ABUJA (Sundiata Post) Someone on twitter rhetorically asked why Buhari is acting as though he is doing Nigerians a favor by being their president.
Buhari said he was done with presidential contests after he lost the 2011 election.
Instead of leaving him alone to enjoy the rest of his years on earth, Nasir el-Rufai, who knew that he was too toxic to win an election on his own cognizance without riding Buhari’s populist coattails in the north, selfishly dragged the old man out of retirement, aggressively drafted him into the presidential race, and with Buhari’s reluctant acquiescence, gave him a makeover that made many Nigerians forget how daft and bigoted he is.
El-Rufai was assisted in this enterprise by Bola Ahmed Tinubu and co. Tinubu had always wanted to prove that he could make someone president if he himself could not get the prize. It’s the only way he would consolidate and protect his vast financial empire after getting several scares under PDP’s 16 years in power.
Of course, Jonathan’s incompetence aided the effectiveness of the Buhari makeover and the resulting amnesia.
So, to answer Gimba Kakanda’s question, if I was retired and ready to enjoy my old age surrounded by my grandchildren and some Nigerian politicians came and practically begged me to come and be their president and claimed, while trying to persuade me, that without my Solomonic wisdom and messianic ability the country would go to the dogs, I would govern exactly how Buhari is governing–indifferently, and without care or empathy or compassion.
I would govern as though I am doing Nigerians a favor because that is what they told me when they came to disturb my retirement and ask that I come back to politics.