MUHAMMADU BUHARI: NIGERIAN MUST BRACE UP FOR CHANGE...

There should be no complacency as the fact of Nigeria’s President-elect is yet to be formalized in less than two months. But that fact is already known to Nigerians and the outside world. Accordingly, voters must perfect their cards; turn out as never before in Nigeria’s political history to cast their ballots.

Above all, they must defend their votes, a legitimate right all over the world but ever blackmailingly twisted in Nigeria as incitement to post-election violence.

Muhammadu Buhari’s emergence as All Progressive Congress’ presidential candidate was at a stage threatened by the prospective chances of the other four aspirants but his ten minute speech canvassing for support before the votes were cast at the party’s convention threw delegates in their thousands into wild acclamation.

The icing on the cake of Buhari’s victory was the transparent voting pattern watched throughout by all delegates at the convention and millions of Nigerians watching live on the television or listening on radio sets in their homes throughout the country all night.
Very much like a carnival.

 General Buhari’s speech destroyed erstwhile political encumbrances, not the least money influence. He made it clear he had neither dollars nor naira and according to him, even if he had, he would not bribe delegates because he does not believe Nigerian leadership should be for sale. Such bluntness was a risk only Buhari could have taken with the potential of losing votes of the delegates.

In the past, such delegates would have, instead, fallen for money to cast their votes, a bane which had disgusted respectable names from taking part in politics. Before the convention, as proof of his sincerity, there were advertorials in various newspapers (soliciting financial support) by Buhari Supporters Organisation but with a signed personal undertaking by General Buhari as the sole signatory with a pledge to account for every kobo donated.

General Buhari’s speech at the convention also destroyed the current bogey of political hustlers parading as youths exploiting emotive sentiments to demand a purported generational change. Reading that mood, one of APC’s presidential aspirants, Rochas Okorocha, in his speech at the convention, solicited for nomination among others, as the youngest of the lot at the age of 52. Rather politely, Okorocha was turned down with shouts of “Arugbo la fe,” literally meaning “we prefer older ones.” Like Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola 20 years earlier, General Buhari’s candidacy bridged every divide – religious, ethnic, class, zone, state, etc. Christians, non-Northerners, non-Fulanis, all embracing him. Buhari has ignited how a President should be elected on a platform of reputation, nation-wide acclamation, integrity and people’s trust.

The current crusade is for Nigeria on behalf of Nigerians. So far, Muhammadu Buhari and his associates have done their best in assembling a somewhat national coalition. That is the first leg. The second and final leg is financing the campaigns. Buhari made the case clear in soliciting for campaign donations.
Millions of Nigerians must contribute their effort from one hundred naira each to millions, scores and hundreds of millions of naira. It may not be easy but every effort is worthwhile. Buhari staked his integrity as the sole signatory. Nigerians must show their trust from the beginning. The Buhari Supporters Organisation must also reach out to Nigerians in Diaspora for donation.

Then, there was Buhari’s master stroke in the choice of his running mate, Yemi Osinbajo. Who else? The choice of the young man completely blocks all other possible outstanding loopholes. The young ones, the modest, the professionals and, as a fitting complement to General Buhari’s stature, Osinbajo’s virtual all-round personal distinction. The delay in announcing Osinbajo as General Buhari’s running mate particularly lured their political opponents into a foolish belligerence of deriding the method.

With the announcement and choice of Osinbajo as Buhari’s running mate, their political opponents now stand bereaved. Since the return of civilian rule in 1999, the Buhari-Osinbajo is the first invincible presidential platform. It’s been a long journey, which started in 2003 and the destination is now nearest. In 1983, the then Imo State governor, Sam Mbakwe alerted Nigerians that if he was rigged out of office, there would be perpetual dispute between his family and the counterpart of whoever rigged him out of office. This time, such a dispute would not be between the family of Buhari-Osinbajo but between the outside world and whoever rigged the 2015 elections.

Reactions of ordinary Nigerians in South West shown on television screens in Lagos also confirm the Buhari fever. Buhari under Tinubu? The decision of APC presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari to pick his running mate through close consultations with his party associates especially the top shots like Odigie-Oyegun, Bola Tinubu, Bisi Akande etc, generated derisive remarks from PDP that if elected, Buhari would be controlled by Tinubu. Pity this ignorance. Former President Ibrahim Babangida once disclosed that in the military, officers are trained to dominate their environment. That should about counter the PDP naivety..........

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Following the death of Bashorun M.K.O. Abiola in detention, Nigeria was compelled by the reality that a political compensation was inevitable to appease South-West. Debate was therefore hottest on whether Yoruba should exercise their right of choice. Instead, a Gang of Four, former President Ibrahim Babangida, ex-Head of State General Abdulsalami Abubakar, retired army Chief of Staff Lt. General Theo Danjuma and one of his successors Lt. General Aliyu Gusau, unilaterally and self-servingly imposed one of their own, General Olusegun Obasanjo not only on Yoruba but consequently on Nigeria.

In the midst of that debate, a compromise was reached to keep Jonathan in office. For one or two terms? That was another divisive debate which eventually splintered the PDP into virtually North and South factions. This particular debate was an off-shoot of the post-2011 elections violent protests against alleged widespread rigging of the elections.
By far, the decided debate which has foreclosed any debate for the 2015 elections totally unwarranted is the widespread public perception of the performance of President Goodluck Jonathan in the last four years. Boko Haram, the economy, disappearance of billions of dollars of public funds from NNPC, payment of fraudulent subsidy claims of over two trillion naira to oil importers with neither Jonathan’s knowledge nor National Assembly’s appropriation, level of corruption, Chibok girls, Jonathan’s eligibility to contest, gerrymandering of nominations of candidates on PDP platform etc. On all these issues, are based the campaigns for people’s votes in 2015.
Nigerians have listened to the criticism of PDP and its candidate Goodluck Jonathan. Nigerians have therefore made up their minds on who to vote for and nothing new can come from a useless debate to make the average voter change his mind. Election debate for 2015 elections? My foot!

Read full article here: http://www.opinions.ng/president-elect-federal-republic-of-nigeria/