Change, by its definition, is dynamic and transitory-certainly apt in the fast evolving world. The sophisticated nature of our 21st century world itself, along with its transforming affairs and secular intricacies, necessitates change. Hence, change is given, a precept that is hardly avoidable and acceptable. Inevitable and conceiving as change may appear; it is sometimes difficult to come to grips with it or the circumstances that warrant it. Given that the wave of change is a natural phenomenon of life, it follows then that it is a process that applies to all human activities, both major and minor. This mind-illuminating submission captures what former American President, John. F. Kennedy had in mind when he said: “Change is a law of life; those who look to only to the past or present are certain to miss the future”.
As the wind of February 14, presidential election gets stronger, the two leading presidential candidates in the contest, had rolled out their drums to canvass for votes from the electorates, the presidential candidate of opposition party, the APC, General Buhari sermonizes change as his campaign message. The retired General has been traversing nooks and crannies of this country preaching change to those who care to listen, but one question begging for answer is: does he represent the change we need at this defining moment? Gen. Buhari will mark 73 years anniversary this year, after leaving office as Nigerian Head of State 31 years ago. Even the doubting Thomasses have realized that Gen. Buhari no longer possess the energy and dynamism to lead 170 million people in a 21st century. Mallam Nasir El-Rufai in an interview granted to Daily Sun in 2010, said: “I was 25 years old when Buhari and Babangida were Heads of State and I am now 50 and they still want to be Heads of State. I don’t understand that at all and I call on young people of Nigeria to take their future into their hands and ensure that in the next election, they vote for a new generation of leaders. The whole world is now being ruled by young people and wondered why old blood continue to rule Nigeria. Obama is 48 and Cameron is 43 for God’s sake. So, why are we recycling leaders that ruled this country badly 25 years ago? He queried. Daily Sun, 30 September, 2010. Based on Mallam El-Rufai assertions, Gen. Buhari is not only obsolete for a 21st century presidency, but lack the ideas and flexibility to lead Nigeria now, which contradicts the gospel of change the APC is propagating as a political party founded and built on propaganda.
To puncture the irreconcilable fallacies being brandied around by the APC’s presidential candidate, Gen. Buhari as components of his campaign message, Nigerians are still finding it difficult to harmonize his rigid lifestyle with the song of change he is singing. Former President Obasanjo recently applied for Doctorate degree program at the National Open University to develop himself and at the same time enrich his CV, not minding his age and the high profile office he has occupied. In addition, he has written so many books including his autobiography; though some of those books are still controversial and subject of different court cases. Gen. Buhari has not written any book including his autobiography since he left office, no single paper has been written and delivered by the ‘Change Agent’ suggesting ways of solving myriads of national age-long issues bedeviling Nigerian State; of which he participated in but all of a sudden has metamorphosed in an oracle of change, simply because he wants to occupy presidential seat in Aso Rock, what an irony! One of the cardinal points of Gen. Buhari’s campaign message is job creation, the questions agitating the minds of Nigerian electorates are: how many jobs did Gen. Buhari create in his own little capacity as former Head of State; What type of magic wand is he planning to apply to resolve insurgency in the country considering the fact that he did not buy a single rifle for the Nigerian Army as Head of State for 20 months, which was substantiated by President Jonathan in Lagos recently? Can he as a matter of urgency explain to Nigerians how he plans to tackle insecurity without purchase of arms and ammunitions? Gen. Buhari has been shouting to high heavens that he will fight corruption, without stating clearly how he will go about it. He represents only the myth, but not the change Nigeria of a 21st century needs now.
•Chidiebere, a Public Affairs Analyst, wrote in from Abuja.