If President Buhari Were A Patriot…

By Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba

President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) is one of only two people who have ruled Nigeria both as a military dictator and as an elected president. In a country of about 100 million citizens, this is not an insignificant accomplishment. In Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs, President Buhari should be at the top, Self-Actualization level. He should not have any more needs. If he were a patriot he should quit right here and right now. 

But he is not.

If he were a patriot he should read the warning signs.

1. His most ardent supporters are showing signs of weariness. They still offer some defense and protection for him but they seem tepid. Mr. Lai Mohammed can lie on his behalf for only so much as his integrity begins to deteriorate. Even Professor Aluko is now willing to accept that some of PMB’s actions/lack or actions are mistakes. Mr. Theophilus Yakubu Danjuma (former Defense Minister), one of his richer and early backers has openly called for the North Central (NC) citizens to buy arms to protect themselves as the government is unable to do so.

2. The massive demonstrations by Christians in Abuja a few days ago show how deep the disgust of Christians with his administration is. Christians constitute about 50% of Nigerians. When a leader loses the support of most his nation, patriotism demands that he, the leader, steps aside.

3. The Shiites (about 10-20%) of the Muslims lost faith in him after the massive slaughter of the members by the Nigerian Army just because they were in a quiet religious procession. Item 2 above when commingled with this item 3 show that PMB has divided the country along religious quake/fault lines.

4. Among the Northern elite, his base, many harbor doubts about his capacity to continue. They have stated openly that they would be looking for alternative leadership from the North. They have not passed a vote of full confidence in his leadership given many opportunities they have had to do so.

5. Nigeria is a multi-cultural, multi religious society that requires her leaders to be operating at the top of their games. A person close to his 80’s and in bad health does not meet this standard. The most recent trip to London, for health check-up, dramatizes this weakness. Some of us thought that he has made full recovery but PMB’s doctor took a look at him when he stopped over in London (on his way to USA) and ordered that consultation was needed.

6. PMB’s performance thus far has been very unremarkable. His greatest accomplishment is the murder of Christians, Shiites, and (as is being suspected given that he has been missing since soldiers invaded his home) Mr. Nnamdi Kanu. And other human rights abuses. His glorifying of human rights-abuser and looter-extraordinary, former head of state, late Sani Abacha, whom he served, shows who his heroes are.

7. ETC.

The two things that seem to motivate Mr. Buhari’s desire to continue are the facts that he has not groomed successors. And his fear that his party is fractured.

But there is one solution for both weaknesses. His early exit would allow his party’s system to work its way out. The system would throw out a candidate and the candidate would have enough time to unite APC members behind him/her.

If PMB takes this step now, he would be helping his country and his party. If he waits till September to withdraw, the ensuing infighting would handicap his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and throw the election to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But if he fails to withdraw he would have also handed the country back to the PDP on a platter.

President Buhari will not step down which is why I think he is not a patriot.

*Benjamin Obiajulu Aduba writes from Boston, Massachusetts, USA

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