What Supporting Buhari in 2015 Has Taught Me About Peter Obi – By Yusuf Omotayo
Admitting that you supported Muhammadu Buhari in 2015 is an extreme sport. You get snide remarks like “You are one of those who brought us to where we are today” from those who were either too young to vote then, too indifferent to vote then or those who supported Goodluck Jonathan. Many of those who campaigned for and voted for Buhari in 2015 had good intentions for the country and did so altruistically. No personal financial gratification was involved in this desire for change at least from me and a few other that I know.
I would consider myself one of the lucky ones though. I did not – and still do not – have a large social media presence so my vocal support was only known among my friends and family. On election night in 2015, I stayed behind after casting my vote at my polling unit until every ballot had been collated and counted. I went around with a notebook recording the results as they were announced on the television and followed every scrap of news until Jonathan conceded defeat and Buhari was declared the winner. Hopes were high.
As I mentioned, I was one of the lucky ones who did not have a large social media following. Political commentators like Ogbeni Dipo and Japhet Omojuwa, who were very critical of the Jonathan government, have become objects of ridicule now, constantly being forced to apologise for their political decisions and carry their cross of shame on Twitter. Chude Jideonwo of Statecraft whose company managed the digital campaign has almost been kicked out of social media as many besiege his page to whip him for supporting Buhari. Nigerian writer, Lola Shoneyin wrote an article titled “How my father’s jailer can offer Nigeria a fresh start,” where she expressed her strong hope that Buhari’s plan at curbing corruption, fighting insecurity and elevating the education sector would help change the direction of the country. Many have not forgiven her since then and they bring up the article from time to time; that she was one of those who brought us here.
“Here” is not where many of us expected Nigeria to be but we are the devil, the antichrist, the educated but myopic sellouts who supported a former military dictator and coup plotter against a Goodluck Jonathan notwithstanding his administration’s massive corruption, the insecurity, the constant ASUU strikes, the subsidy protest, the rising cost of commodities and the abuse of power, case in point the invasion of the offices of The Leadership, Punch, Nation, Daily Trust and Vanguard newspapers by armed security operatives in 2014.
Yes, everything mentioned above has more or less happened in the Buhari administration but hindsight is 2020.
I have seen and experienced too much of the Buhari administration to believe that another messiah is coming with a magic wand to wish all Nigeria’s problems away.
Right now, there is renewed hope in Nigeria over the candidacy of Peter Obi, the former governor of Anambra state and running mate to Atiku Abubakar in 2019. The euphoria, expectation, strong-willed support and daily reminders of his achievements on social media are a deja vu for me. Suddenly young Nigerians believe once again a single man who carries his own bag and has used the same wristwatch for the past 25 years will, in four years, end corruption, pay salaries and pensions at the federal and state level, improve the healthcare system to a world-class level, end ASUU strikes, combat banditry, Boko Haram, unknown gunmen and kidnapping, improve the economy and create jobs for the teeming unemployed youths. I want all that for Nigeria too but I have learnt my lesson from Buhari not to expect this sort of dramatic magical change. Hindsight is 2023.
I will advise young Nigerians, especially first-time voters, to tread carefully and listen to all the sides of the narratives in order to make sound decisions based on knowledge and not euphoria. Scrutinise your candidates based on their antecedents and the achievability of their promises. Else, you will be thrown back to reality hard after being carried high on a cloud of false hope.
Yusuf Omotayo writes from Lagos.
