Buhari @ 73: A Step Close To Nobel Peace, Mo Ibrahim, Mandela
Even in the best tradition of African culture and commonly accepted wisdom, recalling long history of patience, resilience and purposeful doggedness in an environment gripped and dominated by irrational tendency and violent disposition for undermining collective interest in the pursuit of parochial narrow gains is favoured as a well-deserved tribute to one conjured in such image. Africa’s history of political leadership is rich and rooted in the narrative of revolving imagery of insanely corrupt leadership reputed for chilling proclivity for quick material affluence, sit-tightism, indecent luxurious lifestyle, wasteful extravagance, undermining national interest .
Memories of discipline, restraint and a heart for public good among public office holders come short, detailed in scantiness and numerical specificity of value. The sheer volume and spread of absence of committed and responsible leadership offend common sense and public conscience – a sour and unpleasant recital in trending global discourse on responsible governance. How then can we locate a space in the context of global discourse on purposeful and transparent leadership in the African continent that can possibly absorb a somewhat different narration enriched by a personality whose ways are different and irrevocably linked to the trending advocacy for committed leadership in modern political administration?
Little doubt is there to be entertained that before Buhari is a huge mountainous challenge he must surmount, if only to fulfill his pre-election promises and justify the significance of his historic reappearance on the political leadership position of the nation – a rare feat – considering the size and scope of the challenges before him. It’s no philosophic exaggeration that in troubling times and challenging moments in a nation’s history, certain people are drafted by the reorganising forces of evolution in human society, to give a new sense of direction and hope as substituted alternative for the despondent, uncertain and fluid clime.
In the abundance of evidence, like Buhari’s first coming in the eighties, a nation besotted with excesses of the political leadership in grotesque proportion and rare brand of profligacy, corruption and embezzlement needs a new lease of life. That the nation, after a convulsive spin of repeated failures in political leadership, spanning over thirty years after his first coming, again has Buhari on a redemptive mission, is sure more than just the banal narrative of historic coincidence.
What informs this optimistic enthusiasm is not unconnected with his well-known immutable moral disposition to the twin hydra-headed monsters bedeviling the nation –pervasive corruption and insecurity. Buhari, surely, is no stranger to the effect of the molesting ambience of these distressing malaises; neither does he lack the response capacity to nip them in the bud, though constrained by the drudgery of cleverly structured processes of delay christened due process.
While the milestones are there to tap from in identifying Buhari with projected satisfactory performance in office and his proven ability for same, pieces of advice, reasonable and responsible criticism must, however, not be withheld in aiding and assisting his reconstruction and rebuilding efforts as he enters the critical phase and defining moment of his four-year mandate.
Buhari should, while devoting his effort, attention and energy to repositioning the country from its default decrepit state, have his eyes on history – both in the range of the African continent and the world as a whole.
History affords the opportunity to Buhari to redefine the unpalatable narratives of dearth of quality governance in post-colonial Africa – an existential reality even in global political discourse. A more vivid picture of the appalling state of quality leadership in Africa is captured by the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Outstanding Achievement in African Leadership. Of the many carefully selected numbered criteria for a winner to take the prize, what stands out clearly is the condition that the recipient must have passed the leadership test of good governance of his country and raised, to encouraging level, the living standard of his people as well as serving out his tenure in office with demonstrable evidence of “excellent achievement in office and democratically transferring power to his successor.”
Nothing in the known tendencies and pedigree of Buhari suggests that any of the laid-out criteria for winning the award is out of his reach. Besides, the foregoing is the very reason he was given such overwhelming mandate by the electorate in the last presidential election. Curiously, but interestingly, in the last four years, no African leader was considered worthy of the award – which goes to underscore the dearth of good leaders in the continent. However, this unfavourable streak of losses was revered earlier this year when Buhari’s contemporary, the 79-year-old Namibian president, Mr. Hifikepunye Pohamba, won the price. It’s our hope and prayer that Buhari will, at the end of his tenure, justify his top contestant position for the Mo Ibrahim award for quality governance in Africa.
The death of Mandela invariably provoked a thought of a likely replacement in the considered spheres of global and domestic influence – an iconic super personality whose words resonate and radiate wisdom, vision and purpose in the African continent and beyond. The key character traits of selflessness and deep mind and spirit for the downtrodden, which Mandela personifies, are not in short supply with Buhari. Besides, the inflamed passionate frenzy – Buharimania – which his sheer presence generate among the people is total in reflective symbolism of a cult personality.
After the late Nelson Mandela, Buhari has no equal in popularity in the entire African continent; hence, fitting into the shoes of Mandela is an exact infusion ranked in the messianic status by which he is perceived: Mandela as the tireless anti-apartheid czar and Buhari as the fearless anti-corruption czar. It throws up an interesting specter because Buhari is now the barometer and standard for credibility and integrity by which the worth of every politician is measured in the Northern region- a befitting inspiring mentorship for the younger ones.
How close can Buhari get to clinching the coveted Nobel Peace Price? Obama got his Nobel Peace award after his famous victory as the first black president of America; nothing suggests that Buhari cannot replicate this feat if the semblance of the Obama factor plays out. He is equally the first person to defeat a sitting president in an election in the entire political history of the largest democracy in Africa, underpinned by the fact that his immense popularity played significant role in coalescing scattered regional opposition parties into a formidable single opposition party that terminated the sixteen-year reign of the then ruling party, the PDP.
It has been a long journey for Buhari and the adorning finesse of a long journey involves causal but consistent roll back of the odyssey in order to have an accurate and complete picture of the momentous journey –the twist and turn, sad and pleasant moments; ditto, those who played active constructive roles – facilitators and de-facilitators, foes and friends alike, betrayers and loyal followers, opportunist and principled compatriots.
It is in this regard that one would acknowledge the true bond of principles and beliefs that defined the long relationship of trust between the late Chugba Okadigbo, Late Harry Marshal and the living Buhari faithful like Sam Ndah, Tony Momoh, Professor Tam David West, Adamu Adamu, Femi Adesina, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), Mallam Abba Kyari, who consistently displayed their passion and belief and trust even when prospects and opportunities were dim and limited.
On a good note, Buhari recognizes the imperative of long years of companionship in every thick and turn, as evident in his first appointment of close associates that would help him drive his vision. In spite of the cacophony of dissenting voices that greeted his first appointments, the logic and wisdom of appointing longstanding loyal associates in key and strategic positions can hardly be faulted, more so in our world where principles of honesty and integrity have lost it to expediency and opportunism.
As a believer in the philosophy and principle of Buhari, a key but tacit reference to an earlier honest confession of the famous professor of embryology, Tam David West, that he is a dyed-in-the-wool Buharist, I find this moment of the Buhari Presidency quite fulfiling and complimentary to the level of my practical involvement and participation in the long struggle for his historic victory in the 2015 presidential election.
Nigerians are rightly rich in huge expectation from the Buhari presidency; this, in all honesty, is not unfounded because of his pedigree and passion for a better Nigeria. Our prayers for his success in office is rooted in our belief that his second coming is not only beyond accident of history but a well-timed epiphany.
Little doubt is there to be entertained that before Buhari is a huge mountainous challenge he must surmount, if only to fulfill his pre-election promises and justify the significance of his historic reappearance on the political leadership position of the nation – a rare feat – considering the size and scope of the challenges before him. It’s no philosophic exaggeration that in troubling times and challenging moments in a nation’s history, certain people are drafted by the reorganising forces of evolution in human society, to give a new sense of direction and hope as substituted alternative for the despondent, uncertain and fluid clime.
In the abundance of evidence, like Buhari’s first coming in the eighties, a nation besotted with excesses of the political leadership in grotesque proportion and rare brand of profligacy, corruption and embezzlement needs a new lease of life. That the nation, after a convulsive spin of repeated failures in political leadership, spanning over thirty years after his first coming, again has Buhari on a redemptive mission, is sure more than just the banal narrative of historic coincidence.
What informs this optimistic enthusiasm is not unconnected with his well-known immutable moral disposition to the twin hydra-headed monsters bedeviling the nation –pervasive corruption and insecurity. Buhari, surely, is no stranger to the effect of the molesting ambience of these distressing malaises; neither does he lack the response capacity to nip them in the bud, though constrained by the drudgery of cleverly structured processes of delay christened due process.
While the milestones are there to tap from in identifying Buhari with projected satisfactory performance in office and his proven ability for same, pieces of advice, reasonable and responsible criticism must, however, not be withheld in aiding and assisting his reconstruction and rebuilding efforts as he enters the critical phase and defining moment of his four-year mandate.
Buhari should, while devoting his effort, attention and energy to repositioning the country from its default decrepit state, have his eyes on history – both in the range of the African continent and the world as a whole.
History affords the opportunity to Buhari to redefine the unpalatable narratives of dearth of quality governance in post-colonial Africa – an existential reality even in global political discourse. A more vivid picture of the appalling state of quality leadership in Africa is captured by the Mo Ibrahim Prize for Outstanding Achievement in African Leadership. Of the many carefully selected numbered criteria for a winner to take the prize, what stands out clearly is the condition that the recipient must have passed the leadership test of good governance of his country and raised, to encouraging level, the living standard of his people as well as serving out his tenure in office with demonstrable evidence of “excellent achievement in office and democratically transferring power to his successor.”
Nothing in the known tendencies and pedigree of Buhari suggests that any of the laid-out criteria for winning the award is out of his reach. Besides, the foregoing is the very reason he was given such overwhelming mandate by the electorate in the last presidential election. Curiously, but interestingly, in the last four years, no African leader was considered worthy of the award – which goes to underscore the dearth of good leaders in the continent. However, this unfavourable streak of losses was revered earlier this year when Buhari’s contemporary, the 79-year-old Namibian president, Mr. Hifikepunye Pohamba, won the price. It’s our hope and prayer that Buhari will, at the end of his tenure, justify his top contestant position for the Mo Ibrahim award for quality governance in Africa.
The death of Mandela invariably provoked a thought of a likely replacement in the considered spheres of global and domestic influence – an iconic super personality whose words resonate and radiate wisdom, vision and purpose in the African continent and beyond. The key character traits of selflessness and deep mind and spirit for the downtrodden, which Mandela personifies, are not in short supply with Buhari. Besides, the inflamed passionate frenzy – Buharimania – which his sheer presence generate among the people is total in reflective symbolism of a cult personality.
After the late Nelson Mandela, Buhari has no equal in popularity in the entire African continent; hence, fitting into the shoes of Mandela is an exact infusion ranked in the messianic status by which he is perceived: Mandela as the tireless anti-apartheid czar and Buhari as the fearless anti-corruption czar. It throws up an interesting specter because Buhari is now the barometer and standard for credibility and integrity by which the worth of every politician is measured in the Northern region- a befitting inspiring mentorship for the younger ones.
How close can Buhari get to clinching the coveted Nobel Peace Price? Obama got his Nobel Peace award after his famous victory as the first black president of America; nothing suggests that Buhari cannot replicate this feat if the semblance of the Obama factor plays out. He is equally the first person to defeat a sitting president in an election in the entire political history of the largest democracy in Africa, underpinned by the fact that his immense popularity played significant role in coalescing scattered regional opposition parties into a formidable single opposition party that terminated the sixteen-year reign of the then ruling party, the PDP.
It has been a long journey for Buhari and the adorning finesse of a long journey involves causal but consistent roll back of the odyssey in order to have an accurate and complete picture of the momentous journey –the twist and turn, sad and pleasant moments; ditto, those who played active constructive roles – facilitators and de-facilitators, foes and friends alike, betrayers and loyal followers, opportunist and principled compatriots.
It is in this regard that one would acknowledge the true bond of principles and beliefs that defined the long relationship of trust between the late Chugba Okadigbo, Late Harry Marshal and the living Buhari faithful like Sam Ndah, Tony Momoh, Professor Tam David West, Adamu Adamu, Femi Adesina, Col. Hameed Ali (rtd), Mallam Abba Kyari, who consistently displayed their passion and belief and trust even when prospects and opportunities were dim and limited.
On a good note, Buhari recognizes the imperative of long years of companionship in every thick and turn, as evident in his first appointment of close associates that would help him drive his vision. In spite of the cacophony of dissenting voices that greeted his first appointments, the logic and wisdom of appointing longstanding loyal associates in key and strategic positions can hardly be faulted, more so in our world where principles of honesty and integrity have lost it to expediency and opportunism.
As a believer in the philosophy and principle of Buhari, a key but tacit reference to an earlier honest confession of the famous professor of embryology, Tam David West, that he is a dyed-in-the-wool Buharist, I find this moment of the Buhari Presidency quite fulfiling and complimentary to the level of my practical involvement and participation in the long struggle for his historic victory in the 2015 presidential election.
Nigerians are rightly rich in huge expectation from the Buhari presidency; this, in all honesty, is not unfounded because of his pedigree and passion for a better Nigeria. Our prayers for his success in office is rooted in our belief that his second coming is not only beyond accident of history but a well-timed epiphany.
Source: Leadership News
