I read with bewilderment and disgust the rejoinder under the above title written by one Bashir Yusuf Ibrahim (probably a nom de guerre), who tried in vain to respond to a brilliant, in-depth and down-to-earth commentary on Buhari, written by Shehu Mohammed Funtua and published by Daily Trust of Friday, November 13, 2009.

For the avoidance of doubt, Shehu Mohammed Funtua is real; I personally know him and first met him in Abuja about five years ago. My last communication with him was through phone call about 2 or 3 months ago. On the other hand Bashir only exposed himself by his article as a writer-for-hire, doing the job for the alliance of Buhari, Atiku and Bafarawa-strange bedfellows who, individually, harbour inordinate ambition.

Bashir should know that nobody was provoked by Buba Galadima's interview with This Day newspaper in which he called for Rawlings Treatment against some Nigerian leaders. The antics of people like Galadima and Bashir is well-known, in their desperation to impose Buhari on the rest of Nigerians, anyone who shows an iota of resentment should be sacrificed in total disregard of all democratic norms. The writer confirmed this when he said, "I read Galadima's interview and I respect his right to freely express himself". The writer's response to Shehu Funtua is uncouth, and designed to create fear in the minds of Nigerians who may wish to freely express their opinions on matters affecting them. The Buharists of the writer's kind are so desperate to serve their interests that it is impossible to overrate the undemocratic traits and intolerance of such blind admirers of a de facto demi-god in Nigeria's political landscape.

The article by Bashir is annoying because instead of tackling the fundamental issues that Shehu Funtua raised, it resorted to the usual extreme and fanatical glorification of Buhari singing the familiar old tune of "tough moral standards" of the man, thus confirming our worst fears. Unknown to the writer, Buharism if left unchecked especially in a democracy like ours, will turn out to be a raging fire that may consume people of very low standard like him and those he represents. Instead of the writer to deconstruct what Shehu Funtua made reference to Bernard Shaw and Karl Marx especially with regard to Buhari's messianic complex, Bashir went gaga in his glorification of Buhari and castigating those he referred to as "...the dark and insidious forces that have held our politics hostage and our people in contempt", whatever that means.

This kind of writing and populist talks, full of colouring to lull readers and listeners may appeal to the writer's bizarre idea of commonsense to deceive the so-called radical townsmen - but certainly not the intellectuals and other more savvy individuals. We are used to such kinds of cheap talk. Nigerians from all walks of life are sick and tired of more-of-the-same, it can only come from the so-called elite and intelligentsia who have been riding on the backs of ordinary Nigerians... that the masses are now fully awakened and will resist any attempt to use them as cannon fodder by those who belong to the presidential campaign in order to be made appointees etc. Such people, when they fail to realize their ambition through democratic means, will desperately use all foul means to mobilize and whip up sentiments in order to achieve their diabolical ends. Nigerians will surely chase such unscrupulous elements from their midst.

The writer sought to mislead the reader when he said he was not speaking for General Buhari. In a country of about 150 million, it is ridiculous to refer to a single man as the only person who can hold his own by coming out "Squeaky clean like a whistle". One wonders why mention is not made of countless Nigerians who held all the important public offices while others still do, yet they still lack the resources to make both ends meet, talk less of funding presidential campaigns! Unless one is economical with the truth, which seems to be the case, no rational person can hold to a strange belief that one individual alone possesses the required moral standards in Nigeria's political discourse. The writer and his ilk are garrison - democrats who cannot tolerate differences of opinions and they are the do - or die undertakers who view the out come of any election to be either - me - or nobody else! They operate under presidential candidate - aide arrangement and always trail behind their brief - case - clutching masters who shove their blatant indiscretion with impurity in our face!

The writer does not have to repeat what he said before. The future of Nigeria is bright. But he has no final authority to say that Nigerian politicians are doomed. Indeed, it does require rocket science to find out why Nigerian politicians and their aides are not ready to accept defeat, are so desperate to win election at all cost and so on. The sense of pessimism shown by the writer on the fate of Nigerian state, can only come out from a desperado and someone of evil intensions who does not wish well for his country. Staying in Harvard has cut the writer off from the realities of the country's political scene and that explains why he is writing such a wandering, strange piece.

Those who think that it is by sponsoring an uncivilized and undemocratic defence of Buhari that they can continue to deny people the right to express their opinion on the man are entitled to indulge in their self-defeating enterprise.

Baban Takko wrote from No 2 DA Jahun Street, Bauchi.