Goodluck & Buhari; "Bunch Of Adventurists"...But I Don't Forgive "Coup" Architects - Kweku Baako

It is now an undisputable fact that not only natives of Nigeria have expressed uttermost delight with the election of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari as President, a section of the Ghanaian populace have equally joined in the euphoric celebration of the new transition.

But if there's one particular Ghanaian who is not enthused about the election of Gen. Buhari to lead Nigerians, then it is perhaps one of Ghana's seasoned journalists.

Abdul Malik Kweku Baako, the Editor-In-Chief of the New Crusading Guide newspaper, registered his displeasure with the choice that Nigerians have made.

Taking a critical look at Gen. Buhari's track record and the fact that he once staged a coup, Kweku Baako was unconvinced about him being the right leader for Nigerians.

He opines the Goodluck Jonathan's performance as president was nothing to write home about, but Muhammadu Buhari checkered political history, also made him neither the best candidate to replace the PDP leader.

To Mr. Baako, Nigerians were presented with two bad choices and had no other option than to vote for one candidate; the lesser of the two evils to lead the nation.

I wasn’t enthused about any of them. The Nigerians, if really they had any choice; they were presented with two bad choices but they had to make a choice all the same…For me, I wasn’t too enthusiastic about the situation,” Kweku Baako said on PeaceFM's "Kokrokoo".

A Muslim from northern Nigeria, General Buhari became Nigeria's ruler on 31 December 1983 after taking power in a military coup d'état which led to the overthrow of Shehu Shagari. He ruled for nearly two years, but on 27 August 1985, he was overthrown by General Ibrahim Babangida. He was largely seen incorruptible, but had a poor human rights record. Gen Buhari was a strict disciplinarian and there are reports that during his tenure, civil servants who reported late for work had to do frog jumps.

Gen Buhari ran unsuccessfully for the office of President in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections. In December 2014, he emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the March 2015 elections. But on Tuesday, March 31, 2015, he made history when he defeated the sitting President Goodluck Jonathan; the first time a sitting president had been defeated whiles seeking re-election.

Majority of Nigerians were elated that at the electoral results, but obviously not the celebrated Editor, who posited that “to watch Buhari with all his military background and all his dictatorial background. This is why I said he’s not someone I’m enthusiastic about…and I don’t forgive people like that."

Contributing to a panel discussion on the award-winning platform, he stressed that both the outgoing President and Gen. Buhari "are all such a bunch of adventurists, sometimes you wonder why Africa has to suffer…But well that is what Nigerians were presented with and they had to make a choice…They have multi-billionaires there. They’re all bloody thieves.”

However, Kweku Baako advised Gen. Buhari to make a new wave in steering Nigeria's affairs.

I’m hoping against hope that he will be able at least to take advantage of this unique transition that Nigeria is going through to try and paint a new picture; do something new. I’m just hoping against hope but should it happen, it will be so good for Nigeria. It won’t be an easy task and if care is not taken, he cannot finish it under his term even if he has two terms. But at least, it will help if he starts to infuse some new regime of discipline, try and fight corruption. He shouldn’t tamper with the constitution.”