*We are expending resources to build infrastructure, and we won’t allow anyone destroy them. We will be harder on troublemakers.
*We have changed the Service Chiefs and Inspector General of Police. We will give them all the resources they need, and then demand security from them.
*We will give INEC all the resources required to conduct elections, so that no one would accuse us of not wanting to leave office, or that we want a 3rd term.
In reaction to what the President said, I also saw this comment online: “His followers are reinvigorated. They are buzzing.”
True. What our country needs at this time is iron and steel. An alchemy of GMB and PMB. We are in a democracy, yes, but democracy is no byword for lawlessness. If anybody misbehaves in any part, repeat, ANY PART, of the country, they need to be whipped into line. The nation needs not go into a tailspin because some people bear giant sized grudges in their hearts. By the way, is there any part of the country that does not have one grievance or the other? Is the next option then to capsize the boat of the country? Any leader that has sworn to uphold the Constitution would not open his eyes, and see it happen.
Leaders must do whatever they should do to maintain peace and tranquility in their countries. Their intentions will always be misinterpreted and misrepresented. No matter. The good of the larger majority must be considered at all times. North, South, East, West, anarchy should never be condoned, no matter what some people may say.
I like how Moyosore Oyetunji, a passionate Buharist on Facebook summarized latest developments: “When he pleaded with you to eschew violence, you accused him of becoming a motivational speaker, instead of the General that he is. Now he has decided to be it, you are crying. Please, what exactly do you want from him?”
President Buhari is not genocidal, and can’t ever be accused of such intentions. But a leader worth his salt cannot look on, and watch law and order break down irretrievably. It is not about a people, or region. It is about the country he took an oath to keep together.
Every region has one grouse or the other against the state of our union. But murder and mayhem should never be an option in resolving matters. That is the message of President Buhari, and it should be the message of every good Nigerian.
*Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity
Wow, awesome blog structure! How long have you been running a blog for? you make running a blog glance easy. The full look of your web site is magnificent, let alone the content!
Great goods from you, man. I have remember your stuff prior to and you are just too excellent. I actually like what you’ve obtained here, really like what you’re stating and the way in which wherein you are saying it. You are making it enjoyable and you continue to take care of to stay it sensible. I can not wait to learn much more from you. That is really a wonderful web site.
I just like the valuable information you provide to your articles. I抣l bookmark your blog and check again here frequently. I’m fairly sure I will be told lots of new stuff proper right here! Best of luck for the following!
Wow! This blog looks exactly like my old one! It’s on a totally different topic but it has pretty much the same page layout and design. Wonderful choice of colors!
This is really interesting, You’re a very skilled blogger. I have joined your feed and look forward to seeking more of your fantastic post. Also, I have shared your site in my social networks!
One thing is that when you’re searching for a education loan you may find that you’ll want a co-signer. There are many situations where this is true because you may find that you do not use a past credit rating so the mortgage lender will require that you’ve someone cosign the financial loan for you. Great post.
online pharmacy group – xtadalafix.com trust pharmacy
Thanks for the strategies you are sharing on this site. Another thing I’d like to say is that getting hold of copies of your credit report in order to scrutinize accuracy of each detail may be the first action you have to conduct in credit repair. You are looking to thoroughly clean your credit profile from harmful details mistakes that spoil your credit score.
Offensichtlich the-field Messungen wirklich sind ein kleines small,
die Aggression Faktor Komponente ist ganz verringerte und Potenzial von ein exzellente Person bis überwunden die Esel ist drastisch erhöhten.
Your style is so unique compared to many other people. Thank you for publishing when you have the opportunity,Guess I will just make this bookmarked.2
I do accept as true with all the ideas you’ve introduced for your post. They’re really convincing and can certainly work. Nonetheless, the posts are too quick for beginners. May you please lengthen them a bit from subsequent time? Thank you for the post.
Hello there, I found your site by way of Google while searching for a similar topic, your web site got here up, it seems good. I’ve bookmarked it in my google bookmarks.
I view something really interesting about your weblog so I saved to bookmarks.
Hey, you used to write wonderful, but the last several posts have been kinda boringK I miss your great writings. Past several posts are just a bit out of track! come on!
Very well written post. It will be helpful to anyone who usess it, including myself. Keep doing what you are doing – i will definitely read more posts.
I am incessantly thought about this, regards for posting.
Some truly good articles on this website, thank you for contribution. “Once, power was considered a masculine attribute. In fact, power has no sex.” by Katharine Graham.
You are my breathing in, I have few web logs and rarely run out from to brand.
I’m really impressed with your writing skills and also with the layout on your weblog. Is this a paid theme or did you modify it yourself? Either way keep up the excellent quality writing, it is rare to see a nice blog like this one today..
Hi, Neat post. There is a problem along with your site in internet explorer, might test this?K IE nonetheless is the market chief and a large section of people will leave out your excellent writing due to this problem.
Thank you, I’ve just been searching for information about this subject for ages and yours is the greatest I’ve discovered till now. However, what concerning the conclusion? Are you certain concerning the source?
Hello just wanted to give you a brief heads up and let you know a few of the pictures aren’t loading properly. I’m not sure why but I think its a linking issue. I’ve tried it in two different browsers and both show the same results.
It’s really a great and helpful piece of information. I’m satisfied that you simply shared this helpful info with us. Please keep us up to date like this. Thanks for sharing.
Very interesting topic, appreciate it for putting up.
Perfect piece of work you have done, this website is really cool with superb information.
Awsome article and right to the point. I don’t know if this is really the best place to ask but do you guys have any ideea where to get some professional writers? Thank you 🙂
Hi there, just became alert to your blog through Google, and found that it’s truly informative. I am going to watch out for brussels. I’ll appreciate if you continue this in future. Lots of people will be benefited from your writing. Cheers!
very nice post, i definitely love this website, keep on it
You need to take part in a contest for the most effective blogs on the web. I will advocate this web site!
I like this website very much, Its a really nice office to read and obtain information. “The love of nature is consolation against failure.” by Berthe Morisot.
You could certainly see your enthusiasm in the paintings you write. The arena hopes for even more passionate writers such as you who aren’t afraid to mention how they believe. All the time go after your heart. “He never is alone that is accompanied with noble thoughts.” by Fletcher.
I will immediately grasp your rss feed as I can not to find your e-mail subscription hyperlink or e-newsletter service. Do you have any? Kindly let me recognise so that I may just subscribe. Thanks.
Hey there! This post could not be written any better! Reading this post reminds me of my old room mate! He always kept talking about this. I will forward this article to him. Fairly certain he will have a good read. Thanks for sharing!
Sweet site, super layout, very clean and use pleasant.
Your home is valueble for me. Thanks!…
Nice post. I was checking constantly this blog and I’m impressed!
Extremely useful info particularly the last part 🙂 I care for such information a lot.
I was seeking this particular info for a long time.
Thank you and good luck.
I wanted to write you this little note just to say thanks again for these extraordinary suggestions you have discussed on this site. It was seriously open-handed with you to grant easily exactly what a lot of folks would’ve advertised for an e book in order to make some bucks on their own, particularly considering that you could possibly have done it in case you wanted. These smart ideas likewise acted to be the fantastic way to be sure that other people have the identical dreams much like mine to learn very much more with regard to this issue. I am certain there are lots of more pleasurable instances ahead for folks who see your site.