How supporters ‘tackled’ those opposed to Buhari
Supporters of President Muhammadu Buhari, on Saturday, changed the “erroneous narrative about his failing popularity,” when it was announced that he would be back home after over 100 days in the United Kingdom undergoing medical attention.
Babagana Ali, a grocery seller in Maiduguri said soon after he heard that Buhari was to return on Saturday, he went straight to the motor park and embarked on a trip to Abuja.
“I borrowed N10,000 from my colleague because I had no cash; I had just re-stocked my stall. I therefore gave my friend N4,000 out of the money I borrowed to take it to my wife and went straight to Tashar Joni en route Abuja,” he said.
Sadly, he arrived Abuja late in the evening and therefore not lucky to be part of the jubilation that trailed Buhari’s motorcade from the airport to the Aso Rock Villa.
“I’ve no regret coming to Abuja to show my love for Buhari. I’ve been waiting for his return and I’m fulfilled.
“We mocked those in the opposition who thought Baba will never return. My friend Usman said he will fast for three days if Buhari returns and he has started already,” he said.
Aminu Dan Malam, a merchant in Kano, said the greatest lesson Nigerians should take from Buhari’s return is his affinity with Vice President Yemi Osinbajo.
“Buhari is an enigma and those oppose to him should just relax and allow God’s will to blossom. Just look at the handshake at the airport, it is not ordinary, it is like Buhari is telling his deputy ‘thank you for keeping the bond, thank you for being steadfast,’” he said.
The jubilation was spontaneous in major cities with many traders giving their wares free. Youths took over major highways in festive mood and like never before, President Buhari’s security operatives were nearly overwhelmed in the FCT as those who trooped out to welcome him literally held his car “hostage.”
In Gombe, our correspondent reports that some residents said they are endeared to Buhari because of his sincerity of purpose since his coming to power two years ago.
Yusuf 32-year-old residing at residential area Mukhtar, a trader Jakada of the metropolis, said before the coming of Buhari in 2015, he used to make over N10, 000 from selling male underwear, which he said dropped by a little over N3000 since the country went into recession.
“Nevertheless, if Buhari contests again in 2019, I will still vote for him because he has sincerity of purpose and has done a lot in the war against the Boko Haram.
Three years ago, a recharge card seller, Adamu Usman (Furaye) used to make over N70,000 from sales, but now hardly makes N30,000 a week.
“But I believe the president is aware of all that and will do something about it soon,” Furaye said.
“It is a known fact that people are facing difficulties and finding it hard to even feed their families, but the marketers are to blame for deliberately hoarding foodstuff,” Sa’idu Isa, a civil servant said.
“For me Buhari is still my choice unless he declines to re-contest in 2019. I’ve not seen a politician, from the northern or southern part of the country, that is as sincere as President Buhari,” he said.
Musa Saleh, a teacher with the Local Education Authority (LEA), said he loves Buhari for crushing insurgency and would give him his vote again.
“Before the coming of President Buhari, we have been finding it difficult to even attend the five obligatory prayers in mosques due to the incessant attacks by Boko Haram. He inherited the economic crisis from the past administration,” he added.
A tailor at Shamaki Ward in Gombe, Sanusi Musa, said leadership started right from the ward level up to the president. He said if respective political office holders were working, things would not have so deteriorated.
“Buhari is tested and trusted, no available record has indicated that he ever squandered public funds. Those to blame are the political office holders, from councillors right up to the governors; they are the ones sabotaging Buhari’s efforts,” he said.
“For instance, had the governors judiciously utilized the bailout and Paris Club funds to pay salaries and backlog of arrears and pensions, things would be easier,” he added.
A cobbler, Muhammad Naziru, said his income has reduced by over 60 per cent after President Buhari took over power in 2015.
“Despite the Buhariyya (recession), I believe Buhari is not a thief and will not steal from the public fund. So, in the event he contests again, I will vote for him because he is better than whoever would come out to contest in 2019,” Naziru said. Abubakar Shehu, 30-year-old resident of Herwagana said the skyrocketing price of food items was a result of insurgency that made many people to abandon their farms and seek shelter elsewhere.
“For the last five years, farmers especially in Adamawa, Borno and Yobe states have not cultivated their farms. Most of them are living in Internally Displaced Persons (IDPs) camps, which automatically brought about scarcity of food. Therefore, President Buhari is not to blame for this, and he is doing his best to address that as we have been hearing in the media,” he stated.
Haladu Muhammad, a father of two, and commercial motorcycle rider, said the people that squandered the economy are the same people that are sabotaging President Buhari’s administration. He said for the president to succeed, he has to checkmate those people.
An applicant, Abdulhamid Bappah Baba, said, “even though I am still unemployed, having graduated over three years ago, I still believe the President is trying, especially in the area of security and the fight against corruption.
In Benue State, the Hausa/Muslim community yesterday poured onto major streets of Makurdi metropolis to celebrate the safe return of President Buhari.
Our correspondent reports that members of the group drawn from the 23 local government areas of the state chanted solidarity songs as they danced and appreciated God for bringing the president back home in good health.
The leader of the group, Mohammed Lawal Isah, who is also Special Assistant on Hajj Affairs to the Benue State governor, said it was quite exciting for the community when Buhari returned on Saturday.
Isah said the rally was an opportunity to as well appeal to Governor Samuel Ortom to seek a second mandate to complete the good work he was currently doing.
In Cross River State, Leader of the Brotherhood of the Cross and Star, His Holiness Olumba Olumba Obu, warned that those that would persist in further attempt to harm or kill the president will soon be exposed.
"Let them make further attempts at the president's life again because he is waging war against those that milked the country dry; they would all be exposed and dealt with.
“I want to assure that God who assured that he would return to Nigeria with sound health has further fortified him. People will be so afraid to keep stolen monies. They would be afraid of him to the extent that willy-nilly, they would run to surrender all stolen monies,” he said.
The Bauchi State chapter of the APC said the return of President Buhari was an answer to the sustained prayers by Nigerians.
The State Publicity Secretary of the party, Auwal Jallah, said the reception Buhari got from Nigerians proved his status as a good leader who is cherished and loved by his people.
"As you know, Bauchi is the support base of President Muhammadu Buhari and had been with him even before he joined politics because of his strong ties to many of its respected people, who have been his close associates and friends.
"So, our love for the President goes beyond political association; President Buhari is in our hearts and we are in his and he has proven it through the various appointments he gave to sons and daughters of the state in his administration," he said.