By Perry Longjohn
Having carefully watched the flagging popularity of President Buhari and his government, even among his core support base, the poor, largely uneducated masses in the north, and the even more openly disappointed migrant workers in the south of Nigeria of northern origin, it was clear to me that it was just a matter of time before the “northern establishment” moved against him to basically protect themselves, and their position.
If their political weapon, and weapon of control, the northern masses, become too vocal in their dissent the next this may be radical thinking along the lines of questioning the northern leadership and its ability to satisfactorily lead the region. One is quite sure that this led to what would have first been discussion via the back channels with their old and reliable partners the British. The establishment in northern Nigeria, known for its deep and Machiavellian politics, and methods, would have engaged in discussions with the British Foreign Office over the perceived threat to Nigerian unity, posed by the heavy and high handed nature of President Buhari’s leadership style. Something that many of the members of the said Northern establishment had voiced concern over, even before the elections that brought him to power. These discussions would have culminated in mutual agreement as to the threat posed, and no doubt led to the planning of a way to keep President Buhari away from Aso Rock, the seat of power, for as long as necessary, or even permanently if need be, so as to allow tensions cool, and enable certain changes to be made. Remember that the Northern establishment is bigger than even the political jobbers, and players. They are the Masters!
One is sure that President Buhari would have been faced with either conceding to their wishes, or told in very plain Hausa that his removal from power, via impeachment, would follow. This he would have seen as a political coup, something he would be dead set against, as it would bring great shame on himself, and the ignoble record of being the world’s only leader to have been removed from office twice. Once via a military coup, and 32 years later via democratic impeachment.
To make the plan as acceptable to Nigerians a story was woven around his actual medical condition and this is being used to, in Nigerian political parlance, pad the story.
The issue now is how to tame the “cabal” that has been built around him, loosen their grip on power, and allow the erstwhile Acting President, Professor Osinbajo, the required space to bring the country back on an even keel, both politically and economically.
More will be revealed in the coming weeks, and if they are able to successfully achieve this will be plain for all to see. Whatever happens, it is obvious that President Buhari’s Presidency is over!
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