Former Head of State and a chief of the main opposition All Progressives Congress, Maj-Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, said on Monday that the gale of impeachment spreading across the states governed by opposition parties was an indication that the Nigeria was drifting into anarchy.
Buhari noted that whether or not President Goodluck Jonathan was unaware of the impeachment of governors, what could not be denied was that it was happening under him, adding that the development would not augur well with the nation's democracy.
The former Head of State in a statement, titled, 'Pull back Nigeria from the brink', made available to reporters in Kaduna State, on Monday, argued that he had in his private capacity discussed the current situation with the President.
The statement read: "Whether or not President Goodluck Jonathan is behind the gale of impeachment or the utilisation of desperate tactics to suffocate the opposition and turn Nigeria into a one-party state, what cannot be denied is that they are happening under his watch, and he cannot pretend not to know, since that will be akin to hiding behind one finger.
"In my capacity as former Head of state, rather than a politician, I have spoken to President Jonathan in private over these issues, but indications are that the strategy has not yielded positive fruits. I cannot, just because I am an opposition politician, fail to do what is expected of me as a former Head of State to help rescue our nation in times of great trouble and palpable uncertainty.
"History will not be kind to me if I sit back while things turn bad, just so that no one will accuse me of partisanship. Yes, I am a politician. Yes, I am in the opposition. Yes, there is the tendency for my statement to be misconstrued as that of a politician rather than a statesman. But I owe it as matter of duty and honour, and in the interest of our nation, to speak out on the dangerous trajectory that our nation is heading.
"I can say, in all sincerity, that I have seen it all, as an ordinary citizen, a military officer, a state Governor, a Minister, a Head of state, a man who has occupied many other sensitive posts and a politician. I have been a close participant and witness to Nigeria's political history since independence in 1960.
"Our country has gone through several rough patches, but never before have I seen a Nigerian President declare war on his own country as we are seeing now. Never before have I seen a Nigerian President deploy federal institutions in the service of partisanship as we are witnessing now. Never before have I seen a Nigerian President utilize the common wealth to subvert the system and punish the opposition, all in the name of politics. Our nation has suffered serious consequences in the past for egregious acts that are not even close to what we are seeing now. It is time to pull the brakes."
He asked the President to tarry a while and ponder the impact of recent events in the polity, under his watch on the survival of the nation and the sustenance of its democracy.
He said subverting the Constitution in a desperate move to impeach a state governor or deploying the institutions of state, some of which are symbols of the country's unity, just to kick an out-of-favour state Governor in the stomach could only breed anarchy and lead the nation down the slippery slope to chaos.
He said, "The dangerous clouds are beginning to gather and the vultures are circling, and these have manifested in Nasarawa where the ordinary people have defied guns and tanks to protest the plan to impeach Gov. Umaru Tanko Al-Makura in a repeat of the bitter medicine forced down the throat of Gov. Murtala Nyako.
"The people's protest in Nasarawa is a sign of what to come if the federal authorities continue to target opposition state Governors for impeachment. In the long run, the impeachment weapon will be blunted. Positions will become more hardened on both sides and Nigeria and Nigerians will become the victims of arrested governance and possible anarchy."
President Jonathan is simply a civillian dictator.
ReplyDeletegentle buhari pls dn't speak another parable people might misunderstood again oh....... which one is "the cloud are gathering and that the vultures are circling?" pls peaceful message. we know you to be a discipline former head of state so pls dn't allow party issue to tarnish you for ever. remain the best that you are and leave politics for wuruwuru apc people and pdp members.
ReplyDeleteSir,you are not in a position to criticize the President or anyone when it comes to dictatorship. You truncated a democratic government. Ie second republic of President Shagari,dessolved the National Assemble & suspended the 1979 constitution . You put all your perceived enemies & crictist behind bar without trial. You gagged the press through decree 4 & detained journalists ,made retrogressive laws & killed Nigerians during your time.You have forgotten your atrocities so easily. You detained elected officials like Dr Alex Ekwueme throughout your stay in power; nothing was found against him. And now you are talking of impunity? Who is the dictator? Please search yourself.
ReplyDeleteYetunde, I do not usually respond to comments on the public media but I am tempted to do so here. I do not also know what was your age or where you were as at 1983 when General Buhari took over the reigns of power from Alh Shehu Shagari in a military coup d'état. Nigeria was almost becoming a failed State. There was hunger, there was acute unemployment, there was high level acts of corrupt practices at all levels of govt, there was starvation in the land yet sycophants in govt then such as the Late Umaru Dikkos defended the failure of governance because he was yet to see Nigerians scavenging from garbage bins. The Nigerian State had deteriorated during the Second Republic to the extent that when General Buhari truncated the regime, Nigeria was agog. There was jubilation in the South, in the North, in the West and in the East of Nigeria. Nigerians yarned for that change. It was all because we civilians are a bunch of unpatriotic Nigerians. Once given the opportunity, we think its our birth right and begin to reel in all intrigues so as to weep unjustified sentiments such as the comments you have proffered here. My dear Yetunde, always try and be as objective in asserting your opinion on issues you do not well informed of and give constructive critisms.
DeleteYetunde, note that "2 wrongs never make a right." and please be guided.
DeleteBuhari, you remember when you hijacked the government and truncated the then democracy under Alhaji Shehu Shagari, now you want to enjoy what you demolished. God will never allow you to smell that seat.
ReplyDeleteNigerians have not seen anything, let us do mistake again then the worst and unbearable will ensue. Now Alimodu Sherrif can use Bornu airport but no any prigrim from state can use it for security reasons. Abacha family are safe with nigerian money because they are now in PDP. If you are supporting GEJ then you are a saint to him and Jonathanians, but if you are in opposition party, then you are a boko haram
ReplyDeleteBuhari, softly i advised bcs anything against GEJ now is termed war or terrorism. No patrotism again as far as you are not for him.
ReplyDeletesince u also declared war in Nigeria bcz u didn't win
ReplyDeleteBoko Haram is talking.
ReplyDeleteBuhari your past is hunting you.
ReplyDeleteWhen all former presidents and heads of state gathered to review the security situation in the country a few weeks ago, you were the only one who refused to attend. Then you now selfishly say you have advised in private capacity only because your political empire is threatened. Go home in shame. You cannot be a Democrat.
ReplyDeleteDuring your regime of terror, who dared to protest? Uncle Jona is still better than you in that regard.
ReplyDeleteWat is he sayin, is rivers state nt a apc state?if u ar against d govt u wil b sack or ur entitlement wil nt b payed. So wat his he sayin? Is evry wer both state, local,federal govt dey all do same tin so he should put his house in order first we ar nt fools tanx.
ReplyDeleteThis is certainly not the Kingsley Kuku that I know. The young man is a lot more intelligent than to subscribe to this uncivilised behaviour.
DeletePlease,let the dog and Baboon not soak in blood oo! We do not want anybody roast or to rig oo! O pari!
ReplyDeleteThankGod he said has a formal head of state,do you want to in that position,leave it to the young politician is not a family heritage.there is God,there is not going to be war except you want to start the war
ReplyDeletePut ur houz in order first because ur governors ar doin it 2 e.g rivers state etc.
ReplyDeleteDirty APC, Dirty PDP, Oh i weep for this Country, i wish we disintegrate into 36 countries.
ReplyDeleteBuhari should stop being an alarmist. Democracy is about numbers. If you can muster the majority in the House and you can convince members that the governor has committed an impeachable Offence, why not impeach him! After all when the APC thought they had mustered enough members in the House of Representatives after the mass defections, their very first move was to try and impeach their leaders and even president Jonathan! Buhari should stop being a hypocrite and embrace true democracy. Let him don his thinking cap and he will easily see a solution to this political problem of impeachments.
ReplyDeleteAigbodion
ReplyDeleteRevolution is knocking seriously and we are about to open the door. By His Grace the door SHALL be open and the Country will move forward. Whosoever that remains will enjoy the blood we have shared for them. We cannot continue for like this
AM WITH YOU BROS
DeleteBUHARI you not dey shame. Are you not the leader of Boko haram. go settle yourself first. Useless man, when you finish with North you go rest.
ReplyDeleteBuhari you have been the Nigerian Problem since your time in Military on power tussle today u turn into opposition politicians playing to usurp power again to become president. Nigerians says you are not the right person to criticize GEJ government b/cos you vow to make it ungovernable and we are watching you and your APC which will never have a gate way in Nigeria cos it is your Plan to Islamize Nigeria after killings of youth corpers/ mayhem in the North when you lose last election, it will be better if you go and rest as an elder state man , while Nigerians awaits your obituary announcement for Peace to return to Nigeria.
ReplyDeleteWhy does Buhari always toeing the way of violence. He instigated all the deaths been pushed in NE Nigeria. He should remember that he is not immune to violence. Even Ghadafi was humiliated at some point. What is anarchy about house of assembly members impeaching their governor. It was not anarchy when the APC rep members threatened not to pass the country's budget because they were increasing in number, It was not anarchy when 7 governors left the party that elected them to become APC members just to secure their loots under the unbrella of opposition politics, It was not anarchy when Fashola deported Nigerians from Nigeria, It was not anarchy when a PDP politician looses, the standard only applies to APC.
ReplyDeleteLets remember that nobody determines who is more Nigeria than the other, rather than fanning the embers of hatred and anarchy as Buhari is doing, I expect all true elders to apply calm and control in all their pronouncements. Impeachment is a political tool and am not sure Jonathan has forced Adamawa and nasarrawa House of assembly members at gun point to carry out their duties.
Buhari must know that Nigerians are yet to forget his demonic despotic antics of kidnapping his enemies, bagging them in wooden containers back to Nigeria, he is a democratic carcass incapable of understanding or worst still abiding by the dictates of true democracy.
The man has spoken his mind, call him whatever you think he is. one thing is sure, this warning comes at the right time. President GEJ should tread softly for the sake of one Nigeria. In Nigeria, winning at all cost may be a child play to ruling at at cost. Winning 2015 election at all cost may be easy but ruling the nation at all cost again may be like a horse passing through a needle hole. Let be prayerful.
ReplyDeletePot calling the kettle black. Buhari coup plotter, BH spokesman and negotiator accusing someone else of being a dictator
ReplyDeleteWonders shall never end
Those castigating Buhari are fools. This nation will colapse soonest which is the agenda of the Ijaws. Can you get anything better from a militant fisherman who read animal care. I only pity the Abatis, Aribisalas, FKKs of this world who are so daft following a drunker who has no mentor or a political past. It's a matter of time! God break nigeria.
ReplyDeleteCritics will always fail
ReplyDeleteBuhari is synonymous with BK. He can not be better than that.
ReplyDeleteHey hey what is happening here Have you forgotten so soon a dictator who in the bid to kill innocent soul backdated the law to catch up with Owo boy. And other criminal act of imprisoning elected officers for no reason other than selfish ambitions. Pls note that it is not your birth right to rule this nation at all cost. You are predicting that the cloud is gathering , no cloud is gathering except the one you have been gathering through you weapon of war Boko Haram . God is on the throne so he will not allow your selfish ambition to destroy the nation so don't instigate any war we are now sensible ,Nigeria can never be islamic nation.All the supporters of Boko haram and their sponsors and perpetuators have ben exposed and that which the wicked had planned for this nation can not stand evil shall slay the wicked and those that hate the Rightiouse shall perish. In Jesus name.
ReplyDeleteWe (Nigerians) are all in this mess because when Obasanjo hand picked GEJ we didn't protest (even when we all knew GEJ has no pedigree as a leader) and when Yaradua died and some clique were reluctant to swear him as the President (wanting to play hanki-panki), we also went on protest in the streets especially the South West for him to be sworn in as president and now that GEJ has now come out and shown his true form and metamorphosed into a president who does not listen to critics (but hounds them down with the State Security Apparatus) but only listens to directives of his selfish advisers and party only protecting the survival and continuation of their stomach, we are now all complaining. The worst is yet to come! Nigerians should brace-up and just wait for the next few months to when he finally declares his 2015 ambition, then you will see our prisons over filled with our people and the streets soaked red with the blood of Nigerians wanting only a better future for themselves. If we take GEJ's apparent quietness as being dumb then Nigerians have a shocker waiting for them as his true colour will be revealed as soon as he declares his 2015 ambition and election (?) starts. Lets all go on our knees and pray fervently.
ReplyDeleteBuhari were you any better?
ReplyDeleteYour analysis is baseless and illogical. Is it not those with the pedigree that put this nation that we want to address overnight? If someone has nothing useful to say he better not comment. Some are simply polluting other people's knowledge. Shi ke na!
ReplyDeleteGod will punish all of you accusing General Buhari. By your statement it purely shows your hypocrisy and sentiment in your opinion . How is it possible for a drunker to rule over 120 million people? Please Mr Jonathan the common Nigerian citizens did not like you why must you imposed yourself as the President .
ReplyDelete