
A lot of people are still living in shock after the
results of the presidential elections were announced. Most Nigerians
were expecting the result to bring controversy but we are glad it
didn’t.
Read Charly Boy’s take on the election: -
I must first congratulate Mr. President, Goodluck
Jonathan for his maturity, magnanimity and statesmanship by being the
first to congratulate General Muhammadu Buhari on his win at the polls, e
no easy sha. Accepting defeat. This is a sign of a shift in the right
direction. Nigerians should be proud of the freest and the fairest
election ever!
Elections in Africa, over time, have come to be a
time of despair for contesting candidates, and for the citizenry whose
energies at seeking decent leadership for their countries have always
been a worthless effort.
It is also a time for the opposition to endure
all that comes with an uneven political playing field such as harassment
of opposition leaders and their members as well as the abuse of state
machinery to further intimidate opposition supporters and retain
government. For the electorate, it is again, a time when they have to be
fed on a diet of lies, misconceptions and falsehood, those similar to
folktales. In short, tales by moonlight.
Since the birth of our democracy, it has never
been said that incumbent administration lost presidential spot; even
though we have seen a few States like Oyo where incumbents have never
returned to that seat.
In the same vein, elections have always been
marred with clear signs of malpractices until the 2011 polls that saw
the installment of Jega as the Electoral Boss. For the first time, we
had an election that was adjudged by all as free and fair, as was
evident that the people’s choice emerged.
This year again, history has been repeated and
made even better. These elections have been ruled by not a few to be
free and fair; which might, for the first time in history, change the
history of oppositions and power of incumbency.
I should probably say that this man Jega is a man of many firsts, besides his obvious qualities of courage and tenacity.
I have never been into Nigerian politics but when
it comes to identifying and celebrating deviants (in a good way), I
really do for obvious reasons: I am one myself. This time around we need
to give it to this man Jega. He deserves our standing or sitting
ovation.
I wish that our youth can learn a thing or two
from his administration, his willingness and ability to take in
pressure, not break, stay focused and deliver on set task not minding
whose a*s is f**ked.
I want to now see a Nigeria where our youth will
rise up and take the challenge to do things right even in the face of
great opposition and going outside the norm.
A nation where the youth are driven by the desire
to do what is right and not what is normal, bearing in mind that the
annals of history have no space to feature men who repeat history,
rather, men who deemed it worthwhile to go out of their way, break
protocols, create new realms and standards.
Jega is a lesson in calmness, a brilliant
Professor and am very proud of him. Today, the International Community
is full of accolades for Nigeria because of this achievement. Everybody,
including the super powers, has one thing or the other to learn from
this to better their own. Now, that’s unbelievable as commendable!
Say what you may about Jega, failed card readers,
lateness of INEC officials to polling units, late accreditation, late
night voting, announcing of election results in series as in soap
operas, whatever; this man is a moving train. He knows what he’s doing
and Nigerians better know that.
In my opinion, and I think I speak for many, the success of the 2015 presidential elections is a vote for Jega.
Once again, I salute your courage Attahiru Jega,
history, I am sure, has a place for men like you. Once again our young
democracy seems maturing as elections can be said to reflect the will of
the people.
I can’t judge if that ‘will’ however, is the
best alternative to our young democracy but we sure have joined the rest
of some other African countries like South Africa, Benin Republic, Cote
d’Ivoire, Senegal and Ghana, who have taken the courage to move away
from the ruling party syndrome.
So fellow Nigerians, with a standing ovation
wherever you’re reading this, raise your glasses, let’s doff our hats as
I propose a toast to the focused, undeterred, visionary, tenacious,
resilient and outstandingly brilliant Professor, Atahiru Jega!!
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