JOHN NWOKOCHA articulates the burden of Nigerians waiting for the final result of Saturday’s presidential election.
March 28, the presidential and national Assembly polls were held across Nigeria with remarkable success. For the first time in general elections a new technology known as Card Reader machine was introduced to enhance the credibility and overall success of the elections.
It would be recalled that unprecedented controversy greeted the concept of the card reader. The politicians kicked against it and even called for sack of Prof Atahiru Jega, Chairman of the Independent National Election Commission (INEC), for daring to convince Nigerians on the positive features of the card reader.
Nevertheless the card reader passed credibility test and eventually became the almighty tool deployed for the elections that everybody relied on. There were some hitches as it is common with new technology, however the acceptability of the device by the electorate is profound.
At the moment, INEC has not released the full result of the presidential election, about nine states had been announced from the Situation Room leaving Nigerians and the entire world waiting with bated breath and perhaps, fear for results of the most tightly contested presidential election in the nation’s political history.
Collation of results started Sunday, a day after the election, but in some parts of the country like Lagos, Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja, voting continued till the next day making the collation to extend to Monday. INEC boss during a live broadcast Sunday night had assured that results should be expected later on Monday. With that announcement by the electoral umpire public anxiety increased. And indeed, the burden of hope increased with it.
Like in every football match and examination expectation of the outcome creates anxiety. One thing is certain about this election the level of negative campaigns otherwise called hate speech raised the stake dangerously so it is understandable why the result is being eagerly awaited. About 14 political parties contested the presidential election but two parties are the major contenders. These are the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the All Progressive Congress (APC)
President Goodluck Jonathan is challenged by former military dictator Muhammadu Buhari. More than 1 000 people died in northern riots after Buhari lost to Jonathan in 2011.
The people appeared to be disposed to both contenders. Because both contestants appeared to match each other.
The political climate during the period of campaigns and election was a bit dicey which led to many relocating to places the considered safe for fear of uncertainties. But apart from a few skirmishes, generally the election was peaceful and turns out impressive. The PDP in Lagos has for the first time since 1999 going into the election as a united body.
The party has however not been able to make appreciable impact in elections in the state since the beginning of this democracy. But the party’s followers believe that this year’s election will provide them the opportunity to be able to take Lagos. They vowed to give the APC a good fight and enlisted the support of most non-indigenes. This include mostly the Igbos who have vowed that they will not endorse any candidate. To slug it out in Lagos the parties fielded candidates they believed will enhance their chances.
Mr. Joseph Olujimi Kolawole Agbaje is a pharmacist by training from the then University of Ife, now Obafemi Awolowo University Ile-Ife.
He is not new to Lagosians as he contested with the incumbent governor of the state, Mr. Raji Babatunde Fashola (SAN) in 2007.
He ran an impressive campaign in the running up to the 2007 election as he used the Democratic People’s Alliance, DPA as his platform but lost to Fashola.
A loveable person, with over three decades as a practicing pharmacist, Agbaje is seen as one who can give the APC a good fight and most non-indigenes in the state are rooting for him. This include mostly the Igbos who have vowed that they will give him their support.
His party, the PDP has also for the first time since 1999 going into the election as a united body. The party has however not been able to make appreciable impact in elections in the state since the beginning of this democracy. But the party’s followers believe that this year’s election will provide them the opportunity to be the occupant of Alausa Governor’s office .
Agbaje has served in much health management capacities in his early years as a pharmacist in Lagos State. He owns Jaykay Pharmaceutical & Chemical Company Ltd. which is responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of pharmaceuticals across the country.
He is a Fellow, Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria FPSN; Fellow, West African Post Graduate College of Pharmacists (FPCPharm); Merit Award Winner (MAW), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Lagos State).
Mr. Jimi Agbaje served as National Secretary of Nigerian Association, General Practice from 1987 to 1990.
He also held various professional appointments which include National Chairman of Nigerian Association of General Practice Pharmacists from 1990 to 1993; Chairman of Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (Lagos State) from 1994 to 1997 and Chairman of 1994 National Conference Planning committee of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria.
Mr. Agbaje serves as a Director of Vigeo Holdings Limited. He has participated in various international programs including the Executive Management Program at the Wits Business School, Johannesburg & Cape Town Business School, South Africa; World Health Organization training course on Good Manufacturing Practice (GMP) in the Pharmaceutical sector; UNICEF Oral Rehydration Therapy program (train the trainer course).
Akinwunmi Ambode, the APC candidate is an Accountant, Administrator, Public Finance expert and a retired Civil Servant and has served Lagos State for 27 years during which he held key positions in the state’s civil service such as the Auditor General for Local Governments, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and Accountant General of Lagos State.
Ambode is set to step into the shoes of Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the incumbent Governor, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN). His party has been winning the election since 1999 although under different names, Alliance for Democracy, AD, Action Congress, AC and Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN.
Ambode is relying heavily on the goodwill being enjoyed by the national leader of the APC, Asiwaju Tinubu among Lagosians and he may be coasting home to victory if the influence of Tinubu is anything to go by . He has also been running an impressive campaign which had taken him to the nook and crannies of the state.
Ambode graduated with Honours in Accounting from the University of Lagos at the age of 21.
At 24, he became a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria, ICAN, and completed a Masters degree in Accounting specializing in Financial Management, also at the University of Lagos. He later received a US Fulbright scholarship for the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship at Boston University in Massachusetts.
An alumnus of Wharton Business School of Advanced Management Programme, Ambode has attended courses in institutions such as Cranfield School of Management, Cranfield, England, the Institute of Management Development Lausanne, Switzerland, INSEAD Singapore and the Harvard Kennedy School of Government, Boston, USA. All said, anxiety, hope and the burden are high, the prayer on many lips is that all parties should accept the outcome with the spirit of sportsmanship and shun post election violence.
