By Sufuyan Ojeifo<\/p>\n
With all its perceived imperfections, winners and losers have emerged from
\nthe just-concluded general election. But contrary to pre-election
\napprehension of potential massive post-election protests, there has been
\nan eerie peace in the country. It appears the spirit that propels citizens
\noverboard in disruptive protests to ventilate anger and rejection of
\npolls\u2019 outcomes has either been tamed or exorcized by a greater force.<\/p>\n
It is possible the restrained response to the outcome of the 2019
\npresidential poll reflects the non-violent and statesmanlike character of
\nthe candidate of the leading opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP),
\nAlhaji Atiku Abubakar, who had indicated before the poll that he would
\naccept the result if it was adjudged to be free and fair. He had also
\nassured his ambition was not worth the blood of any Nigerian.<\/p>\n
Abubakar\u2019s decision to head to the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal
\nto challenge the poll\u2019s outcome has been largely salutary to the
\nachievement of the eerie peace that pervaded the polity immediately after
\nthe announcement of the winner of the election, President Muhammadu Buhari
\nof the All Progressives Congress (APC). As it is, the frontiers of peace
\nare expanding and there are daily opportunities that the Federal
\nGovernment can take to strengthen the process of obligatory post-election
\nreconstruction or renewal of Nigeria.<\/p>\n
Countrywide reconstruction is imperative for rekindling confidence in the
\nNigeria project. It may flow with some sections of the country if the
\nexercise is described as restructuring, which was the major plank on which
\nthe PDP candidate struck a deal that earned him the massive support of
\nSouthern Nigeria. If tweaking the concept of restructuring to align with
\nthe consensual disposition of Nigeria for reconstruction and rearrangement
\nof the ways our commonwealth has been administered is what is needed at
\nthis point in time for peace, stability and progress, why not?<\/p>\n
Steps should be taken for collective reassurance of Nigerians that better
\nyears that will usher in a more stable, united and much stronger Nigeria
\nare ahead, though we have in our hands outcomes of a poorly-conducted
\ngeneral election.\u00a0 Getting there requires peace and stability of the
\npolity. This is why the measured peace in the country is critical.\u00a0 It
\nshould not be taken for granted by anybody, especially President Buhari.<\/p>\n
Abubakar\u2019s decision to petition the Tribunal, challenging the poll\u2019s
\noutcome, had infused a faltering polity with some breather of sorts.\u00a0There
\nis a palliative air of equanimity that has helped to greatly discount
\nanti-Buhari sentiments in the milieu of politics and in the consciousness
\nof members of the political elite who exercise control over thousands of
\ntheir partisans.<\/p>\n
There is a significant sense that the electoral process has yet to be
\nconcluded until the courts dispense of the petition and deliver their
\nverdict.\u00a0\u00a0 In essence, this is much better than creating an atmosphere of
\nutter hopelessness that forces anxious partisan elements to opt for
\nself-help whether at the clear prompting of their political leaders or at
\nthe reading or misreading of the body language of the leaders.<\/p>\n
Whereas, what is paramount is taking steps that preserve the national
\ninterest; the critical elements that are requisite in driving the ship of
\nstate in accordance, to wit – political rapprochement, accommodation
\nand\/or inclusiveness – must be deliberately deployed by President Buhari
\nin advancing national reconstruction. The president had already hinted at
\nan inclusive government in his victory speech. This progressive approach
\nwill always help to becalm negative agitations if sincerely adopted and
\npursued.<\/p>\n
To be sure, this cannot be helped if the opposition elements take
\ndeliberate and precipitate actions that will make the nation
\nungovernable.\u00a0The national mood and the capacity of the incumbent
\nadministration to manage the nuanced public sentiments at every point in
\nthe process will somewhat determine how the Tribunal and Supreme Court
\nwill deal with the\u00a0presidential election petition. And, whatever the
\nTribunal and the Supreme Court decide is what, in the long run, should be
\nparamount.\u00a0 It is expected their verdict will be guided by national
\ninterest.<\/p>\n
Therefore, the three arms of government, acting responsively to the
\ndispositions of Nigerians and other external stakeholders, must intensify
\neffort towards ensuring that peace and stability of the polity are
\nmaintained. Nigeria cannot afford a fractured and polarized polity at this
\ncritical intersection where providence has placed on her the leadership
\nrole not only in the West African sub-region but also on the African
\ncontinent.<\/p>\n
To mismanage this sub-regional and continental leadership role in
\npeace-building\u00a0will not augur well for Nigeria\u2019s profile in global
\naffairs. Nigeria has the latent capacities that can be exploited to manage
\nher internal local politics and dynamics. There is also a patriotic,
\nNigerian spirit that inspires a unique sense of resilience that makes
\ncitizens to endure pains and strains of a seeming unending voyage to
\npolitical emancipation.<\/p>\n
That is good for Nigeria\u2019s growing democracy. In this context, the
\nNational Assembly must be commended for keeping up with its constitutional
\nand oversight functions subsequent to the general election. The Federal
\nLegislature is moving fast, as if tomorrow will not come, to wrap up
\nconsideration and passage of the 2019 budget. Granted it is doing its job,
\nmembers must, regardless, be given plaudits for putting behind them, the
\nconduct and outcome of the general election, especially those who failed
\nreelection.<\/p>\n
On the executive side, President Buhari must take pragmatic steps to
\nreform the electoral process. Nigeria had passed through this way before.
\nThe nation had experienced an admixture of the good the bad and the ugly
\nin previous presidential elections. Whereas, the 1999 presidential poll
\nhad gone down in history as the most credible in the Fourth Republic
\ndemocratic governance trajectory, the 2007 election had stuck out as the
\nmost rigged to the extent that the beneficiary of the victory, Alhaji
\nUmaru Yar\u2019Adua, had treated the process and outcome with contempt.<\/p>\n
To demonstrate seriousness, he initiated a comprehensive electoral reform.
\nA former Chief Justice of Nigeria, Mohammed Uwais, was appointed to head
\nthe Committee which came up with far-reaching recommendations. Sadly, the
\nreport is characteristically gathering dust and cobwebs in the shelves of
\nthe Federal Government.<\/p>\n
But this is not to suggest that the report is dead and forgotten. The
\noutcome of the 2019 general election persuades revisiting the Uwais
\nElectoral Reform Committee report for adoption, adaptation, and
\nimplementation of some, if not all of the recommendations.<\/p>\n
President Buhari must walk his talk about Electoral reform within the
\ncontext of his promised investigation of the embarrassing postponement of
\nthe scheduled 2019 February 16 presidential election. No less is expected
\nfrom him. A demonstration of good faith in driving the reform of elections
\nwill earn the buy-in by Nigerians. The concerned Committee must draw input
\nfrom the Uwais report.<\/p>\n
Indeed, with the attitude of the winner and loser of the presidential
\nelection that indicates commitment to issues of peaceful coexistence and
\npolitical accommodation that bind our nation, there is ample opportunity
\nto work towards inclusiveness of all shades of opinions in the formation
\nof the new government.<\/p>\n
The administration has what it takes to do so. It will take Buhari’s
\nsincerity of purpose and political will to do it. Once Nigerians are
\nconvinced the incoming administration is committed to inclusiveness,
\nelectoral reform and renewal of the country, it will not be difficult to
\ngive the administration a chance to settle in, gain traction and
\nconsolidate its policies and programmes.<\/p>\n
This is the overall picture that a vast majority of Nigerians envisage.
\nThis is achievable as the entire nation moves sure-footedly towards 2023
\nto ascertain whether or not some lessons have truly been learnt from the
\n2019 electoral mistakes.<\/p>\n