Former President, Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan who is leading the
54-member nations of the Commonwealth as part of the international
observers monitoring the Tanzanian general election scheduled for
October 25 is billed to leave the country tomorrow (Monday) for Dar es
salaam.
Reports indicate that Jonathan is walking into the warm embrace of
many Tanzanians who are upbeat and confident that his presence would
bring credibility to the polls which analysts consider the toughest
and closest elections in the country’s history.
The ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) party which has been in power
since the country’s return to multiparty democracy in 1992 is up
against a united opposition that has increasingly been making
significant electoral gains.
As Tanzanians prepare to vote in either side, they are happy that high
profile observers including President Jonathan, who they consider as
‘a hero of free and fair election in Africa’, would be on ground to
monitor the elections. They are hoping that their presence would
ensure a transport and peaceful election process.
Paying tribute to Jonathan in a recent editorial ahead of the
elections, The Daily News of Tanzania commended the former President
for taking his defeat in the last Presidential elections “in all
magnanimity”, adding that “Jonathan may very well have averted
bloodshed that is characteristic of incumbent leaders who cling in
power tooth and nail, fang and claw! What lesson is there in this for
us in Tanzania, pray?”
In the editorial entitled ‘Salutary lessons for Tanzania from
Nigeria’s latest elections; the paper said further: “It is generally
admitted that the election in Nigeria was unprecedentedly free, fair
and transparent, whereby the opposition candidate, Mohammadu Buhari,
won the Presidency.. What is more remarkable is that the incumbent
president who sought re-election, Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, … most
graciously accepted the results promptly!
“Oh, I don’t know beyond the fact that Tanzania could tragically do
worse if it fails to dedicatedly take a leaf out of Nigeria’s newest
Book on Elections!”
Similarly, the Guardian of Tanzania also poured encomiums on former
President Jonathan describing him as a democrat who has pointed the
way forward for the rest of Africa.
In its own editorial comment entitled ‘High profile figures among
observers will add credibility to poll process, results’, The Guardian
stated: “Jonathan’s voluntary handover of power to the opposition
wrote a new chapter for Nigeria’s democracy, given the fact that it is
rare for sitting presidents in Africa to hand over powers to winning
opposition parties.”
Reports also indicate that the people of Tanzania are happy to see
Jonathan lead the Commonwealth election monitoring team because of his
exemplary feat of conceding defeat even before the end of the
electoral process and subsequently handing over power to the
opposition party.
While in Tanzania Jonathan is billed to meet with President Jakaya
Kikwete of Tanzania, other heads of delegation as well as the local
and international media.
It would be recalled that President Mohammed Buhari profusely praised
Jonathan for being magnanimous enough to initiate a telephone
conversation where he conceded defeat even before the final votes were
tallied, thus saving the nation from predicted Armageddon.
While receiving the handover notes from the former President, Buhari
had said: “What I will say is since the telephone call you made you
have changed the course of Nigeria’s political history. For that you
have earned yourself a place in our history, for stabilising this
system of multi party democracy system and you have earned the respect
of not only Nigerians but world leaders.
“All the leaders that spoke to me and congratulated us for arriving at
the point we arrived, mentioned this and I could understand, a lot of
relief in their voices that Nigeria has made it after all and this is
largely owed to a situation.
“If you (Jonathan) had attempted to make things difficult, you could
have made things difficult and that would have been at the expense of
lives of poor Nigerians, but you choose the part of honour and may God
help all of us. Thank you very much your excellency.”