The call came from a cherished friend and ally as I went about my errands that Buhari has declared June 12 democracy day. When he told me, I swallowed hard and thought aloud ; will this be enough? Is it not a day late and a Naira short? The mixed reactions online and offline confirmed my thoughts.

Buhari’s problem in 2019 will not be from those who has never believed in him or those who are his diehards. His victory will hang on the decision of disenchanted and disappointed Buharists who overlooked all his shortcomings and invested time and emotion in his candidacy. Those who believed he had the balls to take on our problems. After all, what should a septuagenarian General be afraid of?

Buhari had a long honeymoon. This particular crowd kept handing him a new rope, a new lease and renewed sympathy until the last rope got worn and snapped. Who are these? We are not Buharideens, the crowd for whom Buhari can do no wrong. We are Buharists – patriotic and objective former believers in Buhari and we are in the wilderness. We are the believers who lost hope. We have been branded, called names and rẹ-christened as wailers. We love it that way. Some of us were voters of Buhari long before it became fashionable. We weren’t fence sitters who suddenly loved Buhari because he was about to win or has won.

I am a recovering Buharist. My updates and my articles are forever in the bowels of the Internet to prove it. On July 7, 2015, I saw clearly; the change we worked for has gone to the dogs. I wrote in my column; “President Buhari, Integrity Is Not Enough!” (you can Google it). Things went downhill from there. The making of “President” Abba Kyari, Babachir, Maina, Security Architecture, Herdsmen, and so on.

I commend the president on his latest gesture. A good thing is a good thing. Politicians play politics. This gesture is political, it does not make it a bad thing. I don’t have a candidate yet. This time in 2014 , Buhari wasn’t even as aspirant. People forget so easily. I will not sit out the 2019 elections. I will support a candidate and again, my candidate does not need to win. If things remain the same, all that is needed, is to prevent Buhari from making two thirds of 36 states. The reality of that possibility has hit Buhari and his team. That is why we are seeing gestures like this. His supporters may not know this but those of us who read the signs know. I can boldly brag that I predicted Buhari’s win long before many believed it.

For many of us Buharists whom he abandoned in the wilderness are still there. We are in the wilderness because he did not listen, because he defaulted to political inbreeding and incestuous politics. Even though he got this right, it is not enough to win us back. So much has been lost!