A Fulaniman is favored to win the election

   A Fulani-man, army general and former president is on of the favorite candidate to the presidential election in Nigeria. Major-General Muhammadu Buhari ruled Nigeria from 12/31/1983 to August 27, 1985. He came to power by a military coup which made an end to the rule of another Fulaniman Elhaji Shehu Shagari. Muhammadu Buhari is still remembered by many Nigerians as a truthful man and one who stands by his word. When he came to power in New Year’s Eve 1983, he made war on corruption and lawlessness the primary focus of his presidency. Buhari believed, and told anyone who wanted to listen to him that, what is destroying the most populated country in Africa and the oil-rich nation is “corruption and indiscipline”. He zealously, went after stolen state money and corrupt politicians.

  Although a Fulani from the Muslim dominated North, President Buhari, never spare his northerners fellows, who dominated the previous government, from prosecution. The Affaire of Umaru Dikko, another Fulaniman, baron of the old regime is here to testify that.

 Umaru Dikko was influential Transport Minister in the previous administration. Exploiting his influence with his brother-in-law, the President Shehu Shagari, he enriched himself through widespread corruption. After the 1983 coup d’état he fled into exile in London, allegedly, carrying with him several suitcases full with money. In an effort to bring him back to the country so he can face the justice, and for the government to eventually salvage some of the money, they attempted to kidnap him with the help of the Israeli’s Secret Service (MOSSAD), in an operation of Hollywood style. The attempt has failed when the British government officials found Mr. Dikko, drugged and stuffed inside of an air shipment crate. The incident caused a rupture of relation between Nigeria and his former colonial power for two years. Adding to this political climate was the condition of the country’s economy where inflation and oil spending saw the economy decimate itself. In August 1985 Buhari was deposed by a military coup led by another Hausa-Fulani, Ibrahim Badamasi Babangida.   

 

  Since the return to the civil rule in Nigeria in 1999, Buhari has participated to all the elections with no success, something he always has blamed to the widespread fraud and vote tampering.

Despite of that, the General never give up hope of leading Nigeria again and to make it the economy power house of West Africa.

 

In a country heavily divided by ethnicity and religion, the question is not whether he will gain a massive support in the Muslim-dominated North, but whether he will capture a substantial vote in the Christian-dominated South, which is necessary for him to win the election against Goodluck Jonathan, the current President and candidate of the ruling People’s Democratic Party.

 

  The Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), which Buhari is the designated candidate, is reported to draw big crowds in all part of the country. According to the same reports, there has been an increased support for the former President in recent weeks leading to the April 16, election, and his momentum does not show any signs of slowing down.  

                                                                       A large crowd of supporters

                                                                        Cheering to President Buhari

                                                                       at his arrival in a rally