Director of Media and Strategy of Great Nigeria
Movement (GNM), Edozie Okeiyi, publicly addressed General Muhammadu
Buhari regarding the official’s intention to seek presidency in the next
year’s elections.
It is not the first time Mr Okeiyi has shared his opinion on the
political issues of the country. In June we published his piece titled
“10 Reasons Nigerians Should Re-elect Jonathan In 2015″.
Today, October 10, 2014 the GNM representative sent an open letter
to Buhari saying he had no other possibility to contact the politician.
It would be recalled that the former military Head of State
vowed to declare his presidential ambition on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on October 8.
It was made known this week however that the official announcement had
been shifted for October 15. Buhari’s decision was highly criticized by
some of his party members who insisted he should have anointed a
younger candidate for 2015 elections.
Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (retd)
Okeiyi’s opinion on the current situation with Buhari’s bid was published by Leadership. See it in full below:
“Dear Sir,
OPEN LETTER TO GENERAL BUHARI
I have been constrained to write you through the media because I do
not have an alternative way of reaching you. Permit me to share my
opinion on your presidential ambition, which I think is equally shared
by many Nigerians of my generation irrespective of ethnic or religious
differences.
Sir, I heard about you first on the 31st of December 1983. Then I was
a ten year old boy in primary six, celebrating with the whole nation on
the arrival of our military Heroes. At least so we thought! The
jubilations were spontaneous. The nationwide celebrations signalled the
demise of the second republic and ushered in the military dispensation
commonly referred to as the Buhari/Idiagbon regime. Immediately you
launched the War Against Indiscipline and introduced the Nationwide
Monthly Sanitation Exercise. The WAI crusade stuck in my brain and still
reverberates up till now. To simplify the message my Teacher introduced
an Igbo acronym for WAI: Wepu Ajo Ihe; which literally translates:
Remove Bad Thing.
READ ALSO: Buhari Sure Of 2015 Victory
Sir, I must confess that the image that stuck in me about
Buhari/Idiagbon was that of two no-nonsense characters, straight
talkers, people who meant yes when they said yes and vice versa. This
impression I believe was equally shared by many others in my generation.
Today, I am a 41 year old Nigerian. A lot has changed. I see things
differently now. I am now a fully grown man who can analyse issues
critically. One thing I believe passionately is that it is very
important for one to set a standard for oneself, but equally more
important to sustain the standard.
On the final lap of your presidential campaign for 2011, you made an
open declaration in front of the media and your supporters, without
mincing words you stated emphatically that 2011 would be your last
attempt to contest the Presidency. Going by your legacy and standard,
many People including I took you by your words. After all Buhari means
yes when he says yes. However that promise was short lived. Before one
can say Jack Robinson you have joined the race again for the fourth
consecutive time, contrary to your open declaration.
Of course I concede you have every right to change your mind and
contest every election as long as you live. It is however very
remarkable to observe that you shot yourself in the foot when you
reneged on your promise to Nigerians not to contest the Presidency
again. So judging you by your own standard, you have fallen below
expectations. The pertinent question people are asking now is ” HOW CAN
WE EVER TRUST YOU AGAIN”? Another important questing worth asking you is
” WHAT IS NOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN BUHARI AND OTHER POLITICIANS”? I
would say none! Oh yes you have got the constitutional right to contest,
but eating your words has done your reputation more harm than good.
People now see you, and quite justifiably, just like a typical
politician who is unstable and unreliable.
READ ALSO: Why I Decided To Run For Presidency Again — Buhari
Some of your supporters continue to amuse me by claiming that
President Jonathan allegedly signed a one term pact with them. Unlike
you Jonathan never made any open declaration to serve only for one term.
Those of them who continue to make this ridiculous allegation have
refused to produce the transcript of the said agreement or tender any
proof to substantiate this. So as far as Nigerians are concerned
Jonathan never struck any one term deal with us. But you did promise
openly and suddenly reneged. In fact you actually sealed the promise
with your tears. An elder Statesman of your calibre and pedigree made a
promise and shed tears to seal it, that should have been final. It is
very symbolic when an Elder sheds tears in the continent of Africa. It
was a covenant with Nigerians not to contest again. A promise abruptly
broken. But this is politics. Everything is possible in this game.
Sir, I know you have many reasons for reneging on your promise but
most of these reasons are laughable. Some claim your supporters put
pressure on you to change your mind, but this is an old excuse which is
as old as Nigeria. Even late General Abacha had people begging him to
contest. A principled and disciplined officer like you should have
remained steadfast to your open declaration. Others claim you are still
young, after all you would be only 72 by the next Presidential election.
At 72 you would still be much younger than Mugabe. So they claim!
But they conveniently refused to check Mugabe’s next door neighbour
Madiba. Suffice it to say that Mandela is the very opposite of Mugabe
and the ideal role model for all African leaders. Mandela declined to go
for a second term because according to him , age was not on his side.
He could have won a second term and transformed to a life President if
he wished. But he never did. He voluntarily made way for the younger
generation to continue from where he stopped. This is what is expected
of you now to retire voluntarily and join the respected league of Elders
where you truly belong.
Another reason which some of your supporters have tendered is that
you are genuinely motivated by service and patriotism. I gladly take
this on board. I can give you the benefit of the doubt that you are
driven by the urge to serve your fatherland. This is a very valid
reason. But Sir, I have an important question here for you. The question
is simple, MUST YOU SERVE NIGERIA AS A PRESIDENT ONLY? IS THERE NO
OTHER CAPACITY YOU CAN SERVE US EXCEPT THE PRESIDENCY?
READ ALSO: Buhari Refuses To Step Aside
It is very erroneous to imagine that you can only serve Nigeria only
in one capacity. During the regime of late General Sani Abacha, you
accepted the appointment to serve as the Chairman of the then Petroleum
Trust Fund PTF. The general opinion was that you served faithfully in
this capacity. Well done Sir! But you never asked Abacha to vacate
office for you as your former subordinate in the army. Never! In fact
that would have been a dangerous move, if not suicidal. Rather you
served faithfully under your former junior in the army. Sir, imagine if
you take on another job like the Chairman of EFCC or ICPC or NDLEA.
Nigerians actually need you to serve in one of these capacities much
more than they need you in the Presidency. Mere mentioning your name as
Chairman of EFCC would drive many corrupt men underground. But you
wouldn’t . Either the Presidency or nothing. So it seems!
Sir, let us examine your service records. I consider your generation a
very privileged one, indeed. In 1975 at the age of 33, you were
appointed the Military Governor of the North-Eastern State, present day
Borno & Yobe states. In 1976 at the age of 34 you became the
Minister for Petroleum and Natural Resources. In 1978 at the age of 36
you became the Chairman of the Nigeria National Petroleum Corporation
(NNPC).
Today the reverse is the case. Most Nigerians at age of 35 are still
unemployed and still living with parents. Many are still not married.
During your time you were already Governor at this age. One major reason
for this unfortunate turn of events is that many elders like you have
refused to voluntarily handover the baton to the next generation. Life
should be a relay race where one runs his race and hands over to the
next. In Nigeria many elders like you have run their races and are still
holding on tenaciously to the baton. When are you going to handover to
the next person? It is either you do it voluntarily or risk disgrace at
the polls. In 1983 at the age of 41, exactly the same age as my humble
self now, you became the Head of State.
Most Nigerians in my age have not had the opportunity to serve, but
we still remain committed to the Nigerian project. You should rather be
graceful to God and to Nigerians for the numerous opportunities that
have come your way to serve Nigerians. Others are begging for just one
opportunity to serve.
Sir, you have to accept the stark reality on ground that you have
served your time already. That is life for you. You run the race, you
handover the baton for others to run, you cannot hold on to the baton
more than is necessary. As a former head of State you are already a
member of the Council of State Meeting. You have every avenue to channel
your views across. You don’t necessarily have to be in a frontline
role, you can serve in an advisory capacity. That is still service.
In conclusion, let me state that the greatest beneficiary should you
emerge candidate of the APC would be President Jonathan. It is crystal
clear that you cannot defeat President Jonathan in a free, fair and
credible election, even in Katsina State. Sentiments aside, Jonathan
would cruise to a landslide victory should you emerge candidate of the
APC.
In fact many political analysts believe that President Jonathan wants
you to emerge as the APC flag bearer in order to secure a cheap
victory. In fairness to you, any of your Children would pose a serious
challenge to Jonathan more than yourself. I do not see Nigerians
electing a 72 year old former Head of state to lead us in this Digital
era.
With due respect to you Sir, you belong to the Analogue age and
therefore, will not fit in as president in this digital era. This is the
blunt truth. Please do not enter the Guinness book of world records on a
negative note. Losing four consecutive Presidential election would not
augur well for your reputation. It is in your best interest to assume
your position as an elder statesman and allow others to serve. Nigeria
does not belong to you alone. It belongs to us all.”
Nigerians have however taken to the 37-year-old deceased’s Facebook page to show how sad they are and how much they still cannot believe the death of the handsome actor.
See more photos below:
Earlier in the day
Knightley
attended a photocall for 'The Imitation Game' in a pleated Valentino gown
French actress
Olga Kurylenko
put on a tropical show in Matthew Williamson at the opening gala
Sassy red stiletto sandals spruced up model
Daisy Lowe's
Saint Laurent Le Smoking suit on the inaugral night
Budding British actress
Clara Paget
cut a sleek figure with extra sheer and sparkle detailing
Shoe designer
Charlotte Dellal
channelled her signature old Hollywood style on the opening night
Games of Thrones star
Natalie Dormer
eschewed the 'dress' code and plumped for a slick black suit
American swimwear designer
Melissa Odabash
found herself on the opening gala guest list
Gwendoline Christie
was a tasselled vision at the IWC Schaffhausen dinner
A punchy blue Dior number ensured actress
Bonnie Wright
didn't fade into the crowds
Just peachy was actress
Emily Blunt
at the opening party
British model and new mother
Erin O'Connor
took a vivid, scarlet turn in Roksanda at the IWC gala dinner in honour of the BFI
British models
Charlotte Wiggins
and
Sam Rollinson
(in a Saint Laurent party dress) cut fashionable figures on the opening night at the IWC gala dinner