Buhari’s record is worse than that! He has very little if any understanding of policy, economy and administration and is on record advocating positions that qualify him as an ethnic, religious and regional bigot-I have personally verified all the controversial statements Buhari is credited with as factual.
In spite of his inclination to act the tough guy and disciplinarian, there is compelling evidence of inconsistency and parochialism in Buhari’s stern disposition-his relative’s and cronies’ pillaging of the PTF right under Buhari’s nose; the “53 suitcases” that he allowed his ADC’s father, an Emir take through the airport unchecked at a time other Nigerians were barred from bring in currency; release of ex-President Shagari and many of the Northern/Fulani political elite while jailing their Southern (opposition even!) colleagues to long prison sentences; his deputy Idiagbon took a teenage son on the pilgrimage to Mecca while Buhari’s government explicitly banned such practices etc.
The sole justification of a Buhari candidacy offered by its promoters, anti-corruption cannot survive little scrutiny-in multiple public offices including state governor, petroleum minister or Head of State, Buhari never made a dent in corruption; as military ruler, the counter-trade deal (trade by barter of crude oil for commodities) was one of the biggest scams in Nigeria’s economic history); and PTF which Buhari chaired was the most corrupt government agency of its time!
The sole justification of a Buhari candidacy offered by its promoters, anti-corruption cannot survive little scrutiny-in multiple public offices including state governor, petroleum minister or Head of State, Buhari never made a dent in corruption; as military ruler, the counter-trade deal (trade by barter of crude oil for commodities) was one of the biggest scams in Nigeria’s economic history); and PTF which Buhari chaired was the most corrupt government agency of its time!
Buhari also has an undeniable record of abdicating offices to a subordinate-Idiagbon, Salihijo, Dr Sule Hamma/Buba Galadinma etc. which today ironically lures several Nigerian politicians into wanting him as President as long as they expect to be the beneficiaries of his lack of administrative capacity! I find no merit in the projection of Buhari as a candidate of “change” and I regard his appeal to some Nigerians as a pure mystery!
Pitched against this unsavoury option is President Jonathan, incumbent since 2000 who has managed to frustrate many Nigerians, including this columnist with his naivety and indecision! I voted Jonathan in 2011. He has annoyed and disappointed me, as I know he has done many Nigerians too many times since then, and has been a very exasperating phenomenon.
Pitched against this unsavoury option is President Jonathan, incumbent since 2000 who has managed to frustrate many Nigerians, including this columnist with his naivety and indecision! I voted Jonathan in 2011. He has annoyed and disappointed me, as I know he has done many Nigerians too many times since then, and has been a very exasperating phenomenon.
While his government has a fair record of policy achievements-successful agricultural reforms that is increasing local food production, reducing Nigeria’s import bill as well as removed the country’s chronic and endemic fertilizer corruption; investments in critical infrastructure that is modernizing road, rail and aviation infrastructure; successful power sector privatization which has laid the foundation for future investments and growth; sensible policy frameworks for industrial and enterprise development; signing a freedom of information bill; setting up a sovereign wealth fund, major investments in education including twelve new federal universities and numerous “Almajiri” schools in Northern Nigeria, amongst many others, Jonathan is vulnerable on real and perceived corruption and insecurity.
His major failing however has been a naïve ceding of the space for strategic communication to the opposition which has resulted in the savaging of his personality and record and led many voters into an “anything but Jonathan” posture. I personally feel some disillusion with Jonathan, but I believe his record is significantly better than the propaganda suggests!
My firm, RTC Advisory Services has run recent numbers based on conservative assumptions which re-confirm a close contest. Only a very gullible partisan or inept analyst will proclaim anything wider than a narrow margin of victory either way-while hard core regional constituencies in parts of the North-West and South-South/South-East and some passionate voters in Lagos may have made their choices, movements may yet happen elsewhere and at the margins that make the election too close to call at this point in time.
My firm, RTC Advisory Services has run recent numbers based on conservative assumptions which re-confirm a close contest. Only a very gullible partisan or inept analyst will proclaim anything wider than a narrow margin of victory either way-while hard core regional constituencies in parts of the North-West and South-South/South-East and some passionate voters in Lagos may have made their choices, movements may yet happen elsewhere and at the margins that make the election too close to call at this point in time.
Consequently I will hold my numbers for a final revision seven days before the vote and publish my projections next week in this column and on social media. There remain some contingencies however-could the polls be shifted? Could lawsuits challenging candidate eligibilities throw spanners in the works?
I have said it times without number. President Jonathan's primary challenge are those he's surrounded himself with during his tenure. They are at best self serving. Their inability to utilise the power of incumbency to the maximum is a reflection of their ineptness. Too bad if he looses this election.
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