By Sufuyan Ojeifo
With all its perceived imperfections, winners and losers have emerged from
the just-concluded general election. But contrary to pre-election
apprehension of potential massive post-election protests, there has been
an eerie peace in the country. It appears the spirit that propels citizens
overboard in disruptive protests to ventilate anger and rejection of
polls’ outcomes has either been tamed or exorcized by a greater force.
It is possible the restrained response to the outcome of the 2019
presidential poll reflects the non-violent and statesmanlike character of
the candidate of the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, who had indicated before the poll that he would
accept the result if it was adjudged to be free and fair. He had also
assured his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.
Abubakar’s decision to head to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal
to challenge the poll’s outcome has been largely salutary to the
achievement of the eerie peace that pervaded the polity immediately after
the announcement of the winner of the election, President Muhammadu Buhari
of the All Progressives Congress (APC). As it is, the frontiers of peace
are expanding and there are daily opportunities that the Federal
Government can take to strengthen the process of obligatory post-election
reconstruction or renewal of Nigeria.
Countrywide reconstruction is imperative for rekindling confidence in the
Nigeria project. It may flow with some sections of the country if the
exercise is described as restructuring, which was the major plank on which
the PDP candidate struck a deal that earned him the massive support of
Southern Nigeria. If tweaking the concept of restructuring to align with
the consensual disposition of Nigeria for reconstruction and rearrangement
of the ways our commonwealth has been administered is what is needed at
this point in time for peace, stability and progress, why not?
Steps should be taken for collective reassurance of Nigerians that better
years that will usher in a more stable, united and much stronger Nigeria
are ahead, though we have in our hands outcomes of a poorly-conducted
general election. Getting there requires peace and stability of the
polity. This is why the measured peace in the country is critical. It
should not be taken for granted by anybody, especially President Buhari.
Abubakar’s decision to petition the Tribunal, challenging the poll’s
outcome, had infused a faltering polity with some breather of sorts. There
is a palliative air of equanimity that has helped to greatly discount
anti-Buhari sentiments in the milieu of politics and in the consciousness
of members of the political elite who exercise control over thousands of
their partisans.
There is a significant sense that the electoral process has yet to be
concluded until the courts dispense of the petition and deliver their
verdict. In essence, this is much better than creating an atmosphere of
utter hopelessness that forces anxious partisan elements to opt for
self-help whether at the clear prompting of their political leaders or at
the reading or misreading of the body language of the leaders.
Whereas, what is paramount is taking steps that preserve the national
interest; the critical elements that are requisite in driving the ship of
state in accordance, to wit – political rapprochement, accommodation
and/or inclusiveness – must be deliberately deployed by President Buhari
in advancing national reconstruction. The president had already hinted at
an inclusive government in his victory speech. This progressive approach
will always help to becalm negative agitations if sincerely adopted and
pursued.
To be sure, this cannot be helped if the opposition elements take
deliberate and precipitate actions that will make the nation
ungovernable. The national mood and the capacity of the incumbent
administration to manage the nuanced public sentiments at every point in
the process will somewhat determine how the Tribunal and Supreme Court
will deal with the presidential election petition. And, whatever the
Tribunal and the Supreme Court decide is what, in the long run, should be
paramount. It is expected their verdict will be guided by national
interest.
Therefore, the three arms of government, acting responsively to the
dispositions of Nigerians and other external stakeholders, must intensify
effort towards ensuring that peace and stability of the polity are
maintained. Nigeria cannot afford a fractured and polarized polity at this
critical intersection where providence has placed on her the leadership
role not only in the West African sub-region but also on the African
continent.
To mismanage this sub-regional and continental leadership role in
peace-building will not augur well for Nigeria’s profile in global
affairs. Nigeria has the latent capacities that can be exploited to manage
her internal local politics and dynamics. There is also a patriotic,
Nigerian spirit that inspires a unique sense of resilience that makes
citizens to endure pains and strains of a seeming unending voyage to
political emancipation.
That is good for Nigeria’s growing democracy. In this context, the
National Assembly must be commended for keeping up with its constitutional
and oversight functions subsequent to the general election. The Federal
Legislature is moving fast, as if tomorrow will not come, to wrap up
consideration and passage of the 2019 budget. Granted it is doing its job,
members must, regardless, be given plaudits for putting behind them, the
conduct and outcome of the general election, especially those who failed
reelection.
On the executive side, President Buhari must take pragmatic steps to
reform the electoral process. Nigeria had passed through this way before.
The nation had experienced an admixture of the good the bad and the ugly
in previous presidential elections. Whereas, the 1999 presidential poll
had gone down in history as the most credible in the Fourth Republic
democratic governance trajectory, the 2007 election had stuck out as the
most rigged to the extent that the beneficiary of the victory, Alhaji
Umaru Yar’Adua, had treated the process and outcome with contempt.
To demonstrate seriousness, he initiated a comprehensive electoral reform.
A former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Uwais, was appointed to head
the Committee which came up with far-reaching recommendations. Sadly, the
report is characteristically gathering dust and cobwebs in the shelves of
the Federal Government.
But this is not to suggest that the report is dead and forgotten. The
outcome of the 2019 general election persuades revisiting the Uwais
Electoral Reform Committee report for adoption, adaptation, and
implementation of some, if not all of the recommendations.
President Buhari must walk his talk about Electoral reform within the
context of his promised investigation of the embarrassing postponement of
the scheduled 2019 February 16 presidential election. No less is expected
from him. A demonstration of good faith in driving the reform of elections
will earn the buy-in by Nigerians. The concerned Committee must draw input
from the Uwais report.
Indeed, with the attitude of the winner and loser of the presidential
election that indicates commitment to issues of peaceful coexistence and
political accommodation that bind our nation, there is ample opportunity
to work towards inclusiveness of all shades of opinions in the formation
of the new government.
The administration has what it takes to do so. It will take Buhari’s
sincerity of purpose and political will to do it. Once Nigerians are
convinced the incoming administration is committed to inclusiveness,
electoral reform and renewal of the country, it will not be difficult to
give the administration a chance to settle in, gain traction and
consolidate its policies and programmes.
This is the overall picture that a vast majority of Nigerians envisage.
This is achievable as the entire nation moves sure-footedly towards 2023
to ascertain whether or not some lessons have truly been learnt from the
2019 electoral mistakes.
· Ojeifo, journalist, contributed this piece from Abuja
via ojwonderngr@yahoo.com