March 05, (THEWILL) – The just concluded presidential and national assembly elections have come and gone. But mixed reactions have trailed the exercise, especially that of the presidential election. Politics is a game that does not really favour all that participated in it. In all, a winner must emerge!
History has been made in Nigeria. For the first time, citizens trouped out en masse to exercise their franchise without being forced by the Community heads to do so. In the previous polls, it had been the long-time nature of Nigerians to be compelled out of their houses to cast votes on election day.
But lo and behold, the electorate took the decision. Not only that, their votes counted in many States where National Assembly candidates floored States’ Governors and some incumbents in the race that contested for re-election.
Although, the outcome of the presidential and National Assembly elections were greeted with sad feelings. Various political party supporters have hit hard on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Boss, Prof. Yakubu Mahmood, for conducting what they described as “unfair polls” that only favoured the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu.
In all, congratulations to the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory in the election. Felicitations, also go to the National Assembly members that scaled through in the electoral processes of February 25th.
According to the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Bola Tinubu polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat fellow contenders – Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), who got 6,984,520, Labour Party flagbearer, Peter Obi, who had 6,101,533, and the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) candidate, Rabiu Kwankwaso, who secured 1,496,687 votes.
Of course, even before the election, Some Nigerians, irrespective of political party inclinations, had the misgiving about whether the President-elect possessed the needed capacity to pilot the affairs of the country. But alas, listening to Bola Tinubu, one could find out that he is very sound intellectually. On his health status, the man surely knows if he is fit or not.
Therefore, Baba should not fail Nigerians now that he has been voted into power as President. Not only that, but as an ex-Senator, a two-time Governor of Lagos State, as well as other positions he held in the past, he should know the plights of the people.
The Present-elect should bear in mind that he needs to do his possible best to shock over Two Hundred Million Nigerians, who had concluded in their individual and collective opinions that he has nothing to offer if he is given the mantle of leadership based on his health challenges. Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
He should ensure his campaign promises which include: Healthcare delivery, digital economy, women empowerment, judicial reformation, federalism/decentralisation of power, foreign policy, huge investment in sports entertainment and youth empowerment, are kept.
Truly speaking, attention is visibly no longer beamed on the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari, who would be handing over to his successor, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, on May 29, 2023. The unforeseen responsibilities before him as the incoming President of Nigeria are quite herculean because the challenges it had encountered in the recent past appear not to have been cleared by the outgoing administration.
It is also advisable to remind our President-elect that the ball is now in his court towards providing purposeful governance that will deliver a progressive outcome for all Nigerians, irrespective of their regions. He is expected to concentrate on the areas President Muhammadu could not really do well.
Moreso, Nigerians of the Christian religion might have speculated the country would be Islamised under the administration of Tinubu and his Vice. This has heightened tension and sparked-off apprehension among Christians across the country. This insinuation could only be assuaged by his friendliness to Christians.
Immediately the President-elect is sworn-in, expectations would be high. Nigerians have not forgotten that President Muhammadu Buhari, promised to tackle corruption and insecurity and develop the economy of the country. But these challenges can be said to have remained unaddressed. Citizens suffered untold hardship. They prayed the incoming government shall be favourable.
Although, the Labour Party (LP) and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidates, Peter Obi and Atiku Abubakar, have threatened to challenge the victory of Asiwaju Bola Tinubu in Court. This is more trouble for the ruling APC stakeholders. But it would be better if the aggrieved can package their grievances and see the need to support Asiwaju Bola Tinubu, now that he has been officially declared the winner by the electoral umpire.
In outlook, it may not be “Uhuru” for the incoming administration but the panacea to this increasing turmoil, topsyturvy is the decretive ability of Asiwaju to dialogue with the bittered groups, his capability to foster togetherness, re-uniting the country in common endeavours for progress, peace, unity and prosperity for every region.
Mince no words, the administration of the outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari was rocked with a strong agitation over marginalisation, continued detention of the leader of the Independent People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, and other treatments they described as inhumane. Asiwaju could steal the hearts of the Southeast by ordering the release of Nnamdi Kanu and graciously incorporating the region into the scheme of things of which the rising insecurity in the five states would have been reduced.
He should address the increasing number of hardship that is being faced by Nigerians, which includes rising fuel pump price, inflation, unemployment, too much borrowing, insecurity, and corruption, and work for the better stability of Nigeria. To amplify this point, Nigeria is currently bleeding. Her citizens want to be happy again. All sectors of the economy are decidedly no longer working, and should therefore be fixed immediately.
One fact Nigerians should be conscious of is that things can work only if stakeholders would appreciate the incorporation of all and sundry rather than relegating the “assumed few” into the background. A unified renaissance of Nigeria is possible with Tinubu. One needs not apportion blame on the citizens for their harsh reactions. Nigeria had experienced untold hardship! Shockingly, citizens can not boast of uninterrupted electricity. It is believed that hope should be rising.
Those protesting the emergence of Jagaban as President have no option but to sheath their swords and join forces with him just for the sake of a Nigeria of our collective dream. The cross to be carried by the President-elect is a big one.
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