Elections 2015 and lessons of history

The first phase of the 2015 elections commenced on 28 March 2015, as Nigerians took their destiny in their hands regardless of tribe, culture and religion to vote for a president and also members of the National Assembly of their choice. During and after the elections, history was made as almost 30 million Nigerians went to the polls determined and resolute to make democracy work. It was not very clear what Nigerians specifically wanted until they cast their votes and results were released.  With the emergence of General Muhammadu Buhari of the APC as the President-elect, Nigerians have demonstrated that they want a change in leadership at the opulent and cozy Presidential Villa. Nigeria’s desire for change was motivated by choice and desire for a prosperous and economically developed nation.

With this uncommon and very rare exploit in Nigeria’s political history, Nigerians are hereby congratulated for their patience and loyalty to the nation. We need to congratulate ourselves for commitment, loyalty, and love for our dear nation during and after the recently concluded presidential and national assembly elections. We have demonstrated to the world that Nigeria will not disintegrate in 2015 despite predictions that the country was going to break up. Nigerians rejected such predictions by our demeanor because Nigeria is our country and there is no place like home. Events during and after elections show that we are democratic despite our inadequacies and that we are an assemblage of responsible people, able and willing to take ownership of our country only by choice and sound judgment.Very many thanks also to our friends in the international community and most importantly to the President of the US, Barrack Obama for their support, encouragement and timely intervention.

Elections were regarded as peaceful but with some flaws. In some polling booths, it was widely reported that election materials were insufficient, while 375, that is 0.25 percent of the 150,000 electronic card readers deployed nationwide did not work.This created a bit of problem which was resolved by manual registration and accreditation of voters. The use of electronic card reader for voting has engendered a discourse by political commentators and analysts about the use of technology in subsequent elections but it must be emphasized that the use of technology does not exist in vacuum without adequate infrastructure to support it. The use of electronic card reader is supportedand must be sustained with adequate infrastructure as it enables transparent democratic process in Nigeria. INEC however,needs to exercise caution by ensuring that card readers are more efficient without having to replace them andthe Permanent Voters Card (PVC). This advice is given because of cost implication of replacing these electronic gadgets in austere times.

The way leaders emerge in a democracy is very key. Most times, our leaders have always emerged through intrigues and mischief. In 2015 elections, mischief makers did not profit from their venture. Accordingly,elements of mischief within political parties who wanted to scuttle the nation’s developing democracy must be disappointed. However, the emergence of the president-elect General Buhari and the willingness of the incumbent to hand over power without any violence is regarded as history in the country.And without history, there will be no lessons learnt.

The theory of history and ‘great man’ was first articulated in the early Nineteenth century by eminent historians and philosophers who sought to understand the nexus between the French Revolution and Napoleaon Bonaparte. This endeavor was given its fullest expression by a Scottish social critic and historian Thomas Carlyle who held that ‘the history of the world is but the biography of great men’. Without prejudice to the conduct and results of the presidential elections conducted on 28 March 2015 in Nigeria, the course of history has been shaped by an exceptional individual whose name will enter the honours list of ‘great men’. These gentleman is President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan GCFR who promised the country ‘that elections would be free and fair’ and did not renege.It is the first time in Nigeria’s history where an incumbent Mr President has graciously conceded defeat and congratulated the president-elect General Muhammadu Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) on his victory, and has given a presidential broadcast to address Nigerians to shun violence. This act has conferred on the outgoing President GE Jonathan a hero and a great man. Without pressure from the international community and indeed Nigeria’s elder statesmen would members of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and indeed the outgoing President have accepted to relinquish power in a simple manner? I asked these question because PDP’s foot soldiers were almost at the brink of causing chaos in a few states.In fact it was alleged that political party stalwarts who had bought PVCs from some indigent voters had to return them to owners when they realized that elections in 2015 are not going to be business as usual. Anyway, irrespective of imperfections of elections and inadequacies of logistics, President GoodluckEbele Jonathan served our nation, he has demonstrated ‘nobility and grace’ by his willingness to hand over to the President-elect on 29 May 2015.For Gen Buhari, he now has an opportunity to prove himself as a leader made of pure gold in line with Plato’s metaphor of the metal. Accordingly, he would be assessed before, during, and after 2019 general elections. So help him God.

The INEC Chairman, Attahiru Jega and his entire team also need to be commended. Jega, erudite professor of political science was cool, calm and steady before, during and after the elections. He was committed to ensuring that the electoral process enabled credible elections.  It is on record that  Jega made history by deploying technology for voters’ accreditation and voting. Thank goodness that  Jega’s reputation of several years was not destroyed by desperate politicians and their agents who wanted to be in power at all cost. Despite a few logistics glitches, the Professor had control measures in place that deactivated to a reasonable extent all known rigging and manipulation strategiesduring and after elections.  Jega heard the voice of the people and he delivered the choice of Nigerians. He saved democracy in Nigeria through commitment and due diligence in the discharge of his duties as a public servant, and he is thus regarded a ‘great man’.

With history made, there are lessons to be learnt as a developing democracy. Firstly, the politicians must understand that in a democracy, power belongs to the people and not political parties. People determine their leaders through ballot boxes, notby inducements.Nigerians are better informed that they have to exercise their civic rights during elections by voting inept politicians out of office and that government officials are to be held accountable for their misdemeanor. Secondly, this election shows that no individual or group of people is greater than Nigeria. Thirdly, any Nigerian to be appointed as INEC Chairman in future must be someone with proven integrity and honour. In a country where many have cordial relationship with the Naira/Dollars as a result of corruption, Nigerians cannot afford a corrupt INEC Chairman whose integrity is questionable.  This is because Nigerians will demand for better elections in future and INEC must be prepared to deliver. Lastly, INEC has to improve its logistics supply chain, while ensuring that the time of voters is not wasted during elections by promptly deploying its officials and election materials to polling units. As we prepare for the lastphase ofelections on 11 April 2015, I wish Nigerians all the best and God’s speed.  God bless Nigeria.

M.A. Johnson