Abbas Yushau Yusuf
When Nigeria return to democracy in 1999,for 22 years the beneficiaries of democracy are four distinguished Nigerians, Presidents Olusegun Obasanjo ,Umaru Musa Yaradua , Good luck Ebele Jonathan and Muhammad Buhari.
While Umaru Musa Yaradua and Goodluck Ebele Jonathan are bloody civilians with no military background except serving the nation after graduating from the University, Olusegun Obasanjo and Muhammad Buhari shared some traits ,they were both former Heads of states during the military ,Olusegun Obasanjo ruled Nigeria from February 14 1976 to October 1979 after the assassination of his predecessor General Murtala Muhammad, Muhammad Buhari a General like Obasanjo ruled Nigeria from January 1, 1984 to August 27, 1985 after the overthrow of President Shehu Shagari.
When Nigeria return to civilian rule in 1999 Obasanjo contested election and won ,after 20 years of handing over power the power was also handed over to him.
After serial contests Muhammad Adamu Buhari won election in 2015 after thirty years of his overthrow ,power was handed over to him by Goodluck Jonathan.
Obasanjo spent eight years from 1999 to 2007 ,Buhari is about to spend eight years in power,but Comparative analysis between the two Nigerian leaders has shown that Chief Olusegun Obasanjo is more empathic and sympathetic to disasters and crisis that affect the citizens of Nigeria when he was in power for 8 years.
42 Burnt Alive ,1 Bullied To Death,Does Arewa Lives Matter
After General Olusegun Obasanjo was sworn in religious and ethnic crisis erupted in many parts of the country beginning from Shagamu crisis that spread to Kano in July 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo visited the scenes of the crisis,in Kano and Ogun states where he commiserated with the victims.
In 2016, Kano major market the Sabongari market was gutted by fire where properties worth trillions were lost,President Muhammad Buhari has never visited the state to sympathize with the victims of the crisis,the only top Government official that has been coming to Kano when disasters wreck havoc in Kano is vice president Professor Yemi Osinbajo.
Another incidence was when the Jos religious riot spread over to Kano in 2001 after visiting Plateau state , President Obasanjo after state visit to France landed directly in Kano and visited the scenes of the crisis address the victims and commiserated with them.
When prominent sons and daughters died in Kano who are president Buhari’s allies in politics the president has never visited the state in person to condole with the Victims.
In May 2002 when EAS Airline flight 4226 crashed in Kano where it claimed the lives of many including the residents of a Kano suburb Gwammaja, President Obasanjo came to Kano early in the morning commiserated with Late Emir Ado Bayero and gave 10 million Naira to the victims.
During President Muhammad Buhari there are such disasters in Kano and Northern Nigeria ,he has never visited the scenes ,he only greet Nigerians with press releases from Malam Garba Shehu and Mr Femi Adesina.
In September 17 ,2006 a Nigerian Army helicopter plane carrying top Nigerian Generals crashed in Benue state , President Obasanjo cut short his United States trip ,addressed the press at Nnamdi Azikiwe International Airport ,he ensured that the fallen Generals were given full military honours and buried at military cemetery in Abuja.
President Obasanjo as commander in chief presided over the funeral of the 2006 Nigerian fallen Generals.
NIGERIAN TRACKER learnt that some of the fallen Generals then were Late Major General Ahmad Nuhu Bamalli,Major General Bitrus Duniya,Major General Saihu Musa Lemu,Brigadier General MB Bawa ,Colonel AN Muhammad among others.
In May 2021 , Nigerias Chief of Army staff Lt.Gen Ibrahim Attahiru died in a military plane crash just five months after his appointment together with some top Generals like Brigadier General Idris Kuliya,despite being in Abuja, President Muhammad Buhari refuse to attend the funeral in person which took place at the National Mosque.
When Lt.Col Muhammad Abu Ali died in the war front in 2016 ,a soldier that captured many Nigerian territories from Boko Haram was killed President Muhammad Buhari was absent at the funeral,he was attending a state visit to Osun.
In the year 2000 when there was serious religious upheaval in Kaduna on the aftermath of Shariah religious riots, President Obasanjo went to Kaduna and engage with stakeholders on how to avert future occurrence,the former President was accompanied by Late Engineer Stephen Shekari ,the then acting Governor of the state.
On January 27 2002 , Bomb exploded at Ikeja cantonment in Lagos , President Obasanjo went and asses the situation and address Lagos residents.
There are several examples to site that ranges to funerals and disasters where President Muhammad Buhari was never sighted but President Olusegun Obasanjo was there physically.
