Nigeria’s presidential election of March 28 elicits global acclaims as world leaders hail the country’s embrace of change writes Correspondent, SAM NWOKORO
Sometimes, noble virtues can help much. In a continent notorious for sit-tight leaders, it is gratifying news for the world to learn one or two things about Nigeria’s democracy. At least, given the African standard, transition from one government to another has often been a source of acrimony and social tension, leading, most times, to wars and genocide in a continent with contentious border demarcations.
When a stubborn Hosni Mubarak, taciturn Mobutu Seseseku, obstinate Blaise Compaore or brutish Idi Amin refused to quit state house and hand over power to an election winner, the result had often been wars that would later choke their already impoverished citizenry, create refugee crisis, compel protagonists and antagonists to stockpile arms or even take foreign loan to prosecute internal strife that would later require African Union (AU) or foreign powers to rush in weapons and ammunitions into a continent where already the number of guns and ammunition almost equal the population.
For this reason, mature democracies panic each time there is going to be a presidential election in any African country. African countries had maintained this putrid profile for a long time. In the past 15 years, most change of tenures in Africa have been problematic, leading to various degrees of internal strife and decimation of fellow compatriots. No doubt, it is in the light of this that the whole world had been pouring encomia to the government and people of Nigeria, as well as the ruling and opposition parties and their supporters since the conclusion of their peaceful presidential election.
For the most part, the world is impressed by the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan who brushed aside this anachronism prevalent in Africa: the main reason congratulatory messages are pouring in to Nigeria. They came from the United states of America through President Barack Obama, from France via Francois Hollande, from the European Union (EU) through Federica Mogherini (its high representative and vice president), from AU and the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) through Ibn Chambas and from the UN through its Secretary-General, Ban Ki-moon.
Other countries have also been sending messages of goodwill to Buhari,
Promise kept, and its accolades
In his short speech in which he conceded victory to his challenger, Buhari, the president said: “Fellow Nigerians, I promised Nigerians free and fair elections. I have kept my words. I have also expanded the space for Nigerians to participate in the democratic process. That is one legacy I would like to see endure. Although some people have expressed mixed feelings about the result announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), I urge those who may feel aggrieved to follow due process based on our constitution and our electoral laws in seeking redress.
“As I have always affirmed, nobody’s ambition is worth the blood of any Nigerian. The unity, stability and progress of our dear country is more important than anything else. I also commend the security services for their roles in ensuring peaceful and violence-free polls.
“To my colleagues in PDP, I thank you for your support. Today, the PDP should be celebrating rather than mourning. We have established a legacy of democratic freedom, transparency, economic growth, and free and fair election. For the past 16 years, we have steered the country away from ethnic and regional politics. We created a pan-Nigerian political party and brought home to our people the realities of economic development and social transformation. Through patriotism and diligence, we have built the biggest and most patriotic party in Nigerian history. We must stand together as a party and look to the future with renewed optimism. I thank all Nigerians once again for the great opportunity I was given to lead this country and assure that I will continue to do my best at the helm of national affairs until the end of my tenure.”
The president, before the elections, had also promised to concede defeat if he loses the election. That he has also done, with an icing: congratulating Buhari, even before he was handed the certificate of return by INEC.
Solidarity
In his congratulatory message to Nigerian authorities and politicians for the successful election, Obama says: “President Jonathan placed Nigeria’s interest first by conceding defeat. I look forward to working with President Jonathan throughout the remainder of his term and I thank him for his many years of service and his statesmanlike conduct at this critical juncture. I urge the president-elect and Jonathan to repeat their calls to their supporters to continue to respect the outcome of the election, focusing on unifying the country to lead Nigeria through a peaceful transition.”
From the United Kingdom, Prime Minister David Cameron said in his message: “I send my warmest congratulations to General Buhari on being elected as Nigeria’s next president. This election has been a credit to the Nigerian people and a truly historic moment for Nigerian democracy. The UK remains a steadfast partner for Nigeria as it realises its potential as Africa’s economic powerhouse and works to tackle terrorism in the region.”
On her part, Mogherini thanked President Jonathan for his great contributions to building the country and to consolidating its democracy over the past years.
“Nigerians can now look forward to focusing on the many challenges and opportunities that lie ahead of the country. The European Union has been a close partner for Nigeria over the past 50 years, and will continue to support its development and to share its values in promoting peace, prosperity and democracy on the continent and in the world.”
Hollande, in his message, said “France continues to stand with Nigeria to uphold democratic values, fight against terrorism and promote economic partnership between the two countries”, while Ki-moon commended Nigeria for holding a largely peaceful election as voting came to an end last Sunday.
UN Special envoy to West Africa, Chambas, told the UN Security Council that: “Boko Haram was unable to disrupt the electoral process. The legitimacy of Nigeria’s next is important for ensuring the support of the international community.”
Buhari talks to the world
In the tradition of newly-elected heads of government, Buhari also spoke to global audience. Obviously, he had gotten, in his own words, “democratised”. Such questions from global media like CNN is well anticipated, hence his answers came without much equivocation. He entertained what passed as his first chat with global audience post-election about 7.30pm on April 1 with CNN’s Christie Amanpour. It was a snappy one. Amanpour asked Buhari if he was surprised that he won the 2015 presidential election, whether he would be willing to reconcile the nation as he promised during his campaigns, what new thing he would do in a different way in the fight against insurgency, and what other new approach he would adopt regarding Nigeria’s economy in the face falling oil prices. She also asked the president-elect how he intends to go about his war against corruption, and why he executed people for non-capital offences such as drug trafficking during his tenure as former military leader.
Buhari replied: “I was not surprised I won because our party prepared well ahead other parties for the election.” On reconciling the nation, he promised to tackle insecurity by flushing out Boko Haram and providing security in the Niger Delta areas to curb the activities of militants. He blamed the escalation of the insurgency to delays by the authorities in stopping the insurgents from penetrating the borders, adding that “when they started about two months ago, it was pretty late. There were corruption within the defence system and the entire government operations and its institutions, and this undermined the fight against the insurgency with what the military had until the reinforcement from outside the country. There was lack of proper training of the army. There were no proper investigations and leadership, so the performance of the army was tainted by corruption.”
The General stressed that he would tackle corruption. He did not say much on what he would do differently on the economy, but stressed that he knows what to do to solve the infrastructure problems. On the issue of his military past records, Buhari said that the actions he took then were informed by the exigencies of the time and that before the execution of the three drug offenders, there was already a law in operation that made drug offence attract capital punishment. He promised to enthrone accountability.
An election as a balm
Prior to the March 28 election, the social temperature of Nigeria since 2011 had been anything but perfect. It was more or less graveyard peace. Nigeria was more or less like a basket of eggs suspended on rooftop. It only required some careless action either from Nigeria’s rascally politicians or her myriad nationalist groups for the bubble to burst. The reason the world would idolise Jonathan for his statesmanship.
According to former Military Administrator of Akwa Ibom State Air Commodore Idongesit Nkanga, “President Jonathan is Nigeria’s pride. He demonstrated statesmanship by congratulating Buhari after the announcement of the result. He has laid a noble example for future leaders in the country to follow.”
Many factors obviously validate this eulogy. He is an uncommon African leader. Lagos-based business man, Fred Ukaegbu, says: “Jonathan wants to remain in the realm of global leadership, not the typical African leader. I don’t believe he is a power-hungry person, as people tried to make him appear. Perhaps he wanted to ingrain rule of law into our ways of life and to make us realise that leadership is a call to service, and not an ego contest; otherwise he has all the powers and global endorsement, but he did not rely on this to his advantage.”
From the menace of Boko Haram to the fall of oil prices, Jonathan’s regime appears to be the most vexed in contemporary Nigerian history. In a report released in October 2013, one-time American Ambassador to Nigeria, John Campbell, noted: “The 2015 election again may precipitate violence that could destabilise Nigeria, and Washington has even less privilege in Abuja than it did in 2011 election between incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan, a Southern Christian, and Mohammed Buhari, a Northern Muslim and a former military chief. Tension between Washington and Abuja is higher than in 2011, largely over how to respond to the fundamentalist insurgent group, Boko Haram, which is steadily gaining strength in North East Nigeria.”
Certainly, these discomforting profiles are enough to incite people and disrupt election, were it not for the determination of Nigerians and their leaders to do the election once and for all.
The old the new
The recent general elections registers Nigeria’s name as a nation desirous of getting out of her sullied past. It provides both the outgoing government and the incoming one time to rebuild their past and construct the future properly in a manner that major investing nations are not unduly rattled at the approach of election.
A successful election, as has been held, can only enhance Nigeria’s reputation at a time it is seriously scouting for more capital and investment around the world.
By conceding victory to APC, the world now switches the focus on Buhari to see how far he succeeds in doing most of the things Nigerians, including himself, complained about Jonathan’s administration.
