United Kingdom (UK)-based Nigerian and Public Affairs commentator, Mr. Abanikanda Olumoro, has described former President Muhammadu Buhari as a converted democrat who, despite his military background, allowed ruling and opposition governors as well as other elected officers to carry out their functions based on their ability and without interference.
Olumoro said this in a statement, a copy of which was made available to newsmen on Monday, pointing out that Buhari, as elected president 30 years after leaving office as military head of state, refrained from interfering in the activities of the legislature and judiciary, based on his conviction that it was “only by effective separation of powers institutions, not individuals, could be built.”
He spoke just as he also recalled how during the 2023 general elections Isese demystification was witnessed with some trado-political elements bringing Oro cults to disenfranchise Nigerian citizens living and voting in Lagos State.
This, he said, was done “simply because a blood of the soil from Popo Aguda Lagos Island – Gbadebo Rhodes-Vivour – became more popular in the indigenes’ move to retake political power of their Lagos State, who orchestrated it? Who was behind all of the ethnic cleansing that was in vogue at the time that, in places where Rhodes-Vivour was clearly going to win, thugs apparently from other Yoruba states of South West descent definitely not Lagos natives were unleashed with pankere (canes) flogging voters in broad daylight on governorship election day while President Buhari still in power, who was behind it?”
On the sidelines of the article titled, “The lie that Tinubu made Buhari president and story of his entry into Lagos politics”, Abanikanda Olumoro expressed that Nigerians and their great country have missed former President, whose time in spite of deep lack of cooperation from some APC and opposition members focused merely on self political ambitions.
He, therefore, advised President Tinubu as the controller of Lagos State politics, subjectively, to allow constructive criticisms of government so as to ensure free, fair and credible elections for Lagos indigenes and residents to choose their leaders beginning from the forthcoming local government and general elections in the state to earn public confidence as president of Nigeria as 2027 draws nearer.
According to the public affairs analyst, the world acknowledged the former president as Mr. Integrity and a Converted Democrat, saying that the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) headed then by him between 2015 and 2023 allowed the ruling and opposition governors as well as other elected officers to emerge based on their ability, just as he quickly recalled that at election campaigns, Buhari would ask APC members and other Nigerian voters to vote for candidates of their choice across the parties.
“The world acknowledged Major General Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, as Mr. Integrity and a Converted Democrat. The All Progressives Congress (APC) headed then by President Buhari between 2015 and 2023 allowed the ruling and opposition governors as well as other elected officers to emerge based on their ability. At election campaigns, he would ask APC members and other Nigerian voters to vote for candidates of their choice across the parties.
“Military Head of State (January 1, 1983/July 15, 1985), Major General Muhammadu Buhari as elected President 30 years after leaving office would refrain from interfering in activities of the legislature and judiciary because, according to him, only by effective separation of powers, institutions and not individuals, could be built. As no one is perfect, adhering to the laws and the 1999 Constitution ensures fairness and justice and, in turn, desired peace and stability for a nation,” he said.
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“History of Nigeria will retain a good space for ex-President Buhari as the only Nigerian Military Head of State who refused to promote himself to a Four-Star General rank to avoid abuse of power.
“The moment others became Head of State, that rank was their first target. His only example has just come in Burkina Faso where Military President Ibrahim Traore refused to be promoted to higher rank than his rank of Army Captain,” he added.
On the claim that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu made Buhari as president in the 2015 poll, Olumoro said it was true that the sitting president played a role in the immediate past president’s emergence, but quickly added that other leaders, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; former Governors Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal and Rochas Okorocha, among others.
Besides, the public affairs analyst disclosed that there were also millions of the Buhari Support Groups members, who played vital roles, including engaging in fundraising, adding, “Above all, Buhari himself, with his never unbundled 12.5 million votes, played his own role as his honesty and integrity shone through.”
“Let the record be kept straight. Did Bola Tinubu play a role in the emergence of President Muhammadu Buhari? Absolutely YES! But so also did Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Sharon Ikeazor, Senator Bukola Saraki, Rochas Okorocha, Hamid Ali, Emeka Nwajiuba, Abubakar Malami, Chidia Maduekwe, Hannatu Akilu, Col. Abdallah, etc.
“There are also millions of the Buhari Support Group members, who played vital roles, including engaging in fundraising. Above all, Buhari himself, with his never unbundled 12.5 million votes, played his own role as his honesty and integrity shone through,” Olumoro stated.
