Buhari @ 75: A reflection

Seventy five years in the life of an individual is worthy of celebration and as such, I wish to congratulate President Muhammadu Buhari for attaining such age. A true reflection of President Buhari reveals so many things that he went through in life.

The President participated in 30-month civil war in order to keep this country one and united when the South East wanted to break away from the entity called Nigeria. After the successful execution of the war, he was opportune to be within the corridors of power as a member of the then Supreme Military Council and later appointed as the Military Governor of the North Eastern State.

He was later appointed as the Federal Commissioner of Petroleum Resources. Because he is a person averse to political appointment, the then Chief of Army Staff, Lt-General T Y Danjuma, appointed him as the General Commanding Officer 3 Division Jos, where he remained up to the handing over to civilian rule in 1979.

In December, 1984, he became the military Head of State after ousting the President Shehu Shagari led civilian administration. He was later dethroned 20 months on the throne in a military coup led by the General Ibrahim Babangida.

President Buhari was later appointed as the Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) by the late General Sani Abacha. He later joined the murky waters of politics and vied for the presidency three times and failed until the fourth time in 2015, that he made it. Therefore, President Buhari needs to ponder over what God has done for him and appreciate him.

Some charlatans in the garb of binge politicians use his popularity to ascend to leadership positions as governors, senators and members are trying all they can to lure him to once again throw his hat in the field as without him in the field it is something near impossible for most of them to get second term.

President Buhari needs to support someone that is young to aspire for the position in 2019 and disregard those clamouring for him to go for second term. This is because age is not on his side.

In fact, President Buhari needs to thank and appreciate God for the wonderful things that he has done to his life in the past seventy-five years on this earth. He did not mess up his life through addiction to alcohol, womanizing or smoking, which is why he was very agile even at the age of above seventy years.

All these are manifestation of healthier life as he is living within his means. He is not losing any sleep over certain things. He is incorruptible to the core and that does mean that he is a poor person as a lot of people tend to believe.

President Buhari should try as much as possible have an indepth reflection on his life on what he has done to the people and his family either at Daura or in Kaduna. He should leave when the ovation is loudest. Those governors flattering President Buhari by their call on the President to continue in 2019 are just hoodwinking the people having it at their hand that it is not just like that, that they got into their offices as they used the personality of President Buhari to get elected as governors, etc.

Congratulations and happy birthday.

Usman Santuraki,No2, Santuraki Close,Jambutu, Jimeta, Yola

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