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Muhammadu Buhari

Bio-data:

Muhammadu Buhari (born December 17, 1942) was the military ruler of Nigeria (December 31, 1983 – August 27, 1985) and an unsuccessful candidate for president in the April 19, 2003 presidential election. His ethnic background is Fulani and his faith is Islam; his family is from Katsina State.

Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd.), the All Nigeria Peoples Party (ANPP) Presidential Candidate was former head of state and commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces of Nigeria from Jan. 1984 to Aug. 1985.
Born on Dec. 17, 1942 in Daura, Katsina State. Buhari started his education at Mai’Adua Primary Schools, Daura from 1948 to 1952. He was at the Katsina Middle School, Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College), Katsina between 1953 and 1961.

* He enlisted in the Nigerian Army in 1962 and was trained at the Nigerian Military     Training College, Kaduna, 1962;

* Mons Officer Cadet School, Aldershot, United Kingdom, 1962-63;

* Defence Service Staff College, Wellington, India, January-November, 1973 and   Army War College, USA, 1979-80;

* He held many strategic military and political posts;

* He was Military Governor of North-Eastern State in 1975;

* Federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Energy 1976-1978;

* Chairman of the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation (NNPC) 1978-79;

* General Officer Commanding (GOC) 2nd Mechanised Infantry Division, 1981 and GOC 3rd Armoured Division, 1981-83.

After a bloodless coup on 30th Dec. 1983, Major-General Buhari was sworn-in as Nigeria’s seventh Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He was ousted in a bloodless coup on August 27, 1985. Major-General Muhammadu Buhari was the Chairman of the state owned Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF) from 1994 to 1998.

He holds the national award of Grand Commander of the Order of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (GCFR) among other laurels.

Minister of Petroleum

Buhari first came to limelight in 1975 when He became the Minister (or “Federal Commissioner”) for Petroleum and Natural Resources under then-Head of State General Olusegun Obasanjo. Before then he was the Governor of the newly created North Eastern State of Nigeria during the regime of Murtala Mohammed. He later became head of the newly created Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation. in 1977.

Chad

In 1983 Chadian soldiers invaded and took 19 islands in the Lake Chad- Nigerian territories. The then Brigadier Buhari, who was the General Officer Commanding commanding the 3rd Armoured Division (which he did from November 1981 – December 1983) successfully carried out a blockade of Chad. After which all the territories were returned. The Nigerian Army under Buhari then pursued the Chadian Army as afar as 50 km into Chadian territory. The 21st Armoured Brigade carried out the blockade and the fighting.

Buhari Administration

Major-General Buhari was selected to lead the country by middle and high-ranking military officers after a successful military coup d’etat that overthrew civilian President Shehu Shagari on December 31, 1983. Buhari was appointed Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and Tunde Idiagbon was appointed Chief of General Staff (the de facto #2 in the administration). Buhari justified the military’s seizure of power by castigating the civilian government as hopelessly corrupt, and his administration subsequently initiated a public campaign against indiscipline known as “War Against Indiscipline (WAI).” Despite authoritarian tendencies, the campaign is still lauded by many to have instilled the most orderly conduct of public and private affairs in Nigeria since its independence in 1960.

1985 Coup and Overthrow

Buhari was himself overthrown in a coup led by General Ibrahim Babangida on August 27, 1985 and other members of the ruling Supreme Military Council (SMC) ostensibly because he insisted on investigating allegations of fraudulent award of contracts in the Ministry of Defense. If that investigation had been carried through, it is believed that many senior military officers would have been implicated. Buhari’s insistence on this investigation was to become his fait accompli. A Palace Coup was planned and carried out by Gen Ibrahim Babangida and some senior military officers whose necks were heading for the chopping block following the conclusion of the investigation. Without a doubt, this would have become Buhari’s and Idiagbon’s most bitter and shocking lesson on how endemic and widespread corruption had become in Nigeria.

Later years

Buhari served as the Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund, a body created by the Government of General Abacha, and funded from the revenue generated by the increase in price of petroleum products from, to pursue developmental projects around the country. His transparent and efficient handling of this agency endeared him to Nigerians.

In 2003, Buhari contested the Presidential election as the candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party (ANPP). He was defeated by the People’s Democratic Party nominee, President Olusẹgun Ọbasanjọ, by a margin of more than eleven million votes. It was claimed by Mr Buhari’s supporters and other members of the opposition that out that in some states, like Ebonyi, there were more votes than there were actually registered voters. Although some allegations of fraud were conclusively proven in the courts and the conduct of the election was criticized by the same Commonwealth body that criticized the recent Zimbabwean Elections – Commonwealth Observer Group,the consensus among Nigerians was that he should not waste his time in court as he did not have the necessary resources to “buy” himself justice. Eventually, the same court also decided that the level of proven electoral fraud was not sufficient to affect the outcome of the election and to warrant the cancellation of the whole Presidential election.

On 18 December 2006, Gen. Buhari was nominated as the consensus candidate of the All Nigeria People’s Party. His main challenger in the April 2007 polls was the ruling PDP candidate, Umaru Yar’Adua, who also hails from the same home state – Katsina. In the election, Buhari officially took 18% of the vote against 70% for Yar’Adua, but Buhari rejected these results. After Yar’Adua took office, the ANPP agreed to join his government, but Buhari denounced this agreement.

The Manifesto Of Congress For Progressive Change Federal Republic Of Nigeria

1. PREAMBLE

The congress for progressive change (CPC) is a political association of Nigerians with genuine determination to work togethere for the peaceful co-existence of the country.

We are committed to the building and sustenance of a united, prosperous and virile nation where democracy and rule of law provide and regulate the conduct of party affairs and of governance when the party is voted into power.

The Party will bring together all progressive elements in Nigeria’s polity to evolve a people oriented philosophy of selfless service, sacrifice,. transparency accountability and zero-tolerance to corruption.

11. OUR MISSION

1. The achievement of SECURITY through:

a). Protection of lives and property of citizens

b). Protection of the unity and territorial integrity of Nigeria.

c). Restoration of confidence in Government by strengtheninng the rule of law and impartial treatment of citizens.

d). Equitable, fair and judicious distribution of resources.

e). Modesty and transparency in style of Government

f). Honesty fighting corrupt practices

g). Creation of Jobs as a potent force in fight against poverty.

h). Care of the weak, poor and needy

i). Food security and environmental protection and re-generation.

2). The achievement of STABILITY through:

a). Provision of equal opportunity to individuals, groups, and communities for

participation in economics enterprenuership, politics and governance.

b) Respect for constitutional provision and doctrines

c) Promotion of mutual trust, understanding and tolerance

d) Adherence to the separation of powers.

e) Protection of human rights of all citizens including freedom of religion, expression and association.

f) Respect for national and international agreements.

g) Restructuring of the country to achieve true federalism.

h) Resolving ethnic nationality grievances.

i) Respect for the wish and resolve of Nigerians at all times.

3) The achievement of PROSPERITY Through:-

a) Establishment of financial and administrative discipline; Recognition and reward for merit.

b) Building of human capital though reforms in education and health care and strengthening of social services.

c) Economic liberalization through enabling domestic private sector participation, attraction of domestic savings as well as foreign capital.

d) Privatization through consultation with stakeholders to protect national interest, avoid confiscation or infringement of individual or consumer rights.

e) Developing and rehabilitation of infrastructure and the promotion of maintenance culture.

f) Respect for the dignity of labour.

111. OUR VISION

A just Nigerian Nation that is secure stable and prosperous based on equity and justice.

1V. CARDINAL PROGRAMMES FOR FIRST TERM IN OFFICE

To actualize our mission thus: “SECURITY, STABILITY AND PROSPERITY”, C.P.C. is committed to implementing a four point cardinal programme during its first tenue in government viz:

1. INSTITUTION REFORMS AND STRENGTHENING

Reform of the JUDICIARY in order to safeguard its independence; strenghten the courts system for efficient administration and dispensation of Justice; and restore confidence of the citizenry in its role as the last hope of the common man. Reform all SECURITY AGENCIES to enhance their service delivery; ensure non-interference in thier function; retrain and reorient security personnel; and restore confidence of the citizenry in them.

REFORM ALL CONSTITUTIONAL AND STATUTORY REGULATORY AGENCIES, FEDERAL EXECUTIVE BODIES and PROFESSIONAL BODIES in order to strenghten them; ensure their independence and; enhance their service delivery.

Reform and Strenghten all DEMOCRATIC INSTITUTIONS with a view to enhancing thier capacity for service delivery as well as restoring confidence in their roles as impartial umpires, for hese to be achieved, ensuring complete independence of such bodies will be a key important step.

2. INFRASTRUCTURAL DEVELOPMENT AND REHABILITATION

The level of infrastrutural development factor in the economic activities and standards of living of its people.

In Nigeria, poor and inadequate state of our infrastructural facilities especially in agriculture, Power and Energy, Transportation and Telecommunications have resulted in devastating consequence, on the economic activities and standards of living of our people. Therefore the attainment and maintenance of functional and modern infrastructural facilities in these field is one of the cardinal programmes of C.P.C during its first term in office.

In order to achieve this C.P.C will adopt varying degrees of private public partnerships in line with global eeconomic treads, while at the same timw providing strict regulatory frame-work for participation so as to ensure fair competition and adequate protection for the citizenry against explotation.

Because of the potential for these intervention to create opportunities to our teeming youth even during construction, C.P.C will pursue the programme with vigour in other to fight poverty in the short temr as well as secure a stable and prosperous future.

3. ECONOMIC REFORM AND DIVERSIFICATION

The C.P.C recognize and accept that globalization is a reality. It has tremedous potentials, provided its applications are tailored to suit our stage of development and competence.

We appreciate that in today’s world, globalization is continuosly redefining the role and partnership of public and private sectors. We will therefore understake to review and re-evaluate the privatization programm and seek to evlove broadly agreed and widely accepted policies whose implementation will be in stages inline with our level of development and abilities.

We will reform the financial and banking systems to broaden

participation of more citizens in order to diversify the distribution of wealth.

Micro-credit schemes as veritable tools for economics emancipation and fight against poverty are being successfully applied in many third world developing countries and we will adopt it widely to enhance economic diversification and improve the lots of our people.

A C.P.C led government will continue to invest in oil and gas (our major source of revenue) while at the same time diversifying our sources of revenue through enhanced interventions in Agriculture, exploitation of solid minerals and human resources development

We will continuosly redefine and strnghten the regulatory environment and simplify process of business, but always ensuring consumer safety and protection as well as safeguarding productivity and dignity of labour.

4. PROVISION OF ADEQUATE SECURITY AND ENHANCEMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICE TO THE CITIZENRY

A C.P.C government will introduce an over all domestic security effort that will involve the police, para-military agencies, the civil society, traditional institutions, the general public and in selected cases the armed forces to arrest our country’s descent into anarchy and rampant insecurity across the land.

Various options to decentralize and localize policing so as to achieve neighborhood and community control will be considered. In this regard recourse will need to be made to rural constabularies, watch committees and other forms of local and community based supervision deployment, remuneration and discipline being implemented in the context of their suitability to localities, cultures, zones, communities and traditions.

The use of high tech modern technology, for crime surveillance and prevetion, will also be adopted widely.

C.P.C appreciate the direct relationships between insecurity in the Niger Dleta and economics and environmental concerns of the region. We will therefore formulate and implement policies aimed at tackling Niger Delta problems thorugh wide ranging consultations and collaborations with all stakeholders in the regions, including all tiers of government, traditional institutions non-gernmental organization, other civil society organization, oil companies and pricate investors; with a view to provide wide ranging participation.

Unlike the political parties in power today, C.P.C. Understand that provision of social services to the citizenry is one of the major responsibilities of any credible and people oriented government. Therefore, C.P.C will implement a social services programme that will include the following in its first term in the office viz:-

a) Health Services

1) Provision of free optimal antenatal care for pregant women, free optimal Health care for children 0-18yrs old and senior citizens from 70yrs and above as well as for patients with chronic debilitating diseases like TB and HIV in all government hospital and clinics.

11) Establish independent and functional DRUGS< CHEMICALS AND CONSUMABLES Revolving schemes in all government hospitals and clinics.

111) Reform and strengthen the Health insurance scheme with a view to expanding participation and effectiveness.

b) Education

1) Provision of free, compulsory and functional education up to junior secondary school certificate level.

11) Provision of free and functional education up to senior secondary school certificate level.

111) Establishment of an education bank to provide educational credits/scholarship to needy individuals pursuing tertiary education

1V) Review secondary and tertiary education curriculum to place education on self employment skills

c) Remunerations and Housing

1) Enhance and continuously review wages of government workers to ensure provision of a living wage capable of allowing workers to live with their families in relative comfort and be able to pay up their bills and save.

11) Encourage employer-employee consultation in private sector to enhance pay package to attain a living wage for the employee, to live in relative comfort, pay up bills and save.

111) Reform and strengthen mortgage institutions to provide financing for workers to own their own/houses.

1V) Participate in public private partnership to build mass-housing schemes.

d) Post Service Welfare

1) Continuously examine and review standard of living of our senior citizens after retirement to ensure they live in dignity.

11) Ensure the prompt payment of all retirement benefits within 3 months of leaving service.

111) Review monthly retirement packages to ensure they are at least 70% of basic salary of current grade level commensurate with the retirees grade.