Nigeria questions candidate Gen. Muhammadu Buhari's relationship with Boko Haram and Post-election Violence

Nigeria has had a long history of corruption, military coups, and rigged votes. After losing the election, Muhammadu Buhari challenged the validity of the votes accusing the Goodluck Johnathan's , People Democratics Party (PCP) of rigging votes. This sparked an onset of violence throughout Northern Nigeria as radical supporters attacked neighbors. This subjoined with the already existing violence in the North as outraged Buhari Hausa supporters began riots and attacked Christians and other ethnic tribe inhabitants. These events demonstrate the relationship between ethnicity and politics as the disappointed ethnic tribe resorted to violence. For this tribe it was eminent to have a Hausa president. This is the case for the other ethnic tribes as depicted in the earlier election result map which portrayed the people's allegiance to the appropriate ethnically related candidate. In a country like Nigeria, where various cultures are attempting to coexist  and development is lacking, the people entreat on a representative that they can relate to and believe will provide them with resources past leaders have failed to do.

Copy of Mohammed Buhari's statement to the supreme court challenging the election results: http://saharareporters.com/press-release/statement-general-muhammadu-buhari-regarding-verdict-supreme-court-jonathans-election

This video displays the gravity of the post-election violence.

Quote from a "supposed" former Boko Haram member:
" New York [RR] MAIDUGURI–RepublicReporters is in possession of an exclusive interview by Sheik Sani Haliru (ex-Boko Haram member, now a born again Christian) told reporters that he has close relationship with Buhari and Mohammadu Yusuf. Sheik Sani Haliru said: “I have worked so closely with Mohammadu Buahri for five years, and I can prove it that General Buhari is the most notable outspoken jihadist hardliner in Nigeria who is also strategically sponsoring Boko Haram."

(Rossquo Feb, 4, 2012)

The above clip stresses a threat made by one of Mohammed Buhari's campaign partners,Yinka Odumakin. In his threat, he stated that " if you change the vote of this people, you are looking for Tunisia, Egypt, and Yemen combined." He threatened that if Mohammed Buhari did not win their would be consequences for Nigeria similier to events that have taken place in Tunisia, Egypt and Yemen. Radical fundamentalist groups much like the Boko Haram of Nigeria, have wreaked havoc in these mentioned regions. These are nations that have also had a long history of government corruption. Odumakin's allusion to these events were conceived to be almost treasonous. By this statement he called into action supporters of Buhari to take to violence if the CPC party was not victorious in the end. The later quote is from a news article earlier this year claiming that Buhari is affiliated with the terrorist group Boko Haram. This is long after the post-election violence of 2011 yet Buhari is still a victim of social persuction and arraignment. This depicts both the gravity of the post election violence and the insecurity Nigerian possess for government officials.Although, these may all be accusation, these accusations do coincide with the thoughts of many Nigerians who believe Buhari is to blame for bloodhsed in the North. His allegations and offence towards the elections rallied hundreds of Hausa supporters to act in violence. As Buhari expressed the oprression he believed he faced from the election, so did his supporters. This caused suspiscion to grow among the Nigerian people on whether Buhari was indeed financing the militant hausa youths and Boko Haram. Especially now with the recent Boko Haram attacks, people suspect that he is supporting them out of revenge towards President Goodluck Johnathan.

The post-election controversy led up to the indictment of Gen. Mohammed Buhari: "The Presidential Committee on Post-Election Violence in parts of the country, yesterday submitted its report stating that Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, Presidential Candidate, Major General Muhammadu Buhari’s provocative remarks played a role in the bloody violence that led to the death of 10 members of the National Youth Service Corps, NYSC, and hundreds of others after last April’s presidential polls."(Cole Jan, 25, 2011)

"The difficulty with Boko Haram is that the private compensation negotiation is not going well because there are a number of political players behind the group who are not necessarily at the table and who do not think that it is in their interest to negotiate with the Nigerian government. Until the government can cut off the political entrepreneurs, it [a deal] is going to be difficult. "

(Adeba Jan,7,2012) 

 This quote above again describes Boko Haram's political affiliations and why the government has had enormous difficulty demobilizing them. Boko Haram's support from government officials has created strength within this radical group. Despite possible global financial supporters " there was financial support for the sect also from within Nigeria.
Although many of them are not yet known, the support of Alhaji Buji Foi, a
former commissioner in Borno State, is commonly acknowledged. There
were also other speculated sponsors, from prominent religious leaders to
businessmen from the North." (Adesoji 2010)

Adeba, Brian. Africa Portal, "Social Disparities Fuel Boko Haram's Rise." Last modified Jan,7,2012. Accessed April 24, 2012. http://www.africaportal.org/articles/2012/01/27/social-disparities-fuel-boko-harams-rise. 

Adesoji, Abimbola. "The Boko Haram uprising and Islamic Revivalism in Nigeria." Africa Spectrum. 45. no. 2 (2010): 95-108.

Cole, Juan. Alter Net, "Uprisings in Tunisia, Yemen, Egypt -- America Is Paying the Price for Supporting Corrupt Dictatorships in the Muslim World." Last modified Jan, 25, 2011. Accessed April 24, 2012. http://www.alternet.org/story/149672/uprisings_in_tunisia,_yemen,_egypt_--_america_is_paying_the_price_for_supporting_corrupt_dictatorships_in_the_muslim_world/. 

Ndujihe, Clifford. Vanguard, "Laloko still shocked, Onye blames Osaze, Mikel Panic over another bomb blast rumours in Abuja Post-election violence: FG panel report indicts Buhari." Last modified Oct, 11, 2011. Accessed April 22, 2012. http://www.vanguardngr.com/2011/10/post-election-violence-fg-panel-report-indicts-buhari/. 

Rossquo. Republic Report, "Exclusive: IBB, Buhari,Top CBN-Officials Are Boko Haram Sponsors–Sheik Sani Haliru." Last modified Feb, 4, 2012. Accessed April 24, 2012. http://www.republicreport.com/exclusive-ibb-buharitop-cbn-officials-are-boko-haram-sponsors-sheik-sani-haliru/.