WAKE UP: As Muhammadu Buhari, an enigma like a dew at dawn, is 76

By BASHIR ADEFAKA

“Many beautifully designed posters and online adverts – free and sponsored – have seen seated on the social media and they radiate in the cyber space with splash! Many of these, I, myself as a media practitioner with strong advocacy for inclusive participation in Buharism without professional, ethnic and religious barriers, behold that I have declared “President Muhammadu Buhari is now the world’s most popular black man”.”

Nigerians, home and abroad, attempted bringing down the internet for no other reason buy wanting the world know how much they love, appreciate and value the quality leadership President Muhammadu Buhari, an enigmatic figure of an exceptionally pragmatic sort, has offered them in the last three and a half years of his civilian administration in Nigeria.

The celebrations kicked off by the President’s (though arguably) most dangerous “enemy” and former Military President Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida since Friday December 15, that is 72 hours ahead of the Monday December 17 birthday.  Babangida, whom Buhari long before he became elected president had said he had forgiven but would never forget for his offence against him, must have calculated the timing of the birthday to warm himself back to his former boss whose discipline-based government he overthrew in 1985, especially at this time that the political class that he chose to pitch his tent with against the Buhari’s re-election 2019 is crashing out daily.

Like keeping vigil in crossover night, all Buharists and the various groups – political and nonpolitical – they fall into, they had barely allowed Monday’s dawn of December 17 breathe its friendly dew when they took the internet from the social media angle by its pillars, as they bombarded the cyber space with great messages; some emotional, others passionately displaying with vigour their appreciation to Allah, Almighty, that they have been part of the Buhari’s Struggle for the rescue of the soul of Nigeria.

Among the groups are Muhammadu Buhari Strategic Group (MBO), Buhari Support Group (BSO), Together Nigeria, Patriotic Friends of PMB, Buhari Media Organization (BMO), and other Buharist individuals who do not belong to any organization but have made their marks establishing the resounding gospel of Buharism across the space of the land.

Many beautifully designed posters and online adverts – free and sponsored – have seen seated on the social media and they radiate in the cyber space with splash!

Many of these, I, myself as a media practitioner with strong advocacy for inclusive participation in Buharism without professional, ethnic and religious barriers, behold that I have declared “President Muhammadu Buhari is now the world’s most popular black man”.

Early Life of Muhammadu Buhari

Born 17 December 1942 in the Fulani family of Adamu and Zulaihat, Daura then Northern Nigeria but now Katsina State, Muhammadu Buhari GCFR, a Nigerian politician currently serving as the President of Nigeria, came to office since May 29, 2015. He is a retired Major General in the Nigerian Army and previously served as the nation’s Head of State from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after his appointed as head of the country as consented to by the Supreme Military Council which staged the then military coup.

He studied at Daura primary school. After that, he proceeded with his education at Katsina Model School. A few years later, attended Katsina Provincial Secondary School.

Military Career

In 1961, the future president enrolled in the Nigerian Military Training College. In 1964, this college was renamed the Nigerian Defence Academy. In 1962, Buhari underwent the officer training at Mons Officer Cadet School in England.

In 1963, Buhari graduated as a second lieutenant. He was appointed as a Platoon Commander to the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta. He grew through the ranks and in 1967 he was appointed as a brigade major of the First Infantry Division.

Civil War

Buhari met the beginning of the civil war under the command of Lt. Col Mohammed Shuwa, who later became Major General, retired from the Army and lived his life until he was killed by Boko Haram during the time of the immediate past administration in the country. Buhari was assigned to the First Division as an Adjutant and Company Commander of 2 Battalion Unit. This Battalion was one of the first to move forward to Gakem near Afikpo. The rebel capital – Enugu was taken within weeks after the start of the military actions.

Buhari witnessed the implementation of new tactics towards the military campaign of Nigeria. The new tactics involved securing of new lands instead of swift military advances. The new sectors of operations were created within the Awka-Abagana-Onitsha regions.

After War

After the war, Buhari spent the time for education, where he attended the Defence Services Staff College. He was also the Acting Director of Transport and Supply at the Transport Headquarters.

In July 1975 when General Murtala Muhammed became Head of State, Buhari was appointed the Governor of the North-Eastern State and later served as Governor of Borno State when North- East State was finally further split from being a regional state. In 1976 after the Dimka coup that led to the death of the Head of State General Murtala Muhammed and General Olusegun Obasanjo became new Head of State, the Daura-born fine officer was moved from Borno where he was serving as Governor to become the Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources now called the office of the Minister of Petroleum.

History of Nigeria has it that the oil refineries that Nigeria has got till today was those that Buhari built as Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources.

Nonetheless, in 1978, he returned to the military hierarchy and became a member of Supreme Military Council. He also continued his military education with attending the Army War College in the United States of America (USA) and even gained the Master’s Degree in Strategic Studies from that College.

1983 military leadership

Major General MBuhari was one of the main leaders of the Military Coup of December 1983. Buhari justified military actions against the democratically elected powers by defying the democratic government as corrupt. The coup d`etat leaders also justified their actions as a desire to correct the economic situation in Nigeria.

He was appointed as the head of state where he provided quite strict policies against the citizens. One of his most famous policies was “War Against Indiscipline.” In some cases, it included harsh prison sentences, like 21 years in prison for cheating on the exams.

In a coup d’etat in 1985 led by his Chief of Army Staff, General Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida, Major General Buhari was sentenced to three years in prison. After the prison, he decided to start a new life. He divorced his first wife and married to Aisha Halilu. In the civil life, he served as the Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund.

Foray into Nigeria’s democratic Presidency

Since 2003, Buhari started to take part in the presidential elections. He managed to become a candidate for the presidency in 2003, 2007, 2011. Nonetheless, only 2015 provide the significant success, and since then the man usually called General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) became President Muhammadu Buhari (PMB) of Nigeria.

Books

Muhammadu Buhari has books on the military class, political class and the quest for good governance in Nigeria and The PTP years.

Best Wishes at 76

On behalf my father the former banker, Alhaji Kasumu Yesufu Adefaka, my late mother, Sifawu, my good wife, Hajia Basirat, my children and entire members of the “Patriotic Friends PMB”, I wish President Muhammadu Buhari more prosperous years ahead and successes in his selfless effort for recovery of Nigeria!