Buhari: The Dilemma and Politics of Dialogue

Also published in Daily Trust

General Mohammad Buhari (rtd)

When I learnt that Boko Haram had nominated Buhari among others to take part in their proposed dialogue with the federal government, I suspected that the whole story was a fabrication by some of Buhari’s political opponents to politically blackmail him as they have always done, hence I hardly gave it any attention. However, as the story continued to make headlines in various credible newspapers, it began to appear credible enough to deserve another look especially in view of the absence of denial from Boko Haram.

In any case, by proposing Saudi Arabia to host dialogue between them and the Federal Government, Boko Haram appears rather naïve in the politics of dialogue in such crisis, because Saudi Arabia, having literally nothing to gain or lose in the crisis, is not in the position to play the role expected from a country hosting such a dialogue. After all, it hardly if at all takes Nigeria and its affairs serious enough in the first place.

Also, they i.e. Boko Haram don’t seem to realize that in any armed conflict, the relatively weak party (as they are in this situation of course) normally proposes a rather sympathetic or at least a neutral country to hold talks there, and Saudi Arabia obviously does not fit into either of these specifications, because after all, it has had its own share of bloody confrontation with its own equally violent groups. This proposal also implies that Boko Haram are  rather desperate to attract wider international attention to further embarrass the Federal Government perhaps in order to eventually extort as many concessions as possible in the event of any dialogue between them.

Nevertheless, they don’t seem to realize that, the nature of their mission and its violent method basically disqualify them as potential counterparts in a dialogue of such nature, even though some few armed organizations elsewhere sometimes prove too stubborn and too formidable to be ignored, which forces their opponents to give up their pride and engage them in direct or indirect dialogue as the case may be.

In any case however, Boko Haram, who have apparently overestimated their formidability, having been carried away by the amount of pressure they have been able to subject the Federal Government to, are not yet that organized and formidable enough to command such recognition anyway. This is even though they have been able to further expose government’s incompetence and indeed cluelessness to tackle the crisis.

Furthermore, their nomination of General Muhammad Buhari (rtd) to represent them at the proposed dialogue implies their presumption that the General may have some sympathy with their mission (as alleged by his political opponents) hence he is in the position to influence the course of the proposed dialogue somehow in their favour. Whereas, though Buhari could of course be a fair mediator, he is in no way sympathetic to their course at all.

As a matter of fact, contrary to many people’s presumption, Buhari, though a nationalist with an unquestionable patriotism and integrity, is never such religious in the conventional sense of the word let alone being sympathetic to a fanatic course for that matter. For instance, when he was Head of State he was at loggerheads with many Muslim activists and clerics as he couldn’t tolerate what he considered the clerics’ interference in his government, while they, on the other hand, considered him a dictator hell bent on suppressing the freedom of religious preaching in the country. Interestingly enough, late Sheikh Abubakar Mahmoud Gumi mentioned in his memoirs i.e. “Where I Stand” some interesting accounts of the “cold war” that ensued between him personally and General Buhari as Head of State then.

Anyway, Boko Haram’s nomination of Buhari predictably generated controversy on whether to accept the nomination or not and it in the meantime gave his political opponents a much needed pretext on a platter of gold to manipulate it politically, where they cynically alluded to his alleged link with Boko Haram in order to embarrass him politically under the pretext of appealing to him to accept the nomination in the interest of the country.

Meanwhile, notwithstanding any political consideration, the nomination has put Buhari in a dilemma in the sense that, on one hand, politically speaking and given the sensitivity of the issue involved in Nigerian politics, he should not of course accept the nomination especially considering the fact that he is still actively involved in partisan politics. However, on the other hand, he is morally bound to accept it in view of the devastation, chaos and senseless bloodshed that prevail as a result of the conflict, which also doesn’t show any sign of subsiding in the foreseeable future.

Alas, Buhari, who was apparently influenced by his party, which had already opposed the nomination, rejected it also. Certainly, in as much as I find Buhari’s decision politically right, I believe it is morally wrong, hence he should have considered the moral dimension of the issue at stake as opposed to its political dimension.

How I wish that Buhari considered the fact that, the imperative of restoring peace particularly in northern Nigeria, which his mediation could probably facilitate, is much more important than his political pursuit even if it actually culminates in him becoming president, which - realistically speaking- is not likely to happen given the nature of Nigerian politics nowadays.

After all, even if he defies such odds and becomes president, he would not be able to deliver the much needed socio-political and economic reforms expected from him as long such security challenges persist in the region.

Moreover, perhaps this is another good chance for him to further enrich his excellent record of administrative success and enhance his enviable reputation, which he has painstakingly built over the decades as a professional soldier, military administrator and Head State, among other positions he has held.

I would therefore like to reach out to Buhari through this column to disregard all partisan political considerations, accept the mediation offer and work towards resorting peace in the region. Needless to say, millions of people particularly in the affected areas definitely expect the same from him also.