Connect with us

Politics

Muhammadu Buhari: A Repeated Pattern of Failure (1985 Vs 2023)

Published

on

With President Muhammadu Buhari’s tenure coming to an end in 2 months, let’s take a look at how his policies in his two stints as Nigeria’s Head-of-State has shown traits of a repeated pattern which has not been very favourable for Nigeria.

1983-1985

Muhammadu Buhari was the military head of state of Nigeria from December 1983 to August 1985. His government was characterized by a number of policies and actions that had far-reaching effects on the country’s political, economic, and social landscape. In this article, we will examine Buhari’s government, its policies, and its impact on Nigeria.Buhari’s government came to power through a military coup that overthrew the democratically elected government of President Shehu Shagari. The coup was widely welcomed by Nigerians, who had grown disillusioned with the corruption and economic mismanagement of the Shagari administration. Buhari promised to restore discipline and integrity to the government, and his initial actions were seen as steps in that direction. One of Buhari’s first actions as head of state was the establishment of the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) program, which aimed to promote discipline and accountability in society. The program included measures such as the enforcement of traffic laws, the punishment of littering, and the promotion of punctuality. While the program was initially popular, it soon became associated with heavy-handedness and abuse of power by the military. Soldiers and police officers were accused of using excessive force in enforcing WAI rules, and many Nigerians felt that the program was being used as a tool of repression. Buhari’s government also launched a crackdown on corruption, which had become endemic in Nigeria. Dozens of politicians and officials were arrested and tried for corruption, and some were sentenced to long prison terms. While the crackdown was popular with Nigerians, many observers noted that it was selective and politically motivated. Buhari’s government targeted members of the previous administration and their allies, while turning a blind eye to corruption within the military and security forces.Another key policy of Buhari’s government was the implementation of an austerity program to address Nigeria’s economic crisis. The country was facing a severe balance of payments crisis, and its external debt had ballooned to over $12 billion. Buhari’s government implemented a number of measures to reduce government spending and increase revenues, including the devaluation of the naira, the reduction of subsidies on fuel and food, and the cutting of civil service salaries. While these measures were necessary to address Nigeria’s economic problems, they had a severe impact on the country’s poor and working-class population, who bore the brunt of the austerity measures. While Muhammadu Buhari’s government had some successes during its two-year tenure, there were also significant failures and shortcomings that had lasting negative impacts on Nigeria.One of the most significant failures of Buhari’s government was its handling of human rights abuses. The military cracked down harshly on perceived enemies of the regime, with reports of extrajudicial executions, torture, and arbitrary detention. Many Nigerians were arrested and detained without trial, and the government suspended civil liberties such as freedom of the press, freedom of assembly, and freedom of association. These actions were perceived as heavy-handed and authoritarian, and they generated widespread criticism from human rights groups both within Nigeria and internationally. Another major failure of Buhari’s government was its inability to address Nigeria’s severe economic crisis. While the government implemented austerity measures to address the country’s balance of payments crisis and external debt, these measures had significant negative impacts on Nigeria’s poor and working-class population. The devaluation of the naira led to inflation, which eroded the purchasing power of ordinary Nigerians, and the reduction of subsidies on fuel and food led to rising prices and food shortages. The cutting of civil service salaries also led to significant job losses and increased poverty.Buhari’s government also failed to address the underlying structural problems in Nigeria’s economy, such as the over-reliance on oil exports and the lack of diversification. The government did little to promote the development of other sectors of the economy, and its policies did not create an enabling environment for private sector growth. This lack of economic diversification would later prove to be a significant vulnerability for Nigeria, particularly during periods of global oil price volatility.Another area where Buhari’s government failed was in its relations with Nigeria’s neighboring countries. The government’s foreign policy was perceived as aggressive and confrontational, particularly with regards to Nigeria’s relations with its Francophone neighbors. Buhari’s government was accused of meddling in the affairs of neighboring countries, and its actions led to strained relations with these countries. This undermined Nigeria’s regional leadership and weakened its position in international forums.Finally, Buhari’s government was criticized for its lack of inclusivity and participation. The government was dominated by military officers, and there was little participation by civilians in the decision-making process. This lack of participation contributed to a sense of alienation among ordinary Nigerians, particularly those outside of the military and political elite.

2015 to 2023

Muhammadu Buhari was elected as President of Nigeria in 2015, with the promise of tackling corruption, improving security, and reviving the economy. However, his government has been criticized for its failures in achieving these goals, as well as for a number of other shortcomings.

One of the most significant failures of Buhari’s government has been its handling of the economy. Despite promises to diversify the economy and reduce dependence on oil exports, the government has been unable to significantly improve the economy. Nigeria has experienced a recession under Buhari’s leadership, with the country’s GDP contracting for the first time in 25 years in 2016. The government’s economic policies have been criticized for being inconsistent and lacking in coherence, with some experts arguing that the government has been slow to respond to economic challenges.

Another major failure of Buhari’s government has been its handling of security challenges in the country. The government has been criticized for its inability to effectively address the threat posed by Boko Haram, an Islamist extremist group that has carried out numerous attacks in the country. While the government has made some progress in reducing the group’s territorial control, Boko Haram continues to carry out attacks on civilians and security forces. The government has also been criticized for its handling of other security challenges, such as the conflict between farmers and herders in the country.

Buhari’s government has also been criticized for its handling of corruption. While the government has made some high-profile arrests and recoveries of stolen assets, critics argue that these actions have been selective and politically motivated. The government’s anti-corruption campaign has been accused of lacking transparency and due process, with some individuals being arrested and detained without trial. There have also been concerns about the government’s ability to effectively prosecute corruption cases, with many cases being delayed or thrown out of court.

In addition to these failures, Buhari’s government has been criticized for its lack of inclusivity and participation. The government has been accused of being dominated by a small group of individuals, with little input from civil society or other stakeholders. There have also been concerns about the government’s respect for human rights, with reports of extrajudicial killings, arbitrary detention, and restrictions on freedom of expression and assembly.

Finally, Buhari’s government has been criticized for its handling of Nigeria’s international relations. The government’s foreign policy has been described as insular and reactive, with little attention paid to building relationships with other countries or addressing global challenges.

News

2 BIRDS OF A FEATHER: HOW APC & PDP FEASTED ON LP VOTES

Published

on

The 2023 Presidential Election has been themed the ‘worst election in the history of Nigeria’ by most Nigerians & observers from across the globe.

Prof Mahmood Yakubu declared Tinubu president-elect amidst controversial circumstances

Many weeks have passed since Prof Mahmood Yakubu controversially announced the APC candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the winner of the polls and subsequently returned as the president-elect, but Nigerians won’t let this slide as a resolve has been made by the country’s very youthful population to restore the mandate which majority of them opine is rightfully the LP presidential candidate, Peter Obi’s.

As the ruling party, it was only normal that APC was fingered as the ‘usual suspect’, their corrupt counterparts, PDP has however managed to stay out of the spotlight, leaving APC to face the wrath and backlash of angry Nigerians alone. However, Reportera News investigative reports has revealed that not only APC rigged in the 2023 presidential election, but their longtime opposition, PDP. Peter Obi’s LP who banked on INEC’s promise on delivering a free & fair poll were the victim of Prof Mahmood & INEC’s gross ineptitude.

Whilst APC focused their nefarious activities in remote areas in the North West and South West regions of the country, PDP focused on the South South and the North East, to ‘harvest’ LP votes, primarily. Studies have indicated that Peter Obi’s LP won Akwa-Ibom, Bayelsa, & Taraba; 3 PDP states, but were unfortunately rigged out of the polls, giving PDP controversial victories in the states. The electoral heist also saw the transfer of LP votes to APC in Benue, Plateau, and Rivers. Nigerians have called for the arrest and criminal prosecution of INEC chairman Prof Mahmood Yakubu for electoral, LP has also petitioned the judiciary seeking the annulment of the election by the Court of Appeal which is set to begin trial on 30th May 2023.

This is a developing Story, subscribe to our newsletter to read new episodes of our series; ‘2023 election Audit’.

Continue Reading

News

Exposed: INEC Didn’t Have To Wipe BVA Data For ‘Storage Space’

Published

on

INEC chairman, Prof Mahmood Yakubu

The 2023 presidential election may have come and gone to some people, it however left a bitter taste in the mouths of most Nigerians who came out in their numbers to vote for their future only for the election results to be systemically rigged in favour of the ruling party, APC. To many, this is a nightmare that they’re hoping they’d wake up from, but to INEC it’s a bone they can’t spit nor swallow; this is because the manner with which the election was rigged is what experts call ‘lazy rigging’ due to the fact that they left far too many loopholes, subsequently leaving a trail of evidence to the public of the travesty disguised as election that occured on February 25th 2023.

This has left INEC in between crossroads as they are torn in the middle of defending the poorly conducted heist or admitting that the poll was flawed. The electoral body has however refused to lean towards the latter, arguing vehemently that they conducted a free & fair election, this obviously is a blatant lie based on the response of Nigerians who mostly feel that the results were rigged.

INEC has been dragged to court by the two main opposition parties, LP and PDP, however it is only the former who actually has a strong grip on their case since evidence has also shown that the latter committed the same electoral fraud that they accuse the ruling party, APC of.

Ekemp M8, the BVA used by INEC

BVA ‘Wahala’

One of the first requests of LP to the court was to have them inspect the BVAs to ensure that the INEC-published-results corresponded with the data available on the devices. However, INEC made a bogus claim that they had to wipe the presidential election results data to make storage space for the gubernatorial polls which happened almost a month after the presidential polls.

The Labour Party led by it’s presidential candidate, Peter Obi which on account of most Nigerians won the election are the major victims of this fraud have approached the courts to retrieve their stolen mandate, one which is expected to upheaval the status quo; in fact, many analysts have postulated that this trial is the biggest in the history of this nation.

In this article, Reportera News takes a deeper look at the device in question to determine if INEC’s claim could be substantiated and most importantly, proven to be truthful. Unfortunately, it isn’t; INEC lied inconspicuously and as a matter of fact, our investigation revealed that the device could handle upto 50 more elections of the same magnitude without needing to erase the data.

Discoveries:

The model of the BVA devices used by INEC is an ‘Ekemp M8’, it’s a biometric tablet with a processor speed of 1.3GHz manufactured by the global electronic powerhouse, Samsung. It comes with a 2 Gigabyte storage space with options that goes upto 8 Gigabytes. The simply interpretation of this information is that the device can accommodate data for 50 different elections without needing a ‘reconfiguration’. This ultimately begs the questions;

what is INEC hiding?

Why are they scared to hand over the BVAs for inspection of it’s content if they affirm that the election was conducted in a free and fair atmosphere?

The answer is simple; there is no correlation between the fraudulently announced results and the results in the BVAs, they just do not match, hence their decision to withhold the device and avert exposing the electoral fraud they committed.

Specs of the Ekemp M8

our IT experts looked at the specifications of this device and have come to a technical conclusion that it was ‘illogical’ to wipe the data since the election would have taken at most 2% of the storage capacity using the average Polling Unit to voters ratio which is 300 voters per polling unit.

According to most Nigerians and available evidence, Peter Obi of LP won the 2023 presidential election

As Nigerians stay focused on the judiciary hoping that the INEC results are annulled unequivocally, INEC and APC have deployed many machineries to consolidate the fraud they did, one of which was Lai Mohammed’s Washington DC trip where he went on international media organization at the behest of his paymasters to spread false information on the election, an action that has received heavy criticism from Nigerians who think that it was a waste of public funds as the announcement could have been made here in Nigeria, albeit faux news.

Verdict:

Our verdict is very clear, there is absolutely no reason for INEC to erase, transfer, or reconfigure the data on the BVA since there was more than enough storage space and most importantly, the BVAs were the subject of investigation for electoral fraud, hence not meant to be tampered with as this could affect the outcome of the case.

Continue Reading

News

Rivers: Nyesom Wike And Sim Fubara, Rivers State Governor-elect Fight Dirty

Published

on

L-R Sim Fubara, Nyesom Wike

A head of May 29, 2023 inauguration, the outgoing governor of Rivers State, Nyesom Wike and his ‘political son’, and current Governor-elect of the state, Sim Fubara have fallen out, Reportera News has learned.

According to reports from Rivers State, the rift is as a result of disagreement between the duo on the Party’s (People’s Democratic Party) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

According to reports from Rivers State, the rift is as a result of disagreement between the duo on the Party’s (People’s Democratic Party) presidential candidate, Atiku Abubakar.

Nyesom Wike political godfather of Sim Fubara

A source told Reportera in Port Harcourt that Wike is fuming that Fubara invited Atiku and other PDP leaders considered to be his enemies to the May 29 inauguration at Portharcourt without his consent. The source said that when confronted, Fubara told his close aides that he wouldn’t want to inherit the enemies of the outgoing governor and wouldn’t want to start fighting political wars early in his administration.

He opted for reconciliation with the party leaders both at the state and national, which didn’t go down well with the Port Harcourt hit man. This has created a huge crack between the two and we were told that Wike is withholding release of funds for the inauguration. The political battle between Wike and Fubara will be interesting.

Continue Reading

Trending