LEARN FROM EGYPT, BUHARI TELLS LEADERS

Former Head of State retired Major General Muhammad Buhari has warned Nigerian political leaders to learn a lesson from what happened in Egypt few days ago, adding that despite the shortcomings and challenges of colonial rule, the colonialists thought Nigerians accountability, as it were in any religion and culture.

Buhari spoke yesterday during a public presentation of two books by Mallam Nuhu Ramalan, Head of Political Science Department of the Federal College of Education (FCE), Zaria.
“I encourage young men to buy the books to know their history. Although I know history would keep on repeating itself, as it (has) just been in Egypt. Nigeria would not be an exception, and by the way we  are going only God knows where we are going to end up, but I hope we would end up well,” General Buhari said.

The former head of state also expressed his resolve to remain in active politics saying that despite the fact that he “ended from the Head of State to a prisoner of sort, that did not stop me to attempt to get back through the other means; that is politics. And after three unsuccessful attempts, I refused to give up. I tried to, but my supporters wouldn’t support my throwing in the towel. So, I intend to fight on in spite the challenges.”
Commenting on the books, ‘Nigerian Military in Politics; 1966 to 2011 and Politics of Transition to Civil Rule; 1966 to 1999’, Buhari said when he was Head of State; he encouraged young intellectuals and even brought some of them on board. It was on that light, he said, that he brought Ibrahim Gambari as foreign minister.
Buhari said “the deterioration of the culture caused the lack of accountability in the system, and it has now gone absolutely wide. When the military and the political leadership came, they were so corrupt and they destroyed these institutions.”
While quoting Obama as saying that countries of Africa are being faced with problem of strong leaders and institutions, Buhari said “Paradoxically, in Nigeria it is the strong leaders that destroy the strong institutions by corruption and laziness of some sort.”
On his regime, Buhari said he refused to promote himself to the rank of General from Major General because he had wanted to safeguard the integrity of the military and the Nigerian system.
“I told my colleagues that if you are a Major General but you are not Commander-in-Chief and that makes a big difference,” General Buhari said.

Source: Daily Trust