A FEW GOOD MEN 2

Major-General Buhari was selected to lead the country by middle and high-ranking military officers after a successful military coup d'etat that overthrew civilian President Shehu Shagari on December 31, 1983. Buhari was appointed Head of State and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, and Tunde Idiagbon was appointed Chief of General Staff (the de facto #2 in the administration). Buhari justified the military's seizure of power by castigating the civilian government as hopelessly corrupt, and his administration subsequently initiated a public campaign against indiscipline known as "War Against Indiscipline (WAI)." Despite authoritarian tendencies, the campaign is still lauded by many to have instilled the most orderly conduct of public and private affairs in Nigeria since its independence in 1960

Buhari was himself overthrown in a coup led by General Ibrahim Babangida on August 27, 1985 and other members of the ruling Supreme Military Council (SMC) ostensibly because he insisted on investigating allegations of fraudulent award of contracts in the Ministry of Defense. If that investigation had been carried through, it is believed that many senior military officers would have been implicated. Buhari's insistence on this investigation was to become his fait accompli. A Palace Coup was planned and carried out by Gen Ibrahim Babangida and some senior military officers whose necks were heading for the chopping block following the conclusion of the investigation.[citation needed] Without a doubt, this would have become Buhari's and Idiagbon's most bitter and shocking lesson on how endemic and widespread corruption had become in Nigeria.

Buhari served as the Chairman of the Petroleum Trust Fund, a body created by the Government of General Abacha, and funded from the revenue generated by the increase in price of petroleum products from , to pursue developmental projects around the country. His transparent and efficient handling of this agency endeared him to Nigerians.

Buhari is the only former head of state who has never really been accused of public embezzlement or corrupt practises. His integrity endears him to the hearts of young people across Nigeria.,who look up to him as a role model.

Retired General Muhammadu Buhari, who is also the presidential candidate for one of Nigeria's main opposition parties, the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC) will now face other Presidential candidates in the upcoming April 2011 general election, amongst them are President Goodluck Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) and Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).

(Culled frm Wikipedia)
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