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/
