After it was postponed by a week because of some logistical challenges, the 2019 presidential election has come and gone. President Muhammadu Buhari of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) got reelected and promised to run a government for the benefit of Nigerians.
Of course, the result of the election, as expected, was greeted by the main opposition, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and its candidate, Atiku Abubakar with complaints, skepticism and, finally, rejection.
Still, as the law calls for, the chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) Professor Mahmood Yakubu, on the day he declared the result of the election, presented a certificate of return to the president.
Speaking at the event, the president said his administration would consolidate on its achievements. “The hard work to deliver a better Nigeria continues, building on the foundations of peace, rule of law and opportunities for all. We will roll up our sleeves afresh, and give it our all. We have no other motive than to serve Nigeria with our hearts and might, and build a nation which we and generations to come can be proud of,” he said. “I am very grateful to the over 15 million citizens who voted for me, those who contributed in many ways in the running of our successful campaign, and those at home and abroad who expressed confidence in me and the APC Government…I can assure that you will see a country moving to the Next Level, as we consolidate on our fundamental areas of securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption.”
The president, of course, called on the opposition to accept the election’s results when he said that comments made by local and international observers indicate that the Independent National Electoral Commission conducted a free and fair election.
Now that the elections are over and a winner declared, the president called on all to see it as a victory for Nigeria, our dear country, and said that he encourages his teeming supporters not to gloat.
“Our God-given victory is enough cause for joy, without deriding those who were in the opposition,” he said. “All Nigerians, going forward, must stand in brotherhood, for a bright and fulfilling future.”
Speaking like the statesman he is, the president said he’ll engage all parties as the administration would operate an open-door and all-inclusive government for the general progress of the country. “Our Government will remain inclusive and our doors will remain open,” he said. “That is the way to build the country of our dream; safe, secure, prosperous, and free of impunity and primitive accumulation by those entrusted with public offices.”
But is the president speaking the language that is familiar to the opposition politicians and would they agree to join hands with the government? The issue of the rejection of the presidential election result and impending legal fight appears set to dominate political scene.
Of course, Nigeria has passed and is still passing through several restless stages. The nature of political power in the country together with the real and perceived consequences of capturing and maintaining power is a key source of conflict and political instability.
Though it can be said that with the president, the situation is different, it is frequently the case that political victory in the country assumes a “winner-takes-all” form with respect to wealth and resources, patronage and the prestige and prerogatives of office.
Thus, the country is still haunted by historical injustices and oppressive structures that were bequeathed to this administration. This is an aspect that informs prevalence of weak institutions of the state, flawed legislative systems, all of which the president is trying to remedy.
In fact, it can be argued that until the advent of this administration, the country was on a reverse gear, as far as development was concerned. Most of its institutions were not developing. This apt description of the decline in nearly all institutions underscores the depth of corruption and underdevelopment that ravaged the people in the midst of abundant natural resources.
Until the president came in 2015, the struggle, if there was any, to ensure the country’s development and political cohesiveness proved unworkable and that explains the genesis of the problem in the political and social conditions that the government in grappling with now.
Lack of political cohesiveness, patriotism among citizens, especially the leaders, and economic dependence on the West and America and oil, of course, manifests themselves in poor policies’ planning and implementation, lack of entrepreneurial abilities, the stifling of market forces, falling commodity prices and unfavourable terms of trade, poverty of ideas, the dependency syndrome, corruption and indiscipline.
Nigeria is, thus, a victim of political instability and with elections at four-year interval, found itself in a cyclical legitimacy crisis. Consequently, national development is retarded and the political environment uncertain.
The country is, therefore, almost always enmeshed in political intrigues among the elite which slows its development and, regrettably, ethnic competition for resources among the ruling class, a situation that explains our leaders’ pervasive corruption and profligacy. Therefore, political instability and other related problems, which the Buhari-led administration is trying to solve, are basically a consequence of leadership problem.
Leaders across the country and parties hold onto office by purchasing support through the distribution of state resources and, as such, any conflict over their allocation is thought to degenerate into a struggle over control of the state. Violence erupts either because some elite crave for a larger share of the spoils controlled by the leader or because those outside the leader’s patronage-based coalition want access to resources to which they have been denied.
But, now, things are changing for good. The level of corruption in public institutions is going down and elected and public officials are made by the Buhari-led administration to be accountable for their actions.
But that’s how far things can go in that direction until all politicians, regardless of their party, come together, put their divisions aside, and support the president, especially in the fight against corruption, drive to diversify the economy, enthrone rule of law and develop institutions.
Essentially, with the election concluded, results announced and winner emerged, we must all, as a people of Nigeria, come to the conclusion that the real winners are Nigerians and we must, therefore, collectively stand with and support our government to develop and unite our nation.
On the recent attacks in Sokoto, Kaduna…
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest arm attacks in some parts of Sokoto and Kaduna states, saying mass murder of innocent people by criminals would not be tolerated.
The president also commiserated with the families of the victims of the bandits’ attacks. “The death of one innocent Nigerian is no less important than the death of a hundred,” he said. “The criminals cannot be lucky always because the law will ultimately catch up with them and deliver justice ruthlessly…let no group of outlaws doubt the will and resolve of my administration to confront criminals who have no iota of regard for the sanctity of life.”
He also reassured Nigerians that their security remained a top priority of his government. Of course, it had better be because security and peace are especially important in today’s world because they make a better environment for the present and next generations. With peace and security, there’ll be harmony among people and there would be much less murder and robberies in our country.
But, firstly, government needs to do its job of making the security personnel available in what can be described as crisis-prone states and ready to defend lives and property.
Above all, those found to be involved in criminal activities must not only be apprehended but they must be prosecuted and, if found guilty by courts, punished.
In fact, it is believed by many that the government’s often inability to prosecute and punish offenders informs the basis for frequent crimes. Of course, it must be said that the slow way in which the judiciary in the country works is appalling, and government must intervene to ensure quick dispensation of justice.
On the recent attacks in Sokoto, Kaduna…
President Muhammadu Buhari has condemned the latest arm attacks in some parts of Sokoto and Kaduna states, saying mass murder of innocent people by criminals would not be tolerated.
The president also commiserated with the families of the victims of the bandits’ attacks. “The death of one innocent Nigerian is no less important than the death of a hundred,” he said. “The criminals cannot be lucky always because the law will ultimately catch up with them and deliver justice ruthlessly…let no group of outlaws doubt the will and resolve of my administration to confront criminals who have no iota of regard for the sanctity of life.”
He also reassured Nigerians that their security remained a top priority of his government. Of course, it had better be because security and peace are especially important in today’s world because they make a better environment for the present and next generations. With peace and security, there’ll be harmony among people and there would be much less murder and robberies in our country.
But, firstly, government needs to do its job of making the security personnel available in what can be described as crisis-prone states and ready to defend lives and property.
Above all, those found to be involved in criminal activities must not only be apprehended but they must be prosecuted and, if found guilty by courts, punished.
In fact, it is believed by many that the government’s often inability to prosecute and punish offenders informs the basis for frequent crimes. Of course, it must be said that the slow way in which the judiciary in the country works is appalling, and government must intervene to ensure quick dispensation of justice.
