I owe a tremendous debt of gratitude to all and sundry for doing it right to elevate our beloved country – Nigeria for the first time since nascent democracy in 1999. I cannot adequately express my profound gratitude to everyone.
The Bible says in Prov. 14: 34 “Righteousness exalts a nation but sin is a reproach to any people”. Once more I say thank you immensely for uplifting our dear country — Nigeria.
Below is a repeat of my article titled “Nigeria Forward Ever Backward Never” in which all my prognostications on the just concluded 2015 presidential election turned out to be a mathematical certainty. It was published by the Nigerian Observer on 19 March 2015 which coincidentally was my birthday. My prognostications were made exactly ten days prior to the D- Day (28th March 2015) on which Gen. Mohammadu Buhari emerged victorious as president elect. He defeated a party that kept its tenacious grip on power for sixteen consecutive years (1999 – 2015). I was exceedingly happy and proud at his victory which was indeed very very remarkable. In all sincerity he is: A man of dogged determination. A man of enormous intellectual ability. A man who equalled the record held only by Gen. Obasanjo (ret) as both military and democratic head of state. A man who has a particular vision for the future of Nigeria. A man of absolute integrity with high moral standards. A man whose leadership will not be called to question. A man determined and poised to fight corruption. A man poised to lead the nation to the promised land from where he stopped in 1985 Romans 13: 1 says Let every soul be subject to the governing authorities. For there is no authority except from God and the authorities that exist are appointed by God Romans 13: 1 explained: Obey the government for God has put it there.
There is no government anywhere that God has not placed in power. My prediction that Gen. Buhari will repeat the feat of late President Abraham Lincoln of the US come 28 March, 2015 the polling day which materialized. There is a notable similarity between President Lincoln and President Buhari. Just as it took Lincoln thirty solid years (1831-1 861) to become President so also did it take Gen. Buhari thirty solid years (1985 -2015) to become president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. What a coincidence! My prognostication that Gen. Buhari will consign insurgency to oblivion is imminent. I also foretold that Gen. Buhari will sweep the polls with his broom (APC LOGO) on the polling day and he won by overwhelmingly majority of 15, 424, 921 votes as against his arch-rival’s 12, 853, 162 votes. Friends have described the accuracy of all my predictions as fantastic and wizardry.
All the more than 15.5 million Nigerians who cast their votes for Mr. President wish him a very very successful 1st tenure.
Mr. President sir: The only way to safeguard yourself against flatterers is by letting people understand that you are not offended by the truth but if everyone can speak the truth to you then you lose respect. So be shrewd and adopt a middle way, choosing wise men for your government and allowing only those the freedom to speak the truth to you and only concerning matters on which you ask their opinion and nothing else. But you should also question them thoroughly and listen to what they say, then you should make up your own mind, by yourself. And your attitude towards your councils and towards each one of your advisers should be such that they recognize that the more freely they speak out the more respectable they will be. Apart from these, you should heed no one; you should put the policy agreed upon into effect straight away; and you should adhere to it rigidly. If you do not do this you are ruined by flatterers or you are constantly changing your mind because of conflicting advice, as a result you are held in low esteem. A man said of his president that he never consulted anybody and never did things as he wanted to. This happened because he did the opposite of what was said above. You must be secretive. Do not tell anyone of your plans, and accept no advice.
But as soon as you put your plans into effect and they come to be known, they meet with opposition from those around you and then you are only too easily diverted from your purpose. The result is that whatever you do one day is undone the next day, what you want or plan to do is never clear and no reliance can be placed on the deliberations. You must therefore always seek advice, but must do so when you want to, not when others want you to. Indeed you must discourage everyone from tendering advice about anything unless it is asked for. All the same, you should be a constant questioner and you must listen patiently to the truth regarding what you have inquired about. Moreover if you find that anyone for some reasons holds the truth back you must show your wrath.
Here once more is my article: “Nigeria Forward Ever Backward Never” verbatim et literatim (L) word for word and letter for letter precisely as written or printed.
NIGERIA FORWARD EVER BACKWARD NEVER
It is high time we started doing things right to exalt our beloved country Nigeria because righteousness exalts a nation.
Critics both at home and abroad have these to say about the shift in our election time table:
1. It has a sinister motive
2. It is a ploy to play for time to manoeuvre.
3. It is a disappointment.
4. No prince ever lacked good excuses to colour his bad faith.
5. INEC was ambushed by FG, PDP.
6. Conducting polls in a hurry is dangerous.
7. It is a coup against the constitution.
8. Politics is not a do or die affair, but a game of figures.
9. No matter the tactics the desired change must take place.
10. It is beyond pardon.
11. There is no use to cry over spilled milk.
Everybody is entitled to his or her own opinion. However, it is my consolation that the new election dates of March 28, 2015 and April 11, 2015 have been affirmed sacrosanct by the concerned authorities. Thanks to the American sense of justice since the presidency of Bill Clinton in 1993 for it has been either the Democrats or the Republicans in the White House for two consecutive tenures. You may be prompted to ask why the trend? I guess the Americans have come to realize the need for change for better governance and that knowledge does not reside in one political party alone. Our presidential system of government is a replica of the American presidential system of government, If this is true, what then stops us from replicating the two consecutive – tenure system? Since 1999 when democracy returned to Nigeria, only one political party had continued to dominate the political land scape of Nigeria a – situation which portrays Nigeria as running a – one – party system of government whereas there are numerous political parties on ground.
During the civil war, a newspaper columnist once wrote and I quote: If a military government remains too long in power it becomes unpopular. I dare say if any government remains too long in power it does not only become unpopular but also monotonous ( a recurring decimal). There is therefore urgent need for change of government by ballot paper from time to time to move Nigeria forward. There was a period in the US when only war veterans were given the presidency.
Now here comes a war veteran in the person of Gen. Mohamadu Buhari who fought to keep Nigeria one soliciting for your votes to put him in Aso — Rock. In the circumstances, you have no option but to cast your vote for him as a reward for having fought to keep Nigeria one so that he can move Nigeria forward. We all vividly remember the statement this illustrious son of Nigeria made soon after his ascendancy as Head of State in 1983. He said and I quote; “This generation of Nigerians and indeed future generations have no other country but Nigeria. We must stay and salvage it together. Oh what a solemn and touching statement! It is only a true Nigerian patriot that would make such a statement – a man who believes in the indisolvability, indivisibility and inseperability of our beloved country Nigeria. For me, the issue of academic qualification is a gross display of disrespect for a former Head of State first citizen and elder statesman of Nigeria.
Why was this issue not raked up when he was:
1. ln the army
2. Military governor of the North Eastern State
3. Commissioner for petroleum
4. Chairman of PTF
5. Vying for the presidency in 2003, 2007, 2011
Why must it be now (2015)? It is nothing but mud slinging, which is a draw – back to our nascent democracy. Politicians should always focus on what they can do to uplift the country. It is not that he was considered a truffle backward academically when he held the above positions. What further evidence do they need? The matter should therefore be regarded as time barred, struck out and closed. Those accusing him should look for an alternative accusation. The mere fact that he had been Head of State in the past makes the issue of certificate an absurdity.” Politicians should desist from washing their dirty linen in the street to score political points, rather they should tell the people what they have in their sleeves to bring the country to the next level.
Taking into account the courses he had attended over the years both locally and overseas he could pass for a professor. Recently in London Gen. Buhari who is purported not to hold a school certificate met one on one with former Britain’s Prime Minister Tony Blair. They say, if you can’t stand the smoke get out of the kitchen. General Buhari says he can stand the smoke and so will not get out of the kitchen for he is poised to keenly contest the forth coming presidential election come March 28, 2015 the D — Day. The General says he did not win in previous elections because his time had not come and now that his time has come, Deo Juvnte (L) with God’s help he will move to Aso – Rock in May, 2015. He further says defeat is nothing but education and that it is the first step toward eventual success. He believes that no one is a failure as long as he or she keeps on trying and that failure is not final unless you allow it to be. Abraham Lincoln the 16 president of America who was undaunted after many years of unsuccessful attempts to get elected to parliament eventually got a ticket to the White House. Gen. Buhari is optimistic that he will repeat the feat of Abraham Lincoln here in Nigeria come March 28, 2015. For a peaceful and prosperous Nigeria vote APC for change. Crede quod habes (L) Believe you have it and you have it. Gen Buhari believes he has the ticket to Aso – Rock and he has it. The people say it is Gen. Buhari’s turn this time around. Vox populi vox Dei (L) The voice of the people is the voice of God. The General says 1 trust in God and I shall not be put to shame.” People will always vote for candidates of their own choosing based on their manifastoes. The General is on an urgent mission to take Nigeria out of the doldrums.
1. He promises to bring corruption, which has eaten into the blood stream of Nigerian life to a low level. We are all living witnesses to how he dealt with corruption while Head of State in the early nineteen eighties – a feat which is yet to be matched. He brought corrupt officials and their agents to book, because he believes that he who overlooks crime invites the commission of another. He further had this to say when Head of State and I quote: “I have intervened in order to stamp out corruption and indiscipline from the lives of Nigerians and to give impetus and better sense of direction to the economy.” The General’s government was warmly welcome by all Nigerians. Corruption they say is the enemy of democracy”.
2. Coming to the issue of security, “Once a soldier always a soldier.” Gen. Buhari fits very much into this saying. In the circumstances, I think he is best disposed to deal with insurgency which has been plaguing our country for some time now because he has been taught in the army to be gentle with gentle people and to be tough with tough people and has therefore promised to consign insurgency to history books.
3. He says the great sore of unemployment shall be healed and poverty reduced to the barest minimum and that no society can surely be flourishing and happy of which the far greater part of members are poor and miserable. Furthermore, he promises to create more job opportunities to make all citizens feel they are part of the government.
4. Electricity, water and fuel shortages he says will be consigned to oblivion.
5. Education which is the foundation of good citizenship he says will be made available to all on equal terms and compulsory school attendance law made because when the people are educated the government will not cheat them any more. The importance o
6. “A hungry man s an angry man.” In view the foregoing he says he will not renege on his promise to place premium on agriculture.
7. He did not only declare war against indiscipline (WAI) but also on garbage. Because he believes in “Cleanliness is next to Godliness”, he therefore set aside the last Saturday of every month for Nigerians to carry out general cleaning of their environment. It is kudos to Gen. Buhari for there is no subsequent government that had not adopted the practice. My score for Gen. Buhari in this regard is 101%. The people say it is Gen. Buhari’s turn this time around and so be it.
Deo velente (L) God wiling come March 28, 2015 Gen Buhari will sweep the polls with his broom (APC Logo). May I seize this opportunity to point out that carpet crossing which has become a fashion in Nigeria is nothing but political adventurism.
Long live APC.
Long live the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
