To become president and commander in chief of the armed forces of Nigeria, Muhammadu Buhari had to go through rigorous democratic process like pre-primary, primary and post primary elections. As a member of a political party, he is like any other member and has no special privilege in democracy as far as good governance is concerned. This has to do with party supremacy in presiding over the affairs of its members.
Contrastingly, Buhari’s participation in decision making is minimal compared to late President Idriss Déby of Chad because of their political system differs. Buhari is less sensitive in governance, less powerful over some national affairs and less effective legislatively. Not like Déby who was more sensitive, very powerful and strong because of his non-democratic identity and political ideology.
For the sake of democracy and sense of nationalism in Nigeria, no one can or will personally decide to do anything between executive, legislature and judiciary no matter how patriotic someone is. One must act according to the constitution as well as passing his ideas to the three tiers of government for critic, suggestion and support. For instance, if Buhari is eager to die in the battlefield, he must first identify the legality of sacrificing his life constitutionally as a president who wants to fight Boko Haram in favour of national interest. He must understand his eligibility politically and democratically before he pays the price.
Déby’s political party is “Patriotic Salvation Movement”, the party is built on spirit of nationalism and the aim is to produce patriotic mindsets with sophisticated ideology and spiritual high sense of nationalism. Déby remained one; and he answered the clarion call of his party, MPS – a true nationalist, indeed.
Khalid Yusuf Tebo,
Damaturu, Yobe state
