NOW THAT BUHARI IS IN POWER

A widely published statement credited to American Billionaire and Republican Presidential Hopeful Donald Trump reflects the thinking of not just many of America's population but that also of the Government. Trump had said "The Middle East would be more stable if Muammar Gaddafi and Saddam Hussein were still in Power in Libya and Irag," saying it's "not even a contest" both Leaders were overthrown and killed with the help of America.

Analyst are of the opinion that the American Government may have learnt a bitter lesson in both instances that it would have been best to work with these strong leaders than have them disposed and executed. that perhaps informs the policy shift with respect to the outcome of the recently concluded elections in Nigeria.

I have often wondered how Nigerians overwhelmingly embraced a former dictator in the last elections held in Nigeria. Nigerians in our short memory conveniently forgot that the current Democracy we enjoy was not won from the British Colonial Masters but from our self imposed Military Rulers who wrecked so much havoc in our Economic and Political life and in the process entrenched their hold on power so much so that today there is nothing done economically and Politically in Nigeria without Military input. The same Military Nigerians fought and Many died in the process is today the greatest beneficiary of our Democratic experiment.

You can imagine my bewilderment then that someone who was categorized as one of the worst dictators to have ruled Nigeria would have so much support? In a discussion with a Journalist, he aptly called it "The Bandwagon Effect"  and that effect was like a Tornado that swift the Nigerian Media and it could have not been anything less, the force behind the Tornado is David M. Axelrod the Chief Strategist for Barack Obama's Presidential campaigns, a man reputed to have the ability to sell Freezers to the people in Iceland.

David Axelrod is a Muslim and his support for a Muslim brother will not be out of place, but why will Barack Obama support such a Move? Am not a Political expert and am only piercing together the information as I have them. but bear with me and go through the reasons;

OBAMA'S SUPPORT FOR MUSLIMS

President Barack Obama is quoted to have said "I will stand with the Muslims should the Political winds shift in an ugly direction." True the Political winds were shifting ugly in Nigeria. The predominantly Muslim North had insisted even before former President Goodluck Jonathan came into office that they will make the Nation ungovernable for him and true to their words they made the Country ungovernable not because of the constant attacks from the Boko Haram Sect (the attacks had continued unabated) but the media noise that follows each attack. The last straw that broke the Camels back was the reported Kidnapping of over 200 girls from the town of Chibok in Borno State April 2014.

Were the Girls actually Kidnapped? many skeptics in Nigeria believe the Kidnapping was a ruse. true or false over a year later the Girls had not been found and the details of their kidnap is still sketchy. The uncertainty about their Kidnap, I attribute to the failure of Investigative Journalism in Nigeria but the Media harp that followed that incident nearly swept former President Jonathan out of Office and they had their wish in the election that followed.

JONATHAN AS A WEAK LEADER:

Many in Nigeria believe the Former President was not only Clueless and Indecisive but he was also Weak. Was Jonathan Clueless, Indecisive and Weak? Posterity will judge. Am sure the Obama administration may have towed similar line of thinking and may have decided that the Country needed a strong Leader and who better than the former Military ruler who ruled the Nation with an iron fist and is said to be unstained with the endemic Corruption that is killing the Nation.

Still on the death of investigative Journalism; President Muhammadu Buhari is a Man of impeccable integrity, that means his Yes is Yes and No is No. Back in 2011 he had in an International Press Conference and in tears told the World he was retiring from Active Politics. No Journalist had asked or found out what made Mr. Integrity to change his mind to contest again? Who footed his campaign bills? How much was paid to David Axelrod and how was the money raised?  Questions I doubt that will ever be answered. Have you also seen that the Media is no longer awash with the activities of the Boko Haram sect since President Muhammadu Buhari came into office? 

Now that Buhari is in Power, the only Breaking News we read is attempts at discrediting former President Jonathan and those that served under him. Not much had been said or done about fulfilling their Campaign promises. The war against Boko Haram is ongoing with the sect getting bolder by the day, payment to unemployed graduates is yet to commence, they are yet to stabilize the dwindling Naira with a wave of the hand as they promised and the price of Crude continue to slide. The Powers that help usher Muhammadu Buhari to office have not been as helpful as they told Nigerians it will be when he becomes President.  

The Obama Administration may have supported the Buhari idea if not suggested by them on the premise that Buhari is a Muslim and a perceived strong ruler that can tackled the Boko Haram menace but the signs we are seeing today does not suggest that Buhari is winning the War on Terror. The reality confronting us today is that America's imperialistic tendencies is gradually drawing the World back to the Cold War era with its attendant Arms Race.