Essay
By Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN
INTRODUCTION
IN part 1 of this treatise, we commenced our discourse on the definition, plenitude and amplitude of BUHAROCRACY, a new concept of governance from my neologism, thrown up and added into our political lexicon from my own OZEKPEDIA (my own model of Wikipedia, Encyclopedia, Legalpedia, Scholarpedia, Europedia and Smithsoni).
John G. Lake, once told us, “the man with a groan never moved the world except to more groans.” Buhari tried very hard to flourish himself like a saint in white apparel, when in fact, he was the chief repository of negative governance. Therefore, Stanley Baldwin was not wrong when he said, “Dictatorship is like a giant beech – tree – very magnificent to look at in it’s prime, but nothing grows underneath.” Where have the 8 wasted years of the once feared “anti – corruption Czar” led us to today? I don’t know. Or, do you?
The voyage of Nigeria since May 29, 2015, through May 29, 2023, (being the second and final coming of Buharocracy), amounted to a craze of all cracies.
There are many “cracies” corrupted from the word “Democracy”, as shown in Ozekpedia above. When Abraham Lincoln on 19th November, 1863, eulogized “Democracy” during his Gettysburg Declaration as “government of the people by the people and for the people”, he could never have imagined that subsequent world leaders would corrupt this beautiful term invented by the ancient Athenians of Greece in 507 BC, following a turbulent era of aristocracy and tyranny. “Demos” derived from Greek, meaning “people”, or “population”. “Crasy” means “rule”, “government”, “governing body”. So, democracy is government of the people.
BUHAROCRACY AND ITS EFFECT
Buharocracy is a form of government where the people expect so much, but get nothing; or at best, so little in return. It is a system of government in which the ruler, during campaigns and in his manifesto, promises so much; but brazenly discards and trashes all promises upon being voted in by the people. In Buharocracy, the ruler freely deceives the people. He is a maximum dictator, rules by precepts, rather than by examples. The concept allows the ruler to ride slipshod on his people; destroy institutions, enkindle divisions; and enthrone cyronynism, prebendalism, nepotism, favouritism, ethnicity, sectionalism, tribalism and religious bigotry.
Under Buharocracy, rule of law is literally suspended in place of so called National Security, a veneer for self interest or government interest. Under Buharocracy, the elected rules, rather than governs. He tells the people, “do what I say and not what I do”. Because the ruler suffers grave disconnect with the people, he feigns amnesia of their sufferings and despondency. He neither sympathises, nor empathises. He lives in a make-belief world; a world garnished with grandeur of illusion. The ruler is permitted to discard his hitherto pretentious Spartan-like life. He indulges in vain-glorious affluence, pomp, pageantry and razzmatazz. Kakaaki trumpets escort him to the airport when travelling, and also welcome him back from his frequent medical trips abroad. The maximum dictator under Buharocracy is deaf, dumb and numb to the feelings, yearnings and aspirations of his beleaguered and vanquished citizens rendered prostrate through misgovernance, high-handedness, corruption, insecurity and jack-bootism. He would rather build rail lines, refineries and industries in a neighbouring country like Niger, wherein he has his own firm roots of origin, to the detriment of his own country – Nigeria – that elected him into office. Restructuring and true federalism are an anathema to Buharocracy. That is Buharocracy for you. And more …
Buharocracy, aside earlier definition and explanation, also signifies government that is janus-faced; duplicitous, inconsistent, and living in self-denial. It pretends to hear no evil; speak no evil; see no evil; and feel no evil. It wallows in blame game, blaming every and any person, including all past governments except itself. It dwells on sainthood and infectious cult-followership that courts fundamentalism and zealotry. More later on Buharocracy, as it is a very wide concept and genre of democracy.
MY ASSESSMENT AND CRITIQUING OF BUHAROCRACY NOT NEW
For those who may erroneously think I have just woken up from a deep slumber to begin to criticize or critique former President, Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, and his poor opaque governance style simply because he has left office, such view is neither correct, nor grounded in history.
I started engaging Buhari even under the Military junta, whilst in the trenches, when as a military maximalist and dictator, Buhari unconstitutionally overthrew the democratic government of Alhaji Aliyu Shehu Usman Shagari, the Nigerian President whose cap was longer than his achievements, on the 31st of December, 1983. General Buhari upon assumption of office, churned out repressive, draconian and anti-people Decrees that held Nigeria down by the jugular till he was himself overthrown in a bloodless coup d’etat on 27th August, 1985, by gap-toothed, “wily,” “evil genius”, General Ibrahim Badamasi.
Coming nearer home, I had engaged Buhari even whilst campaigning for the presidency as far back as 2014, on the platform of the newly formed APC, regarding his qualification to vie for the office of Nigerian Presidency.
HOW MY NUMEROUS INTERVENTIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS WERE EITHER COMPLETELY IGNORED, PERHAPS MERELY TOLERATED, OR AT BEST HAPHAZARDLY IMPLEMENTED
The following links clearly show when, where, why and how I serially engaged Buhari on sundry national and international issues, before, during and after his presidency. Thank God Google does not forget. It does not suffer selective amnesia. It is not like the Bourbons of European history who learnt nothing and forgot nothing. Google links show me engaging Buhari, deploying such words and phrases as “Ozekhome faults Buhari”; “Ozekhome warns Buhari”; “Ozekhome advises Buhari”; “Ozekhome blasts Buhari”; “Ozekhome slams Buhari”; “Ozekhome blames Buhari’s Government”; “Ozekhome, Others, Fault Buhari”. Others read “Ozekhome cautions Buhari”; “Ozekhome counsels Buhari”; “Ozekhome tells Buhari what to do”; “Ozekhome profers solution to Buhari”; “Ozekhome points the way forward”; “Ozekhome engages Buhari”; “Ozekhome begs Buhari”; “No to your actions, Ozekhome disagrees with Buhari”; etc, etc. So, I have been playing my little part from my little window and corner-helping to deepen, widen and strengthen our wobbly democracy, good governance, human rights, rule of law and anti-corruption mantra. Have you also done same? Think about it and come on board, if you have not. Below are SOME GOOGLE LINKS culled by OZEKPEDIA, regarding my serial engagements with ex-president Muhammadu Buhari, as to how to make the beleaguered Nigerian project work. Kindly the links, read on and digest. You will understand that no bi today!
2014-2015
https://allafrica.com/stories/201501190245.html; NIGERIA: PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION – BUHARI IS NOT QUALIFIED TO CONTEST–OZEKHOME; January 17, 2015
https://shipsandports.com.ng/ozekhome-group-fault-buhari-over-customs-boss-appointment/amp/; OZEKHOME, GROUP FAULT BUHARI OVER CUSTOMS’ BOSS APPOINTMENT; March 24, 2015
https://www.vanguardngr.com/2015/03/ozekhome-warns-buhari-supporters-against-celebrating-prematurely/; OZEKHOME WARNS BUHARI SUPPORTERS AGAINST CELEBRATING PREMATURELY; March 25, 2015
https://dailypost.ng/2015/04/06/avoid-sycophants-set-up-formidable-team-ozekhome-advises-buhari/; AVOID SYCOPHANTS, SET UP FORMIDABLE TEAM – OZEKHOME ADVISES BUHARI; April 6, 2015
https://globalpatriotnews.com/opinion-era-of-decampment-politicians-without-principle/ ERA OF DECAMPMENT: POLITICIANS WITHOUT PRINCIPLES. May 11, 2015.
https://jimidisu.com/sagay-ozekhome-fault-buhari-osinbajo-on-asset-declaration-lawyers-split-over-buhari-osinbajo-asset-declaration-new-telegraph/; SAGAY, OZEKHOME FAULT BUHARI, OSINBAJO ON ASSET DECLARATION…LAWYERS SPLIT OVER BUHARI, OSINBAJO ASSET DECLARATION …NEW TELEGRAPH; June 6, 2015
https://ww.nairaland.com/2416049/buharis-first-30-days-office/1; BUHARI’S FIRST 30 DAYS IN OFFICE DISMAL, UNINSPIRING – OZEKHOME – POLITICS (2); June 30, 2015
https://thestreetjournal.org/is-president-buhari-overwhelmed-by-serious-issues-of-governance-by-chief-mike-ozekhome-san/; IS PRESIDENT BUHARI OVERWHELMED BY SERIOUS ISSUES OF GOVERNANCE? BY CHIEF MIKE OZEKHOME (SAN); July 25, 2015
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/where-igbos-yorubas-buharis-govt-mike-ozekhome-san-osigwe-ikirodah/; WHERE ARE IGBOS, YORUBAS IN BUHARI’S GOVT? BY MIKE OZEKHOME SAN; August 30, 2015
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/features-and-interviews/195427-how-others-view-the-present-government-part-2-by-mike-ozekhome.html?tztc=1; HOW OTHERS VIEW THE PRESENT GOVERNMENT (PART 2), BY MIKE OZEKHOME; December 25, 2015
2016
https://dailypost.ng/2016/01/13/those-advising-buhari-to-disrespect-the-rule-of-law-are-not-helping-him-ozekhome/?amp=1; THOSE ADVISING BUHARI TO DISRESPECT THE RULE OF LAW ARE NOT HELPING HIM – OZEKHOME; January 13, 2016
https://guardian.ng/features/why-buhari-must-respect-rule-of-law-by-ozekhome/; WHY BUHARI MUST RESPECT RULE OF LAW, BY OZEKHOME; January 13, 2016
https://sweetcrudereports.com/n145-per-litre-fuel-increment-ozokheme-blasts-buhari-says-decision-foolish-anti-people/; N145 PER LITRE FUEL INCREMENT: OZOKHEME BLASTS BUHARI, SAYS DECISION FOOLISH, ANTI-PEOPLE; May 13, 2016
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=D1iDgoi_Byw, WHY NIGERIANS ARE NOT BUYING INTO PRESIDENT BUHARI’S ANTI CORRUPTION FIGHT; June 13, 2016
https://www.channelstv.com/2016/08/05/budget-padding-is-from-executive-not-national-assembly-ozekhome/amp/; BUDGET PADDING IS FROM EXECUTIVE, NOT NATIONAL ASSEMBLY – OZEKHOME; August 5, 2016
https://sunnewsonline.com/the-problem-with-buharis-style-ozekhome/?amp; THE PROBLEM WITH BUHARI’S STYLE –OZEKHOME; October 13, 2016.
2017
http://dailytimesng.com/nigeria-must-not-take-unity-granted-ozekhome/; NIGERIA MUST NOT TAKE ITS UNITY FOR GRANTED; May 3, 2017.
https://nationaldailyng.com/ozekhome-blast-buhari/?amp=1; OZEKHOME BLASTS BUHARI; October 3, 2017
https://concise.ng/mike-ozekhome-faults-1bn-boko-haram-fund/; MIKE OZEKHOME FAULTS $1BN BOKO HARAM FUND; December 19, 2017
https://concise.ng/buharis-govt-most-clueless-in-nigerias-history-ozekhome/; BUHARI’S GOVT MOST CLUELESS IN NIGERIA’S HISTORY – OZEKHOME; December 29, 2017
https://dnllegalandstyle.com/2017/buharis-government-clueless-directionless-history-ozekhome/; BUHARI’S GOVERNMENT; MOST CLUELESS, DIRECTIONLESS IN HISTORY – OZEKHOME; December 30, 2017
2018
https://nigeriannewsdirect.com/new-year-message-ozekhome-ogunlewe-others-slam-buhari/; NEW YEAR MESSAGE: OZEKHOME, OGUNLEWE, OTHERS SLAM BUHARI; January 2, 2018
https://dailypost.ng/2018/02/06/buhari-taken-food-table-wants-take-freedom-speech-ozekhome/?amp=1; BUHARI HAS TAKEN FOOD FROM OUR TABLE, WANTS TO TAKE FREEDOM OF SPEECH – OZEKHOME; February 6, 2018
https://www.thisdaylive.com/index.php/2018/04/10/ozekhome-buhari-has-failed-nigeria/amp/; OZEKHOME: BUHARI HAS FAILED NIGERIANS; April 10, 2018
https://nigerianbulletin.com/threads/2019-ozekhome-blasts-buhari-over-declaration-warns-apc-against-rigging-%E2%80%93-daily-post-nigeria.308788/; OZEKHOME BLASTS BUHARI OVER DECLARATION, WARNS APC AGAINST RIGGING – DAILY POST NIGERIA; April 11, 2018
https://guardian.ng/news/ozekhome-blames-government-for-worsening-corruption-insecurity-others/; OZEKHOME BLAMES GOVERNMENT FOR WORSENING CORRUPTION, INSECURITY, OTHERS; April 18, 2018
https://dailypost.ng/2018/05/01/corruption-worse-buharis-govt-ozekhome/?amp=1; CORRUPTION WORSE UNDER BUHARI’S GOVT – OZEKHOME; May 1, 2018
https://www.cfr.org/blog/nigeria-sees-more-high-level-corruption-convictions-under-buhari?amp; NIGERIA SEES MORE HIGH LEVEL CORRUPTION CONVICTIONS UNDER BUHARI; May 31, 2018
https://thewhistler.ng/ozekhome-blasts-lawyers-cheering-buhari-for-suspending-nigerian-constitution/amp/; OZEKHOME BLASTS LAWYERS CHEERING BUHARI FOR ‘SUSPENDING NIGERIAN CONSTITUTION’; August 18, 2018
https://www.thecable.ng/ozekhome-lawless-government-hides-national-security-promote-dubious-agenda/amp; OZEKHOME: A LAWLESS GOVERNMENT HIDES UNDER NATIONAL SECURITY TO PROMOTE DUBIOUS AGENDA; August 28, 2018
https://sunnewsonline.com/is-buhari-really-president-of-all-and-for-no-one/?amp=; IS BUHARI REALLY PRESIDENT OF ALL AND FOR NO ONE? September 19, 2018.
https://www.thetidenewsonline.com/2018/12/10/reps-vow-to-veto-buhari-on-electoral-bill-as-atiku-ozekhome-others-fault-buharis-assent-withholding/; PIXREPS VOW TO VETO BUHARI ON ELECTORAL BILL … AS ATIKU, OZEKHOME, OTHERS FAULT BUHARI’S ASSENT WITHHOLDING; December 10, 2018
https://thisage.com.ng/president-buhari-please-save-malayes-life-says-ozekhome/; PRESIDENT BUHARI, PLEASE SAVE MELAYE’S LIFE, SAYS OZEKHOME; December 31, 2018
2019
https://www.afrikanwatchngr.com/cjn-trial-buhari-heading-to-destroy-judiciary-and-truncate-democracy-ozekhome-san/; CJN TRIAL: BUHARI HEADING TO DESTROY JUDICIARY AND TRUNCATE DEMOCRACY-OZEKHOME, (SAN); January 13, 2019
https://dailytrust.com/cjn-buhari-has-suspended-constitution-ozekhome/; CJN: BUHARI HAS SUSPENDED CONSTITUTION- OZEKHOME; January 25, 2019
https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/top-news/313849-ozekhome-ogunye-differ-on-buhari-death-threat-against-ballot-box-snatchers.html; OZEKHOME, OGUNYE DIFFER ON BUHARI ‘DEATH THREAT’ AGAINST BALLOT BOX SNATCHERS; February 9, 2019
https://dailytrust.com/ozekhome-cautions-buhari-says-comment-on-ballot-snatching-unpresidential/; OZEKHOME CAUTIONS BUHARI, SAYS COMMENT ON BALLOT SNATCHING ‘UNPRESIDENTIAL’; February 18, 2019.
https://sunnewsonline.com/ozekhome-fanning-the-embers-of-disunity-and-subjugation-of-igbo-race/?amp; OZEKHOME: FANNING THE EMBERS OF DISUNITY AND SUBJUGATION OF IGBO RACE; March 6, 2019
https://sunrise.ng/ozekhome-laments-governments-defiance-for-rule-of-law-as-cdhr-turns-30/amp/; OZEKHOME LAMENTS GOVERNMENT’S DEFIANCE FOR RULE OF LAW, AS CDHR TURNS 30; April 9, 2019
https://dailypost.ng/2019/06/01/secret-behind-buharis-executive-order-withdrawing-gun-licence-nigerians-ozekhome/; SECRET BEHIND BUHARI’S EXECUTIVE ORDER WITHDRAWING GUN LICENCE FROM NIGERIANS – OZEKHOME; June 1, 2019
https://sunnewsonline.com/ozekhome-charges-buhari-to-be-more-accommodating/?amp; OZEKHOME CHARGES BUHARI TO BE MORE ACCOMMODATING; June 5, 2019″. Buharocracy, ha, Buharocracy! (To be continued).
AND THIS
CRACK YOUR RIBS
“Wife: Dear, why did you suddenly double our daughter’s Bride price? Our in-laws to-be are complaining bitterly.
Husband: I removed subsidy that’s all. And if they don’t like it, they can go to court!”
THOUGHT FOR THE WEEK
Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy. (Norman Vincent Peale).
LAST LINE
God bless my numerous global readers for always keeping faith with the Sunday Sermon on the Mount of the Nigerian Project, by humble me, Prof Mike Ozekhome, SAN, CON, OFR, FCIArb., LL.M, Ph.D, LL.D. kindly, come with me to next week’s exciting dissertation.
A.
Tags: Prof Mike Ozekhome
