General Buhari -A Better Option By Abayomi Animashaun

Your Humble General was Born in Daura, Katsina State, on 17 December 1942.

Gen. Buhari attended Primary School in Daura and Mai’adua, 1948-1952 and later proceeded to Katsina Model School in 1953 and Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College Katsina) from 1956-1961.

Buhari attended the best military schools in the world. In case the professor doesn’t know, Buhari graduated as a military officer (Lieutenant) in Royal Military Academy, Aldeshot UK.

He attended the Defense College India.Col Buhari attended the US Army War College Carlisle in Pennsylvania from 1979 -1980 and earned his command as a Brigadier General.

The respected General Collin Powel attended the same school in 1976 to become Brigadier General. Some of Buhari’s classmates include General Beltson, General Thomas P Carney, General Bill Matz, General David E.K. Cooper etc. all of them are alive and can be reached and they will give glowing tributes of the man, Buhari, they know as their classmate.

The curriculum at the U.S. Army War College earns one a Masters Degree in Strategic Studies and that is what Buhari has.

He joined the then Nigerian Military Training School, Kaduna in 1963 and also attended Officer’s Cadet School in Alder shot (United Kingdom), October 1963. In 1964, he was at the Nigerian Military College, Kaduna for Platoon Commanders’ Course and later attended the Mechanical Transport Officer’s Course at the Army Mechanical Transport School in Borden (United Kingdom) 1965. Gen. Buhari also studied at the Defense Services’ Staff College, Wellington (India), 1973 and the United States Army War College, June 1979 to June 1980.

General Muhammadu Buhari first came to limelight following his appointment as Governor of the newly created North Eastern State of Nigeria during General Muritala Mohammed’s regime and later to national focus in 1975 when he was appointed by General Olusegun Obasanjo as Minister (then Federal Commissioner) for Petroleum and Natural Resources and in 1977 at the creation of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, he became the first Chairman.

Career: In his career as a military man and public service, he was Platoon Commander, 2nd Infantry battalion, 1963-1964; Mechanical Transport Officer, Lagos Garrison, 1964-1965; Transport Company Commander, 2nd Infantry Brigade, 1965-1966; Battalion Adjutant/Commander, 2nd Infantry Division, August 1967-October 1968; Brigade Major, 2nd sector, 1st Infantry Division, April to July, 1967; Brigade Major, 3rd Infantry Division, August 1967-October 1968; Acting Commander, 4th Sector, 1st Division, November 1968 to February 1970; Commander, 31st Infantry Brigade, 1st Infantry Division, February 1970 to June 1971; Assistant Adjutant-General, 1st Infantry Division Headquarters, July 1971 to December 1972; Colonel, General Staff, 3rd Infantry Division Headquarters, January 1974 to September 1974; Acting Director Supply and Transport, Nigerian Army Corps, Headquarters, September 1974 to July 1975; Military Governor, North Eastern State of Nigeria, August 1975 to March 1976; federal Commissioner for Petroleum and Natural Resources, March 1976 to June 1978; Chairman, Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, June 1978 to June 1979; Military Secretary, Army Headquarters, July 1978 – June 1979; Member, Supreme Military Council, July 1978 – June 1979; General Officer Commanding, 4th Infantry Division, August 1980 to January 1981; General Officer Commanding, 3rd Armoured Division, November 1981 – December 1983; Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Nigerian Armed Forces, December 1983 to August 1985. Executive Chairman, Petroleum (Special) Trust Fund (PTF), March 1995 to May 1999.

He has received several awards and medals to include, Grand Commander of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (GCFR); Defense Service Medal (DSM); National Service Medal (NSM); General Service Medal (GSM) Loyal Service and Good Conduct Medal (LSGCM); Forces Service Star (FSS) and the Congo Medal (CM) among others.

General Muhammadu Buhari and his colleagues took over power from the Alhaji Shehu Shagari led administration in 1983, a period the country was witnessing serious austerity and political instability. It was on record that his administration reduced the inflation rate in the economy from 23% to 4% within two years, by fiscal discipline and a homegrown economic team and also introduced the latter well accepted and lauded “War Against Indiscipline” (WAI) to check most of the anomalies in the public life of Nigerians.

As the Federal Commissioner of Petroleum Resources and Chairman of Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, he supervised and oversees the birth of all the existing refineries in the country. In 1983, it was also on record that when Chadians soldiers invaded and took 19 Islands in Lake chad within Nigerian territory, he, as the General Officer Commanding the Armored Division, successfully cordoned off the territory and pursued the Chadian Army as far as 50km back into Chadian territory.

Those who are close to him said his words are his bond. Little wonder his regime was overthrown in a palace coup on August 27 1985 because of his insistence on carrying out investigation on allegations of fraudulent award of contracts in the then Ministry of Defense. Rumor has it that, had the investigation been carried out, many senior military officers including members of the Supreme Military Council, the highest ruling body then, would have been implicated and subsequently indicted.

WELL BASED ON TRENDING NEWS, THE PDP FLAG-BEARER IS BEEN ASKED TO PROVIDE HIS THESIS & MORE BASED ON HIS PARTY'S IMMATURE APPROACH TO EVEN SITUATION WORKING POSITIVELY FOR THEIR OPPOSITION.

IS IT NOT EVIDENT THAT APC TOOK THEIR TIME TO GIVE NIGERIA 2 WORLD CLASS LEADERS? IS IT NOT CLEAR THAT PDP CAN'T FACE THIS MUSIC? EMPTY VESSELS MAKE THE LOUDEST NOISE. WE READ PROFESSOR YEMI OSIBANJO'S RESUME & NOW THE PEOPLE'S GENERAL SLAYING THE IN-EFFICENT PH.D HOLDER.

PLEASE GET A PERMANENT VOTER'S CARD. VISIT www.inecnigeria.org

You can reach out to General Buhari & His team directly via twitter via the handles below.

@ThisIsBuhari @ProfOsinbanjo @atiku @APCNigeria @ChibukeAmaechi @AsiwajuTinubu @tundefashola @Govsia @Kfayemi @bukolasaraki @elrufai @raufaregbesola @nuhuribadu

BE HEARD,IT STARTS WITH YOU!