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DIRECTOR, STRATEGIC COMMUNICATIONS, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI CAMPAIGN
ORGANISATION (OFFICIAL SPOKESPERSON)
Just yesterday, my appointment as the Director, Strategic Communications
of President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation was made public. In
that capacity, I would be the Official Spokesperson of the President’s
campaigns for the 2019 Presidential Election.
Let me put it on record that I was indeed consulted before the
announcement. Upon the offer, I wholeheartedly and proudly accepted the
challenge to do this for the good of my country and for posterity. For in
President Buhari I have found an approximation of the lofty values I
cherish and have fought for all my life.
I know millions of Nigerians have never seen me in the mould of partisan
politics. This is because for the past two and half decades, I have been
under intense public scrutiny while engaging successive governments
(military and civilian) in the most critical way possible. The public has
also watched me grow steadily all the way from that young, restless lawyer
to the exalted position of a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN). In the
process of my restless and relentless engagements of the authorities, I
have been hounded, arrested, detained, paraded like a criminal, charged
and discharged from courts severally, but remain unbowed. Hence, some of
us have been branded as “radicals” and seen as completely apolitical.
However, the ultimate aim of every struggle is not really to enthrone a
perfect, flawless system. Only the starry-eyed, younger ones think such is
possible. That is Utopia. Rather, the ultimate aim of the struggle is to
enthrone a government (yes, even with the normal human flaws) that is
focused, determined and fiercely opposed to the unscrupulous
wheeler-dealers in the society, committed to protecting the interests of
the down-trodden, the weak and vulnerable.
One of the obvious ways to do this is to ensure that what belongs to all
is not cornered by a few; and if they do so, to ensure that they are made
to account and brought to justice. I can boldly say that no Government in
the history of Nigeria has recovered so much looted funds as that of
President Muhammadu Buhari. The fact that this Government has clearly
chosen this path in protecting the masses of our country (as unpleasant as
it has been to some) is one of the many reasons why I am so proud and bold
about my support for the re-election bid of President Muhammadu Buhari.
In doing this, I take a cue from my revered late boss, Chief Gani
Fawehinmi, SAN who mentored me. Throughout his career, he also
consistently and fiercely engaged every government in Nigeria and suffered
as a result. Guess what? THE ONLY GOVERNMENT HE FULLY SUPPORTED THROUGHOUT
HIS LIFETIME was that led by General Muhammdu Buhari in 1984 – 1985; and
that was to the chagrin of some of his professional colleagues and fellow
“radicals”. However, he saw what they did not see at that time, because
when that government was overthrown by General Babangida, what followed
was the worst era in our history in terms of institutionalizing corruption
and political chicanery in Nigeria. In the 2007 Presidential election, my
late boss again endorsed General Buhari in the following words: “When we
talk of anti-corruption war, there is no way you will exclude General
Buhari. I don’t want to hear what a political party is going to do,
whether ANPP or PDP or NDP or which other political organization. Tell me
who is leading the party, tell me who is leading the government, that’s my
concern. It’s a matter of leadership. This is a serious election, very
serious one”.
Some of those same forces and interests that saw the back of General
Buhari in 1985 are still very much around with us. You can hear their
voices getting louder of late, preaching hate and toiling hard to incite
the people against the President. They want us to go back to our old ways,
disguised as if they genuinely care for the masses of this country. When
you look at the profile and ignoble antecedents of these characters – the
emergency heroes, some of us have no option but to undertake this role we
have been called upon to assume just to ensure that they do not succeed in
their selfish enterprise.
For all I have said above, my convictions about this job are deep and well
thought-out. Given my background, it is clear that I cannot be a
sycophantic rabble-rouser, looking for some personal gains. Having reached
the top echelon of my career, some of us can conveniently stay away from
all these, and continue to earn a good living from our thriving law
practice. However, the call of duty beckons because we are at a critical
crossroads in our history where one wrong turn may take us back to the
sorry state from which we are emerging. We are here to convince and appeal
to the masses not to allow us take that wrong turn.
Now, it is important I elaborate a bit on this “sorry state” from which we
are coming. Some people always attempt to befuddle the issues by
continually reminding us of certain statistics that existed before 2015
and after 2015. However, our situation before 2015 is comparable to that
of a car on a high speed, seemingly doing well on the road, but with the
temperature gauge already rising. That car is in trouble. But to the
uninformed, the car would be seen as doing well. However, the callous
driver, fully aware of the rising temperature in the engine, continues to
speed on. After some time, it is inevitable that the engine of the car
would overheat and crash. In that state, the callous driver hands over the
car to the new driver. The new driver, seeing the condition of the
vehicle, decides to fix the radiator first which is responsible for the
overheating in order to protect the engine, before setting out on the road
again. Yet, the callous driver mischievously calls everyone to come and
see how the new driver has parked the car to fix the engine before setting
out once again. The callous driver tells everyone that the new driver is
clueless; that that is why the car was parked briefly.
The above anecdote is a graphic reflection of the situation we find
ourselves. With the crash in oil prices just before 2015, the previous
government resorted to borrowing to pay salaries and recklessly drew down
on our foreign reserves, just to give the impression that all was well. So
much unearned money was also circulating in the country amongst a few,
giving the false impression that we were in a buoyant economy. However,
the economy was headed for a crash. All the indices show that the slip
into recession started shortly before this government took over, like the
car which engine was already over-heating.
The attempt by a few to deceive the people that all was well with us
before this government took over, is one of the reasons some of us have
decided to come out of our shells to put a hole in that false narrative.
It is simply a big lie. I am persuaded that the Buhari Government took the
right measures to halt a bigger disaster awaiting our economy had it been
otherwise. Those who are persuaded otherwise are within their legitimate
right to do so. We are all patriots, trying to find the right answers to
our problems as a nation. However, if you are persuaded otherwise, kindly
state in details what exactly should have been done to run the economy
better, given the crash in oil prices and production that dropped to
around 700,000 barrels per day. Surely, discerning Nigerians would no
longer buy the fable of “Buhari destroyed our economy”.
If I voted Buhari in 2015 and I am to vote for him again in 2019, then why
can’t I campaign vigorously for him? I see no reason. It is a fallacy to
say you are neutral in politics, yet you step forward to cast your vote at
elections. If you are persuaded enough to vote for a candidate of your
choice, then you must also be persuaded enough to campaign for that
candidate, because your vote would be lost if you do not convince others
to also adopt your position.
That is why I have made my choice for 2019 and I will publicly stand by
it. That choice is President Muhammadu Buhari. For those who are persuaded
otherwise, I challenge them to also name their choices because you cannot
criticise my choice of a candidate without naming your own choice. After
all, the President would not be running against ghosts or against a
vacuum. Therefore, this is not a time to hide behind a blanket criticism
of any candidate. Each candidate should be assessed in comparative terms
with other candidates.
There has also been much attempt to de-market the President using his age
and health as pummeling tools, and as such raising the decibel in the
clarion call for a young or younger President. Firstly, on the issues of
age and health, it would be ungodly and outrageous for a mere mortal to
assume the status of God Almighty to speculate on the longevity or
strength of any human being. Even doctors have been proven wrong on so
many occasions. It is a matter entirely in the hands of God. Our past
Presidents that died in office (Abacha and Yar’Adua) were in their prime.
In fact, Abacha did not even show any sign of a failing health before he
slumped and died. In Zimbabwe, the main opposition candidate for years,
Morgan Tsvangirai used the issue of age and health to campaign against
President Mugabe, urging him to go and retire and rest. Yet, just a few
weeks ago, Morgan Tsvangirai died at the age of 65 and Mugabe is still
alive and kicking at the age of 94. Those are the mysterious ways of God
Almighty. No human being should even use that as a campaign gimmick. That
person would be courting the wrath of God Almighty.
In addition, no one can argue that age has anything to do with the
required integrity to be the President of a country. I also firmly believe
that our value systems in politics and the society have been so damaged
pre-2015, that a firm and experienced hand is needed to reset our
collective psyche before we can set sail again. The notion that public
office is just available to share money which was the norm pre-2015 is
gradually being changed. Spending a few more years to sustain that kind of
re-orientation will do us a world of good. President Buhari is one of the
very last of the upright Mohicans in Nigeria available to help reclaim
public integrity before he takes his bow in 2023, if the Nigerian people
so wish. We must take advantage of his still being around to deepen the
nation’s moral fabric.
The choices before us have never been so CLEAR in the history of our
country. On the one hand are those who are already in the mud and seeking
to drag others into the mud. These are the ones who keep saying “We are
all corrupt together”, and who keep confessing and apologising like people
coming out of a trance. They say they should be forgiven because they have
been “honest” enough to confess and apologise. Fellow Nigerians, there is
nothing like an honest thief. It is a disgusting oxymoron. A thief is a
thief. This is especially so if the thief did not willingly come out to
admit he was a thief until his hands were caught right inside the cookie
jar.
The other choice before us is a President who has been accused of
everything that is false but even his most ardent critics, and detractors
locally and internationally have not accused him of having a penchant for
wealth accumulation. I am persuaded to campaign for him by his austere
lifestyle, his Spartan taste and frugal nature. I am not looking for a god
or an angel to vote for. They are not around here on earth. I am only
looking for someone with these minimum personal qualities I have
enumerated above. The President’s other human flaws may be there, but I am
waiting for the candidates of our opponents to show me their credentials
from heaven.
People can easily point to those with questionable past in the ruling
party, the APC. With my antecedents and in my true conscience, I cannot
defend them and cannot make excuses for them. However, in joining the
President’s party, they are subjecting themselves to the disciplined
leadership of the President. Like Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN said above, it
is the leadership that matters. Like I always ask: should we all stop
going to church because some known sinners also throng to churches every
Sunday? The obvious answer is in the negative. On the other hand, the
other party whose key leaders were all part of those who pilfered our
commonwealth are about to present us with one amongst themselves as a
Presidential candidate in 2019. Of course, reasonable Nigerians are
waiting to dismiss that before it happens.
However, for some of my friends, colleagues and associates who are still
persuaded by the other way of running our country, and who belong to
different political platforms, all I can do is to wish them well, but also
state that this is a time for us to agree to disagree. It is all for the
good of our country. It will bring out the best in us in canvassing our
persuasions. However, I will be putting my heart and soul to this
assignment and if anyone is offended by my commitment to the cause, I
offer no apology. You can also do likewise to advance your cause.
Nigerians would decide at the end of the day.
My message to all those teeming supporters who did it in 2015 for our
President is that you do not abandon a ship with which you set sail
midway. Our race is not a 100-meter dash. It is a marathon race to rescue
our country. We are almost there. When we turn the corner in 2019, you
will see the tape at the finishing line. We must not run out of breaths.
We believed in 2015. We must keep that belief alive. The hallmark of true
supporters is to stand firm in times of storm and in times of calm. The
storm is almost over. The President has battled to take control of the
steering wheel of the nation and we are on course.
Do not let the naysayers bully you whether in real life or in cyberspaces.
When they run out of arguments, they resort to abuses. If they abuse you,
see them as patriots, but misguided ones; if they attack you, see them as
patriots, but misguided ones; if they call you unprintable names, see them
as passionate patriots, but misguided ones. Do not retaliate. With time,
especially when majority of votes wipe out their minority opinions in
2019, they will come round to you and acknowledge your vision. So, hold
your own and keep your heads up.
For us, this race is never a do-or-die affair. We shall present the facts
as we see them and let Nigerians decide. We do not have to hire Cambridge
Analytica to scare the electorate. They are already sufficiently scared by
the humongous corruption that took place under the watch of the last
government; the electorate are already sufficiently scared by those who
are apologizing just to sneak their way back to power; the electorate are
also sufficiently scared by the tons of cash buried in graveyards, farm
houses, luxury flats in Ikoyi, in Yachts in the High Seas and those used
to buy real estate strewn all over the world.
Nigerians know from where their problems came. They know it is not
President Buhari. They know it came from some of those battling tooth and
nail to displace him. Those who are persuaded by us should not remain
aloof, please. Kindly join us in this journey.
Thank you.
FESTUS KEYAMO, SAN, FCIArb (UK).
Director, Strategic Communications,
President Muhammadu Buhari Campaign Organisation
(Official Spokesperson)