Since September 20, 1923 when Nigeria had her first general elections, the country has experienced several challenges trying to produce the desired leadership for her development and growth. Every national election since the amalgamation of Northern and Southern Protectorates in 1914, which resulted into what presently constitutes a united Nigeria, has had its peculiar challenges. The 1951 Western Nigeria election, for instance, introduced the factor of carpet crossing in Nigerian politics.
The 1964/65 elections which eventually threw the country into disorder through the crisis that erupted from the Western Region, provided the platform for some disgruntled military officers to strike and plunged the country into many years of military interference in governance. As a result, the country passed through avoidable challenges which brought regrettable pain and misery on the populace.
The undeserved military intrusion which diverted the political direction of Nigerians, equally terminated the precious lives of some eminent leaders among the founding fathers of our country. The consequences of which led to anarchy that instigated pogrom against a tribe whose only offense was that some young military officers who were indigenes of that part of the country, along with their colleagues from other tribes, organized a military coup that overturned the democratically elected government at the time.
One evil act led to another, effect of the unwarranted massacre of defenseless civilians by their hitherto friends, allies and fellow countrymen, resulted in the decision by a section of the country for secession from the nation every citizen had looked forward to its growth and development. Eventually, Nigeria drifted into an unprepared civil war that lasted three years. It moved the country many years backwards.
The experience of the 1967-1970 civil war is certainly what no sane person or group should ever dream about or wish to experience again. Nigeria deserves proper growth anchored on giant and purposeful developmental strides. Undoubtedly, wrong and selfish actions of some privileged leaders who had access to the country’s treasury, brought immense setback to a country that should have attained much higher heights within the comity of nations.
The defunct Social Democratic Party, SDP during its campaigns for the annulled 1993 general elections, had in its political jingle, “Nigerians on the match again, on the match again, looking for Mr President———.” The direct implication of that jingle lyric was that Nigerians were out once again in search of the right leader who would take the country in the right direction and to the required greater heights.
Regrettably, 58years after independence from Great Britain, Nigerians are still in search of the real and proper leader, who will appreciate the need of the nation and her people. A leader with genuine passion for growth and progress of the largest black nation in the world. A leader who will talk Nigeria, walk Nigeria, dream Nigeria, lift and build Nigeria.
Ironically, some major beneficiaries and products of the unhealthy military interference that dragged the image of Nigeria into the pit, are still the ones directing affairs of the country and working towards her future in all spheres. One wonders if a leopard could ever change its colour and form. With the benefit hindsight, one would recall that from January 15, 1966, when Nigerian democracy suffered its first interregnum through Military impingement, to 1993, when the last successful military coup took place, all the impostors presented Nigerians and the entire world with the same lead abnormality as their attraction for meddling with the country’s governance. Always it was, to fight corruption, ensure security of life and property, and to promote the Economy. Presently, each time I listen to the mantra of the current President, a former Military leader, who used the same singsong of his predecessors to sack a democratically elected government on December 31, 1983, I fill strongly like asking, if anything has really changed? Again, when one pays attention at the narratives of his administration’s diatribes, an in-depth analysis of them, would present a likelihood of 1984 repetitions. So, has anything really changed?
Is anyone still in doubt why Nigeria has continued to journey to and fro without commensurate economic and developmental achievements? From the Legislature to the Executive arms of government, since 1999 to date, how many former military and para-military officers have featured in our politics and governance? And more are still arrogating super efficiency in administrative capabilities to themselves.
If one may ask, will it be wrong for Nigerians to decide that all ex-military and para-military elements should quit politics and governance in Nigeria, until the country’s democracy stabilizes?
Jerry Rawlings as a young military officer in Ghana years back, took very decisive steps and the world screamed blue murder but Ghanaians are much better for it today. Nigerian soldiers led the path in 1966 but bungled it with tribalism and selfish interests. That’s why we are here still strongly with issues that lesser countries had far put behind them.
However, it is gratifying that President Muhammadu Buhari and the present Federal Government have acknowledged the 1993 general elections as about the best among elections held in the history of this country since 1960. This acknowledgement manifested in the honour they have accorded the presumed winner of the presidential election held June 12, 1993 and his running mate. Although Chief M.K.O Abiola, presumed winner of that election passed on before the actualization of his mandate, the recognition accorded the 1993 national election, will be appreciated much more by Nigerians and the international community, if this Government is able to conduct an election to be acknowledged as transparently free and fair to all sheds of people irrespective of political affiliations.
It is pertinent to advise that despite the damage that was done to the last but most important part of the 1993 general elections, the election for the office of the President, a thorough study should be carried out on the rules, policies and principles that guided the 1993 elections which was considered the best in the history of Nigeria.
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Irrespective of what people are presently saying against the immediate past government in Nigeria, one incontrovertible achievement recorded by the Goodluck Jonathan Administration, is the fact that for the first time in the history of partisan politics in Nigeria, a sitting President accepted defeat in an election whose conduct he supervised. An election largely accepted and acknowledged by International observers as free and fair, in spite of noticeable challenges.
In a unique display of patriotism, despite the availability of the entire security apparati of the country under his control, Jonathan submitted to the will of the electorate and accepted the result of the election which had ended against him while he was still in office. That was the height of responsible and honest leadership which had been alien to Africa.
That singular gesture by former President Jonathan, most observers believe, should have attracted a measure of goodwill from President Mohammadu Buhari for the former administration, instead of his present posture of ill-will against good efforts made by that government. I am yet to hear President Buhari publicly commend the Jonathan administration for any good works. That is a typical military behaviour.
It is undeniable that most of the projects which the Buhari Administration has completed and commissioned, were initiated and work commenced on them during the past PDP-led administrations. Which clearly states that the previous governments were not made of dump heads. It equally testifies to the genuine commitment of past administrations to develop Nigeria. Granted they had their errors and mistakes like anything human.
As Nigerians get prepared for the 2019 general elections, political pundits are expressing deep concerns about the possible outcome of that election. It is being speculated, that the actions and body language of the current administration do not present the possibility of it accepting defeat like the previous government did in the event of a possible loss at the polls. Many Nigerians are wondering if President Buhari will agree to place the overall interest of Nigerians above his personal interest like Dr. Jonathan did?
Most worrisome in recent times is the behaviour, including audible words and body actions of the national Chairman of APC, a man I had admired for many years, Comrade Adams Oshiomole. Some of his verbal expressions have been viewed as very disappointing to most observers including his admirers. His public posturing has manifested likely absence of peaceful conduct and possible decent behaviour if the pendulum fluctuates against his interest, those of his political party and associates in 2019.
An analyst recently posited that with the level of commitment President Mohammadu Buhari has exhibited on national issues, there is no price he cannot pay for the good and wellbeing of Nigerians, however, he was quick to recall that Chief M.K.O Abiola once announced that only a mad man will stand against a moving train and he equally said he didn’t want to be a dead hero. At the nick of time, in pursuit of a mandate given to him by Nigerians, Chief Abiola forsook those assertions and ended up a dead hero.
The implication of that is, the pursuit for power could turn a leader around to tread the path he thought he could overlook.
Nigerians are in dire need of an honest leader, whose commitment to the unity, peace, progress of their country will be unquantifiable. 2019 general elections holds the ace for the continued growth and unity of Nigeria. Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, should operate above board.
The world expects that the Card reader operations should have improved. It will be unacceptable for the electoral commission to announce that it is still facing some of the challenges that confronted it in 2015. Those calling for the replacement of the INEC Chairman because of his tribe of origin should be proved wrong through an efficient conduct of the elections.
All political parties should understand that the success of the 2019 general elections will project the image of Nigeria much better and will reassure the global community that Nigerian democracy is worthy of acceptability and due respect. Conversely, so much fear abound as to the eventual direction the country might head to if the 2019 general election ends on a sour note.
May it be said that Nigerians have gotten it right in 2019.