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BUHARI’S RETURN: A victory for democracy

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BUHARI'S RETURN: A victory for democracy

One can confidently now say that our democracy has come of age. It has attained a huge level of maturity enough to withstand all the vagaries that comes with free speech and free association. The President, in his over 100 days of medical vacation was able to show more than any other leader his democratic credentials by not only respecting the provisions of the constitution as it guides us in his unique situation but was confident enough to allow the institutions continue to execute their duties without any undue interference thereby strengthening them and ensuring stability and continuous cohesion.

In the recent past, the nation was almost pushed to the precipice under similar circumstances when the incumbent and his handlers, not having enough confidence in themselves and driven by personal ambition, continued to subvert the constitution and institutions leading to serious instability and possible breakdown of law and order. It took the passing of the principal to bring down the tension and put us back to national cohesion.

Today, despite the push by ethnic nationalists, an economy in recession, political strive and a stringent opposition, the President was able to go for so long and come back with the economy he left in recession showing signs of recovery, the Naira stabilizing, inflation almost curbed and consumer index showing some level of stability. The Boko Haram insurgency, although showing some recent flashes, have been largely muted, the issue of Biafra morphing into a nationally accepted push for a restructuring of the nation instead of an outright balkanisation of the country.

That governance witnessed a continuum in policy could be immediately ascribed to the confidence the President has in himself and also on his deputy who has shown uncanny loyalty and humility in carrying out his role in acting capacity.

Read also: Letter To President Muhammadu Buhari

Some watchers have said that the Acting President was able to remain loyal because he did not have a base and also that the Asiwaju’s diminishing base was not available to him since that would possibly end any ambition the Asiwaju was nursing. I beg to disagree. What we have here today are two democrats brought together by different circumstances and binding them in the believe that a stable continuum would augur well for them and also their legacy.

At Buhari’s age and health status, it would be fool hardy for him to rock the boat by handing over or needlessly supporting a powerful renegade to whittle down the powers of his deputy as the earlier mentioned principal did. This was so for the simple reason that the issue of control and a return would have been dicey not to talk of the tension and strife that would throw into the polity. So for the President, his deputy was a safer bet; a learned scholar, one with strong democratic pedigree, who shares his staunch hatred for corruption and who has shown capacity to hold the ship of state ensure cohesion and push back the embers of division. It was a bet any reasonable person would hang on.

For Osinbajo, his academic qualifications and legal pedigree, plus the fact that he does not have any ambition short of the need to serve put him in good stead to hold the ship of state in the absence of his principal. He performed creditably well and sure deserves all the accolades he is getting today.

But Buhari reserves all the praise for his unNigerian like believe in the structures that our constitution has brought in. He would have easily been ruling from London and signing documents on his sick bed. But no. He handed over in every sense of the word and discouraged any sycophantic attempt at undermining Osinbajo, thereby, empowering him not only to be seen to rule but rule in every sense of the word.

Welcome back sir, you have won my respect.

 

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0 Comments

  1. Abeni Adebisi

    August 21, 2017 at 2:15 pm

    Buhari’s return is no way a victory to Democracy because the same democracy failed Buhari when he was on sick bed! He handed over to Osinbajo, but did democracy allow Osinbajo act fully as the President? No! His return is simply a victory to God, Nigerians who love Buhari and APC as a whole.

  2. Animashaun Ayodeji

    August 21, 2017 at 2:21 pm

    Buhari should be the person to applaud, he sorted everything he needed to sort before he left the country. Had it been he left the country without giving Osinbajo the proper authority to perform on his behalf, the situation would have changed along time ago. We should also thank Osinbajo for not being power corrupt, he also did very well as a loyal vice.

    • JOHNSON PETER

      August 21, 2017 at 3:02 pm

      Mumu, coordinating president which is antithetical to democracy, flagrant breakage of law. Apc is just a bunch of unruly political party if not buhari is not worthy to be in the position again

  3. Anita Kingsley

    August 21, 2017 at 2:25 pm

    This piece is an attempt to deceive Nigerians but it has failed. Nigeria is not a democratic country, the way Buhari is running the country is not even closer to democracy, the man left the country and there was peace everywhere, when he was around Nigerians knew no peace only the Northerners enjoyed. Very soon, Nigerians will start praying Buhari returns to London for another round of treatment

    • yanju omotodun

      August 21, 2017 at 4:11 pm

      Whether it’s not democratic or it’s democratic, all the world knows is that Nigeria practises a democratic government

  4. Balarabe musa

    August 22, 2017 at 5:55 am

    Baba buhari is alive and well, he’s back to silence all who wished he has died like Fayose and ffk

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