PENDULUM BY DELE MOMODU, Email: dele.momodu@thisdaylive.com
“Most of us give up too early.
Failure is an absolute essential
In life.”
-Bryce Courtenay
“Risk it, go for it. Life always gives you another chance,
another go at. It’s very important to take
enormous risks.”
-Mary Quant
Fellow Nigerians, please permit me to congratulate us all on the success of the March 28 elections in our dear beloved country. But kindly allow me to single out one man, Professor Attahiru Jega, Chairman of INEC, for his exceptional performance. My darling wife has asked me to focus special attention on this perfect gentleman for doing such a thankless job almost perfectly. In Attahiru Jega we found the hope of a New Nigeria. Everything we are celebrating today would have evaporated and disappeared into thin air but for the kamikaze daringness of Jega and his glorious team.
Let me spend a little more time on Jega. His achievement is not too surprising to those who knew his antecedents as a world class scholar and social activist. I remember when his name was announced as INEC Chairman by President Goodluck Jonathan on June 8, 2010. It came as a shock to many of us who had followed his trajectory as an upright and incorruptible man, in particular, during his headship of the Academic Staff Union of Universities, under the Babangida military junta. He was a vociferous and irrepressible critic of the Babangida administration. He was seen at the time as a Leftist with very close affinity to the Nigeria Labour Congress.
I had received the news of his appointment in Accra, Ghana, where I was hosting one of Jega’s colleagues and comrades, Dr Abubakar Momoh. We were both elated that Nigeria had reached the stage where credibility was beginning to count. Dr Momoh had assured me that Jega was going to deliver contrary to the tradition of most radicals turning coat on attaining powerful positions. On a personal observation, my main worry was how Jega was going to be able to change the mind-set of those under him who may be tempted by our politicians to capitulate when it matters most. I’ve been watching Jega ever since.
Jega started his job slowly but steadily. He took his time in warming up to the delicate and precarious assignment. The 2011 elections were not perfect but acceptable. He must have learnt some useful lessons from it and reasoned that the only way to deal with and obliterate the artful dodgers from our political landscape was to employ the new vista offered by technology. The resultant effect of that revelation was the birth of Permanent Voters’ Cards and the Card-readers! Those who thought they could rig themselves permanently into power couldn’t imagine what hit them like thunderbolt. By the time they understood the gravity of what was coming at them, they kicked vehemently against the introduction of this efficacious machinery and sought a return to our pre-historic ways of conducting elections. Everything was done to frustrate Jega, including resorting to vengeful attacks but the man remained stoic in his fervent disposition like a Tibetan Monk. But if he thought he had succeeded in achieving his aim, he was in for a crude shock.
On March 28, Jega’s enemies succeeded in frustrating and destabilising his lofty ideals. By whatever magic or esoteric design, the President of Nigeria and his wife presented the world a pitiable spectacle as they approached an electoral officer to cast their votes in the presence of global media. The world came to standstill as the card-reader failed abysmally to accredit the First couple. It was such an embarrassment of tragic proportion. For about 30 agonising minutes, the INEC officials sweated profusely while battling with the fiendish machine. And the rumours began to fly like space-shuttles across the orbit. Many were convinced that someone had used a jammer to block the machines from performing its duty. In fact, I was feverish on behalf of Jega. How can this controversial machine fail so miserably at such a crucial moment?
I wondered what Jega was going to do to salvage this chaotic situation. We saw the President talking by phone and in a conversation with Jega in what lasted lasted a few minutes. In panic or frustration or both, Jega succumbed and caved in to the use of manual registration for President and Mrs Goodluck Jonathan. That was the carte blanche always wanted and now freely given to potential trouble-makers to annihilate what had started as a beautiful exercise with the prompt and blistering accreditation of General and Mrs Muhammadu Buhari. At that stage, the fate of Nigeria was hanging in the balance. The election went ahead anyhow but not as competently scheduled. Allegations flew right, left and centre about manipulations here and there. We all panicked about the possible derailment of our closest range to having a positive change in our strange polity since June 12, 1993. But we managed to pull through somehow.
While on the final laps, we noticed several lapses. The election results were trickling in snail-like as we waited in suspended animation. Nigerians, and indeed the world, were help spellbound as we stayed glued to our televisions and live-streams via internet links. The suspense reached a crescendo when Jega suspended the announcement and postponed it to the next day. Many people became so paranoid. I was scared stiff wondering if we were not going to have a sorrowful repeat of the 1993 elections when Professor Humphrey Nwosu, the then INEC Chairman, was arbitrarily stopped from releasing the full official results. That was my worst imaginable nightmare.
I assumed the worst was over when Jega and his many Professors resumed their tedious work the following morning until Elder Peter Godsday Orubebe came in to pour petrol into the fire in a most childish manner. I’ve never been so on edge in my life as I watched the show of shame live on television. Thank God for the uncanny maturity and remarkable sagacity of Jega, that act of indiscretion could have caused Nigeria a most outlandish conflagration. After the old man calmed down, I knew God was truly in control and expected that the next thing would be how to get President Jonathan and by extension PDP to accept the results and apparent defeat in good faith. I was privy to some high level information about pressure from local and international forces trying to persuade our overwhelmed President to accept his fate with equanimity and convince his acolytes also to do the needful. I shall return to this shortly.
Thus my special tribute goes to Professor Jega who seemed to have been specially sent to this world for the sole purpose of breaking the jinx of useless elections in Nigeria. Born in Jega, Kebbi State, on January 11, 1957, Attahiru attended Sabon Gari Town Primary School, Jega, from 1963 to 1969, before leaving for Government Secondary School, Birnin Kebbi and later enrolled at Ahmadu Bello University Zaria’s Bayero College, Kano in 1974. He bagged a BSc degree (Second Class Upper Division) in Political Science and lectured briefly before winning a Fellowship that teleported him to Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, United States of America, from 1981-84, where he awarded a PhD in Political Science. He came back home to continue his teaching appointment at Bayero University.
I can now move on to celebrate other key actors in the whole saga. I must acknowledge the patriotism of President Jonathan in several ways. First, for appointing the right man for the job, Professor Attahiru Jega. Second, for allowing him some free hand in doing his job. Three, for staying calm when it seemed Murphy’s Law was at play as everything that could go wrong started going awry and berserk. Fourth, for conceding defeat when it was most crucially necessary. That was probably the most difficult decision ever taken by the President but, trust me, that’s the wisest and most profitable as well. In endless epistles, I had forewarned the President that he was being scammed by those comparing him to Mandela, Lee Kuan Yew and Jesus Christ. I’m not sure if he ever had the chance to read any of those open letters I wrote most passionately and in good faith. Week after week, I was thoroughly insulted and washed down by the many busy-bodies that appointed themselves as Jonathan defenders on cyberspace.
I will pick my favourite contributors in no particular order. Top on my list is the one and only Baba Iyabo, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, who ostensibly got us into the Jonathan quagmire. According to impeccable sources, General Obasanjo was so traumatised by the Jonathan debacle that he had to beg God to give him the opportunity to exterminate the pestilence he brought upon Nigeria. God obviously answered his prayers as Jonathan fumbled and wobbled from one crisis to another which made reconciliation practically impossible with his erstwhile benefactor. General Obasanjo rallied many of the retired Generals like Ibrahim Babangida, Abdulsalami Abubakar, Theophilus Danjuma on the need to exorcise the PDP demons from our political landscape. It was surprising to see how Baba buried his personal differences with old foes like Asiwaju Ahmed Tinubu, in order for APC to germinate and grow into the hydra-headed party that tormented and bullied PDP into submission. It was a classic case of the enemy of my enemy is my friend and it paid off handsomely.
It did not end there. Foreign governments were enjoined to help Nigeria avert the monumental tragedy that was heading dangerously towards us at the speed of light. Special thanks must definitely go to the US government for its total commitment to the enthronement of true democracy in Africa’s most populous nation. Just imagine that the American Secretary of State, John Kerry, flew physically to Nigeria to meet both President Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari. The American Vice President, Joe Biden soon followed up with direct phone calls to the two leading candidates. The climax was the unprecedented broadcast to Nigerians by President Barack Obama which left no one in doubt of America’s special commitment despite its frosty and endangered relationship with Abuja.
One cannot underrate the powerful intervention of the European Union, United Kingdom, The African Union, ECOWAS, Dr Kofi Annan, Chief Emeka Anyaoku, President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana, His Eminence The Sultan of Sokoto, Professor Ibrahim Agboola Gambari, and so many others who intervened and worked frenetically for peace. The churches prayed and fasted. So many young stars on social media seriously canvassed for peaceful elections. The determination to achieve peace was hugely massive.
The youths of Nigeria demonstrated their seriousness about the Change Project in Nigeria despite being let down by some of their hustling celebrities and role-models who tried everything to kill the dream. I always wondered when some of our friends would use their powerful influence to bring about change in our country. I had learnt so much from the Oprahs and JayZs who went all out to support and actualise the Obama phenomenon in America. I hope our superstars have now gained new insights into how to help a nation desperately in need of rescue. It was not possible for President Jonathan to turn all of them into billionaires anyway. The problem is the unfortunate belief that only governments can make us rich. This has to change.
I doff my hat to the leading opposition party APC for a job well done. Many had expected the party to collapse even in its embryo and when that did not happen the enemies thought it would after the Primaries. It was one of those modern day miracles that the party did not disintegrate as predicted by doomsday prophets. My utmost respect goes to all those who bonded against all odds to prove the cynics wrong. The choice of General Buhari was a masterstroke that sent PDP into unrecoverable state of stupor. General Buhari’s amazing tenacity would be a case study for doctoral students and researchers in the near future. His abiding faith in his ability to bring Nigeria back from the precipice of destruction will inspire many generations to come. Also, his wisdom in picking the erudite scholar, accomplished legal luminary, a man of God and Chief Obafemi Awolowo’s son-in-law, Professor Yemi Osinbajo, sealed the deal.
I must congratulate all the candidates who contested. It is not always about winning, I know that the participation is always the beginning of a long journey in the wilderness of politics. General Buhari had been taunted over the years as a failure but we can all see how God has lifted him up. The pride he has restored to Nigeria through his winning this election is immeasurable. And it serves a didactic purpose to all of us. Our security forces, election monitors and others did their best. The youth corpers really put their lives on the line. May God bless them all.
I have been instructed by my young bosses on social media to tell our President-elect that the new generation is now in charge and their expectations must be met by fire by force. This is an impatient and angry group that won’t listen to excuses. They are not interested in the politics of power but the power of politics to assemble our best materials in order to deliver excellent performance. They are not willing to sit by idly only for the usual enemies of Nigeria to crawl back through the rear door. As such the government is expected to hit the ground running from day one.
There is so much to write but space and time won’t permit me. I will thank myself like the lizard that fell from the iroko tree for putting everything at risk at a time it seemed very foolish to do so. I actually feel like I won the election and not Buhari. Even those who opposed him are now rejoicing with us.
Such is the sweetness of victory.
Sunday 5 April 2015
How World Powers Plotted Jonathan's Defeat.
President Goodluck Jonathan lost his re-election bid several weeks before the March 28 poll to a web of plots hatched at home and honed abroad, according to the Tribune.
The Tribune said that last-minute contest between forces that wanted him to bow out and those that wanted him to hold out for as long as necessary even when it was evident that the news from the field pointed at a possible defeat.
It was learnt that as of 5.00 p.m. on Tuesday, hawks around the president were still at the Aso Rock Presidential Villa, piling pressure on him not to concede defeat.
Those working on him to concede and bow out, reportedly led by a former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubakar, were also said to have stayed put in the same Presidential Villa, persuading him that it was the most honourable way to go since it was clear that figures from the field were not in his favour.
The drama in the Presidential Villa was also said to be closely monitored by combined international forces that had concluded on post-Jonathan presidency, reportedly led by the United States of America and the United Kingdom.
One of those around the president persuading him to stay put was said to be a General in the army from a not-too-core Northern state, reportedly assuring him that the alleged irregularities in the North, underage voters, among other issues, which were beamed live by a national television station and shown on the Cable News Network (CNN) would be enough ground for him to reject the outcome.
The Tribune reported that the president was also allegedly told that he would be making General Muhammadu Buhari and the All Progressives Congress (APC) heroes by conceding to them, because all the good works he had done which were nearing fruition would blossom during their reign and would count as their achievements.
He reportedly told them that no matter how long he stayed in office, he would still leave one day and since crisis was certain to herald his opposition to the outcome, he would be reneging on his promise that no Nigerian blood would be worth his political ambition.
Convinced that it was the way to go, the president reportedly took “his own” by surprise by making the now-famous phone call to Buhari without telling them, although they were present at the president’s abode.
He was also said to have played a fast one on the hawks by making the call before the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) announced Buhari as the winner, following his assessment of the figures available to him, while those pressurising him to hang on reportedly thought the concession would be after the announcement by the electoral body as is usually the practice.
The western world, according to available information, keyed into the Buhari presidency project months before the election and the refusal to sell arms to Nigeria to fight the Boko Haram insurgency by Washington was said to be mainly predicated on the likelihood of Jonathan’s administration using same to quell possible civil disobedience if he manipulated the results to remain in power.
With political forces in the nation led by former President Olusegun Obasanjo reportedly concluded on getting him out at all cost, the western world, particularly the United States and the United Kingdom, were said to have been persuaded into the project on two main planks; corruption and insecurity.
Settled that Jonathan’s administration had been underwhelming in performance in those two critical areas and convinced that the incumbent was bent on retaining his job, the international coalition allegedly undermined his administration as much as possible, with allies elsewhere, including Africa, also allegedly brought into the Jonathan-must-go project.
A source pointed at two main happenings in the course of the election to show how deeply the international community was involved, while making the outgoing president to be at ease, despite the rug being pulled off his feet.
The US and the UK had been at the forefront of peace pacts across the nation, starting with Jonathan and Buhari in what came to be known as Abuja Peace Accord, with Jonathan’s government having to react angrily at a point at the perceived temerity with which top diplomats from the western world were handling peace pacts and activities regarding the electoral process.
“They almost became a parallel government in Nigeria. That is what you get when a leader is too pacifist,” a source in the government said.
The unprecedented joint statement by the US Secretary of State, John Kerry and British Foreign Secretary, Philip Hammond, overtly accusing Jonathan’s camp of moves to tamper with the incoming results of the presidential election was seen as the final move by them to show the side they were on in the contest.
The government source noted that APC was always calling on the international community to wade in when accusing Jonathan’s government of plots to manipulate the elections, because an understanding existed between them after Buhari’s appearance at Chatham House and his famous interview with the CNN.
After the field job was done and figures confirmed Jonathan’s loss, those behind the plot to ease him out and save the country from chaos were said to have moved to the last stage in the presidential contest, which was to persuade him to accept defeat, since his refusal of same could ignite the South-South and South-East and possible bloody attacks on Northerners in such states.
A predictable reprisal in the North was projected as possible fulfilment of the feared break-up. The oil interests of those western nations in the Niger-Delta also reportedly necessitated a negotiated peaceful exit for him by persuading him to accept defeat and assurance obtained from Buhari that Jonathan would face no harassment out of office.
Having fulfilled his own part, Buhari had also fulfilled his with public pronouncement that Jonathan had nothing to fear under his administration, while engaging in peace preachment to his supporters.
Apart from obtaining assurance from Buhari, the western world would also lead in global praise of Jonathan, aimed at attenuating the pains of making the wrong history of being the first defeated incumbent, while leading opposition figures were also said to be under firm instruction not to attack him in any ways until he steps down on May 29.
The US and UK were particularly said to have completely bought into the anti-Jonathan project following his decision to turn to Russia for purchase of arms, with a diplomat in foreign service saying that it would have been better for Jonathan to completely move over to Russia’s side instead of playing in the middle.
According to him, “whoever advised him to purchase arms from Russia when a real war was on with the United States misled the president. You don’t even do that during the Cold War, let alone during this “Hot War.” There was no way US intelligence circle would forgive a big nation like Nigeria making such diplomatic faux pas.
“These security experts have serious leverage over American presidents. Regardless of any friendship that could be between (American president, Barack) Obama and Jonathan, when such security goons say it is time for a leader of a nation to go, American presidents hardly say no and, obviously, Jonathan had no serious pact with (Russian president, Vladimir) Putin, beyond buying arms.”
Since the presidential election result was announced, President Obama had issued about three press statements on the outcome, Jonathan’s concession and the need for the two leaders to keep preaching peace to their supporters as well as asking that finest democratic ideals should be upheld in the conduct of the April 11 governorship election.
A government source explained that Obama’s unusual interest in the governorship election was borne out of fears that Jonathan might take his frustration of loss out on the process and tamper with it in a way to give his party, which would be in opposition from May 29, an edge in governorship spread by winning as many states as possible.
In days ahead, it was gathered that beyond the phone calls, Jonathan may be visiting the United States as a special guest of Obama which, an insider said, is aimed at retaining him as the face of peace offering to the Niger-Delta, which is feared could become the breeding ground for fifth columnists that would make the nation’s economy unmanageable for Buhari.
Senate Presidency: APC Leaders Push For Saraki.
By Hammed Shittu in Ilorin
Fresh facts emerged at the weekend on how some top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the geo-political zones of the country have thrown their weight towards the emergence of former governor of Kwara state and senator representing Kwara central senatorial district, Senator Bukola Saraki, as the next senate president come June, this year.
The choice of Senator Saraki, it was gathered, was informed by the enormity of his sacrifices for the party’s success at the presidential and national assembly polls.
The APC leaders pushing for Saraki’s Senate Presidency followed the zoning of the position of the Senate President to North Central zone by the party.
THISDAY checks revealed that Saraki remains the only Senator that is worth compensating in view of his doggedness and commitment towards the successes recorded by the APC across the nation.
It was his efforts together with other former PDP leaders that put up various strategies that finally assisted the APC to “remove” President Goodluck Jonathan from office through the massive votes recorded by the APC during the last general polls in the country.
However, with the victory of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (North-west) and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (South-west), some of the top positions left to be allotted are Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and their deputies. Other positions are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and the Chief of Staff.
Prior to the presidential election, the party had considered the option of rewarding the North-central with the Senate Presidency and the South-east with the Speaker. The Secretary to the Federal Government or the Chief of Staff is reserved for the South-South.
However, with the presidential election over, the party leadership may no longer be disposed to the earlier arrangement as one of the National Working Committee members who sought anonymity told journalists in Ilorin yesterday that, “it would amount to robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
The party leader from the North-east who pleaded anonymity argued that: “How can the party reward the zones that worked against the party and our presidential candidate with juicy positions while the zones that delivered the party are allocated mere deputies?
“I am sure the party will reward hard work. APC in South-south returned only one Senator in Edo North while South-east returned two members of the House of Representatives from Imo State. PDP also posted massive victory in North-central where it won states like Plateau and Nasarawa”, the official added.
The APC’s leadership, it was gathered has scheduled a meeting for Abuja after the Easter break to continue with the discussion on power sharing.
Fresh facts emerged at the weekend on how some top leaders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) across the geo-political zones of the country have thrown their weight towards the emergence of former governor of Kwara state and senator representing Kwara central senatorial district, Senator Bukola Saraki, as the next senate president come June, this year.
The choice of Senator Saraki, it was gathered, was informed by the enormity of his sacrifices for the party’s success at the presidential and national assembly polls.
The APC leaders pushing for Saraki’s Senate Presidency followed the zoning of the position of the Senate President to North Central zone by the party.
THISDAY checks revealed that Saraki remains the only Senator that is worth compensating in view of his doggedness and commitment towards the successes recorded by the APC across the nation.
It was his efforts together with other former PDP leaders that put up various strategies that finally assisted the APC to “remove” President Goodluck Jonathan from office through the massive votes recorded by the APC during the last general polls in the country.
However, with the victory of Gen. Muhammadu Buhari (North-west) and Prof. Yemi Osinbajo (South-west), some of the top positions left to be allotted are Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and their deputies. Other positions are the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), and the Chief of Staff.
Prior to the presidential election, the party had considered the option of rewarding the North-central with the Senate Presidency and the South-east with the Speaker. The Secretary to the Federal Government or the Chief of Staff is reserved for the South-South.
However, with the presidential election over, the party leadership may no longer be disposed to the earlier arrangement as one of the National Working Committee members who sought anonymity told journalists in Ilorin yesterday that, “it would amount to robbing Peter to pay Paul.”
The party leader from the North-east who pleaded anonymity argued that: “How can the party reward the zones that worked against the party and our presidential candidate with juicy positions while the zones that delivered the party are allocated mere deputies?
“I am sure the party will reward hard work. APC in South-south returned only one Senator in Edo North while South-east returned two members of the House of Representatives from Imo State. PDP also posted massive victory in North-central where it won states like Plateau and Nasarawa”, the official added.
The APC’s leadership, it was gathered has scheduled a meeting for Abuja after the Easter break to continue with the discussion on power sharing.
Lessons From Buhari's Victory
Femi Adesina
When God turns to you, it’s your turn. Nothing can change or reverse it. Not any power on earth, underneath the earth, or even from hell can alter it. That was what happened to former military head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, last weekend, when over 15 million Nigerians trooped out to elect him as the next president from May 29, this year.
Buhari, our next president? What happened to the health certificate allegedly procured by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), showing that he had a terminal illness? What happened to the claim that he has no secondary school leaving certificate? What of his alleged extremist religious views, or his draconian inclinations, as alleged by opponents? Is he not supposed to be brain-dead? What of the many other virulent and venomous accusations? They were all like water off a duck’s back. They didn’t stick. And lo and behold, Mr President has emerged, waiting for inauguration in about eight weeks.
The emergence of Muhammadu Okechukwu Buhari as President in-waiting holds many vital lessons for Nigerians, and indeed, humanity.
I am the son of a teacher (and later school principal) in the old Western State. And before I learnt to crawl, I had been subjected to memorisation of quotations. Pa J. O. Adesina did not differentiate between the home and the school. Everywhere was his classroom. So, from infancy, I learnt to recite: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again.” It was like a singsong in our home. And that truism has been given flesh and blood by Gen. Buhari. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again.” He ran for president in 2003, 2007, and 2011, after which he wrote himself off. On the eve of the presidential race that year, he announced that it would be his last outing. He didn’t win. And the man retired to his modest homes in Daura and Kaduna. However, fate and fortune were not done with him yet. He had reckoned that by 2015, he would be 72 years, and might be too old for the soapbox. But that was the time ordained for him to be president by God. Those of us who had always believed in him asked him to join the race again. He did. And won. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again.” That is the lesson from Abraham Lincoln, the American president popularly called Honest Abe, who had lost elections many times, before fortune smiled at him. And that is also the lesson from our own Honest Abe, Muhammadu Buhari. Please join me in that boyhood chant: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again.”
Another lesson. Integrity may seem not to pay at the beginning, but it will eventually bear the right fruits. Let’s invoke Pa J. O. Adesina’s memory once again, as he always told his seven children: “Honesty is the best policy.” It was a staple we grew up on. If you lose every other thing, remain honest. “Honesty is the best policy,” he would say, till it began to ring in our ears.
Buhari has been almost everything that can be called something in this country: military governor, petroleum minister, head of state, chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), everything. Yet he remains a man of modest means. In his last public position as chairman of PTF, he could not afford to send his daughter to school abroad. So, what did he do? He sold his house in Lagos. Mama mia! He sat atop billions of naira in PTF, why not simply take money from the till? Or call some PTF contractors, and tell them his need? They would fall over themselves to meet such need, and even more. But not our own Honest Abe. He rather sold his house in Lagos.
But what goes round comes round. Sow good seed, and reap bountiful harvest! Buhari’s honesty has now yielded positive dividends. When corruption became stifling, almost asphyxiating Nigerians, the people looked for a man of good report to rescue the situation. And they found one in Muhammadu Buhari. They gave him their overwhelming votes last Saturday, urging him; please come and restore probity and accountability to our country. We know you can do it. Come to Macedonia and help us. Please do. And the lesson? At the risk of disturbing Pa Adesina in his eternal sleep of 20 years, let’s quote one of his favourite sayings again. “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one!” (Marcus Aurelius, in his work, Meditations). When you are a good man, goodness returns to you. So it is with our Honest Abe. Integrity is beyond cash, and it is worth its weight in gold.
Another lesson, this time political. Pragmatism demands that if you would ever be President of Nigeria, you need a coalition that is national in outlook. That was what Buhari lacked in 2003 and 2007, when he ran on the platform of All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). The party was largely circumscribed in the Northeast of the country, and in some parts of the Northwest. It was not formidable enough to win him the presidency.
In 2011, Buhari ran on the platform of newly formed Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He ran a good race, but I kept emphasizing that he needed an alliance with the then Action Congress of Nigeria. The latter was very strong in the West, while CPC was strong in the North. I almost shouted myself hoarse, saying the two parties needed an accord if they would upstage the PDP. The alliance was not consummated before the polls, and the two parties lost out.
But they learnt their lessons. In 2013, a rainbow coalition, comprising of ANPP, CPC, ACN, and a part of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), formed the All Progressives Congress (APC). They kindled the fire that has now cooked the goose of the PDP. Lesson: you need a national platform to win the presidency in Nigeria. That is what APC has proven.
Let me digress a little, and talk about the mistake of the Igbo nation. I love their sense of enterprise, and regret that they have not produced the president of this country, beyond the six months done by Gen Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, as military head of state. Inevitably, a time should come when the Igbo must be president. But how do they do it, without a national alliance? In 2011, when the power sharing agreement of the PDP was being subverted, I counselled that it paid them to queue behind a northerner, who would rule till 2015. The North would then ally with the East in an expression of one good turn deserving another. But no. Out of questionable sentiment I can’t fathom till tomorrow, the Igbo allied with the South South, and Goodluck Jonathan became President. But that was also because the Southwest was in the picture. Now that the region has gone with the North in 2015, they have elected a President from the North, and the Igbos are left with the very short end of the stick. Not even an APC senator. If Chris Ngige had been re-elected last weekend, he could have emerged Senate President, as a ranking senator. But the scenario now is that the Igbo cannot even have Number 3 position, since they don’t have a returning APC senator. This is self-immolation, if you ask me. A Southeast / South South alliance can never produce the president. What then is the future of the Igbo nation politically? Big question. They need political re-alignment, and fast too.
But we return to the lessons. Pastor Tunde Bakare, Overseer of The Latter Rain Assembly, who ran as vice presidential candidate with Buhari in 2011, has spoken about the men who supported the former head of state to now become president-elect. He says he believes in “contact without contamination,” so he can’t stand some men who are now around Buhari. Well, as a preacher, Bakare has a point. But as a politician, unless you work with all sorts, power would just be like a pie in the sky. You would just look at it longingly forever, but it would never drop in your mouth. Just like the saying that a roasted partridge would never land in your mouth just by wishing, you would never gain power unless you ally with those who have the levers of power in their hands. Does it necessarily mean you get contaminated? Only if you are not your own man! Gen. Buhari sure knows where to draw the line, and the alliance he formed to get power does not mean he would cede the national treasury to anybody. And by the way, none of the people who worked with Buhari has been convicted of corruption. Suspicions or allegations are not the same thing as conviction. We would never get a Buhari if he had continued playing holier-than-thou. If the men who supported him are corrupt, let the security agencies do the needful. At least, some of them have been out of office for about eight years, and have no immunity from prosecution.
Oh, can I forget this lesson? I dare not. Hubris. Pride. Arrogance. God hates it. The Good Book says pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. PDP became haughty. Insufferable. Conceited. Disdainful of Nigerians. It had not even ruled for 20 years, it was already talking of being in power for a minimum of 60 years. Now, after 16 years, it has kissed the dust. Who is that person that ever has tomorrow in his hands? The Good Book says when we are making plans for tomorrow, we should add the caveat: by the grace of God. Because we are not even assured of tomorrow! But PDP was talking of 60 years. Never abuse the alligator till you have safely crossed the river. But PDP was midstream, and it was cursing the father and mother of the alligator. And today, it is resting (in pieces?) in the stomach of the alligator. Pride goes before a fall.
We cannot exhaust the lessons in one piece. But some people actually did Jonathan in, by the very words of their mouths. By your words, you shall be justified, and by your words, you shall be condemned. How can the former Niger Delta militants threaten war if Jonathan loses in a free and fair election? It was a huge disservice to the President. And how can campaign spokesman, Femi Fani-Kayode, spew out those hate speeches continually, and think it would not boomerang against his principal? It did, and mightily too. And first lady Patience Jonathan, how could she utter those bilious things against Buhari and the North, and expect to get votes for her husband in that region? The people were rather mobilised against Jonathan in the process.
The last lesson, for today: human resource is the greatest resource available. How can a party lose five seating governors in one day, and still pretend that everything was okay? How can such party lose its national secretary, a former acting national chairman, many former governors and other bigwigs to the main opposition party, yet everything remained okay? It couldn’t be okay. They even lost a two-term former president, who directed that his PDP membership card be torn openly. They are the ones that have now done PDP in, and Buhari has reaped the advantage. Hold the people you have tight. They are your greatest resource. Don’t shrug your shoulders in indifference if they leave, or it would come back to haunt you. Ask the PDP. That party, for the first time, now has to learn how to be in opposition. How are the mighty fallen!
Last week, I promised to sing one of two songs after the presidential election, depending on which side victory swung. I thank hundreds of people who have phoned in to sing the song with me after the results were announced in the wee hours of Wednesday. My phones were virtually jammed, and I have hundreds of text messages that I am yet to reply. Surely, I would reply all in due course. Things are turning around for Nigeria’s good, as Buhari would surely perform, taking us through the straight and narrow path. If he does not, you know I won’t keep quiet. Change has come, and you need not stone anybody as somebody had counselled. It is change for good, and our eyes would see it. Our hands would touch it, and our mouths would sing:
I can see everything turning around
Turning around
Turning around for my good.
This change is for the good of all Nigerians. I can bet on it.
Kalu as hero of change
This is not yet the tribute I intend to pay to those who made themselves agents, heroes and heroines of change in Nigeria. As God gives grace, I still intend to do a full piece on that topic later.
But I should single out a man for honourable mention today. He is Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, former Abia State governor, and publisher of this newspaper, The Sun.
In the run up to the presidential election, Kalu minced no words about his support for President Goodluck Jonathan to get a second term in office. But there I was, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of his newspaper, writing and advocating for change. Muhammadu Buhari had always been my man since his days as military head of state, and I said so unmistakably.
But in his liberality and large-heartedness, Kalu allowed me to express my opinion freely. When I wrote a piece with the headline, ‘We need Buhari more than he needs us,’ all hell was let loose from the highest quarters in the country. Kalu was told to sack me. And he would have been justified if he did. But he did not. What did he do? He merely wrote in his column in Saturday Sun that I was entitled to my opinion, but my opinion does not equate the opinion of the paper.
What Kalu has done is very, very rare. Even strange. Do you sit in Pope and kick at the Pope? The Pope can then kick you out of Rome, since he rules the Vatican. Kalu could have given me a kick so hard, that I would have landed in my Osun State homestead, jobless and licking my wounds. But he did not. I salute his free spirit, his sense of fairness, which I believe the world may never have seen before in newspaper proprietorship. I remain thankful to him.
Also in The Sun, you would have noticed that the regular columnists that stood with Gen. Buhari were former presidential spokesman, Chief Duro Onabule, and myself. We were the ‘two-men-battalion’ against anti-Buhari writers like Lewis Obi, Steve Nwosu, Dan Onwukwe, Ebere Wabara, Amanze Obi, Robert Obioha, Onuoha Ukeh, Clem Aguiyi, and many others. Because Kalu gave me liberty, I also censored no opinion article, except just one that crossed the boundary of decency, filled with hate and bile. As Editor-in-Chief, you really could stop anything you didn’t want published, and nobody can hold you, except the publisher of the newspaper.
On Tuesday evening, as the victory of Buhari became apparent, I went round the offices of the anti-Buhari troops, greeting and laughing with them, promising that I would be magnanimous in victory. And so I have been. When you are a recipient of grace, as I’ve received from Dr Kalu, why shouldn’t I also extend the grace to others? The robust commentaries continue, even in victory, and in defeat.
Re: God of FeBuhari is also God of March
Thank God for Buhari
Thank God that Buhari won and thank God that President Jonathan conceded defeat. Nigeria will not disintegrate. President Jonathan did very well to concede. He must be a good man.
The mandate given to Buhari is to fight corruption, win the war of insecurity and propel economic development. These were the issues he adequately and eloquently discussed. He abused nobody. But the jackals were busy abusing him. Whenever he replied, he did it constructively.
I saw this victory many years ago and I followed it bumper to bumper until its present realization. I congratulate General Buhari for this sweet victory. I congratulate the great Asiwaju and Prof. Osinbajo for their roles in bringing this about. I congratulate also Professor Jega for his unbiased officiating of the election. I will call him a great umpire.
With Femi Adesina I sing: ‘I can see everything turning around, turning around for the good of Nigeria.’ Prof Donald Nnemeka Ike, profdonald99@yahoo.com
Excellent
I want to describe your write up with one word. Excellent. I agree with you totally that the God of FeBuhari is also the God of March. For that is what the bible says in the book of Hebrews 13v8. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Emmanuel O. Mbah,mbahbase@yahoo.com. 08034474210.
Divine court
I was extremely happy and contented that you took the case of who wins the presidential election to the divine court of justice. This rare quality is what clearly distinguishes you as a writer. Muhammad Rabiu Ada, Gwagwalada Abuja, 08054748244, 08035322484.
Why I love him
Ever since his emergence in January 1984 as Nigeria’s military head of state, Muhammadu Buhari’s sterling attributes of integrity, honesty, selflessness, simplicity, discipline, accountability, have endeared him so much to my heart. I have not only been his consistent supporter, but a resilient adherent, despite insults and threats to my life.
When mischief makers and propagandists labelled Buhari a religious bigot, I wasted no time in replying that if he was truly one, he would have taken Nigeria into the membership of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), when he had absolute powers as a military head of state. The last time the Onitsha-Enugu dual carriageway and the Enugu-Okigwe-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt highway were in good order was when Buhari used the PTF to reconstruct them. It was Buhari’s PTF that established the Greater Oji River water scheme. The scheme draws water from far away Oji River to Enugu metropolis, which the present state government is now reticulating to all nooks and crannies of the Coal City.
Have we so soon forgotten the intervention of Buhari’s PTF in the health and education sectors? PTF reconstructed (not rehabilitated) some major urban roads like in Enugu where I live, Edinburgh, Edozie, Obioma, Zik Avenue, etc? How can we be so easily swayed that Buhari is Igbo hater when he did all this in the southeast zone? The two dual carriageways earlier mentioned are today death traps, yet we have federal and state governments in place and our people are not talking.
General Buhari is a unique and quality brand that any person that cherishes integrity would like to associate with; and for me, no amount of threats, blackmail and castigation or name calling will wane, vitiate or remove my support for him to lead Nigeria again. Sir Abuchi Anueyiagu, veteran independent journalist/public affairs commentator, buchisbuchis1961@gmail.com, 08080242128.
Best president
I think there is need to study General Buhari, how he became so popular among Nigerians despite being modest. If you add all the former heads of state plus ex-presidents together, none can command the crowd of GMB. He will be the best president we ever had. solafakeye@yahoo.co.uk
Wise march
A critical analysis of the views held and expressed by Buhari’s supporters show how blunt they are in assessing reality without necessary hurling invectives on GEJ or disparaging him. But that is not the case on the flipside. The march for GMB remains the wise one. Emeghebo, Anthony Ebuka, 08033927370, ebucity2000@gmail.com
I’ll join you
I can’t wait to join you sing everything is turning around in our land. God bless you richly. Odofin Oluwaseyi, odofuat80@yahoo.com
The final say
Just like a number of your write-ups in the past, ‘God of FeBuhari is also God of March’ moved me almost to tears. Your deep commitment to the principles of the General makes me check how I form my own impression about people. ‘Who has the final say?’ was the exact song I led my family to sing on Saturday evening when indications of hope began to emerge when we remembered how ineffective all the calumny against GMB seemed to have turned out after all. Indeed it is God that has the final say, even if all the Nollywood stars and comedians are mobilized against the man from Daura. Femi Balogun, readalittlemore@rocketmail.com
God be praised
Our God has done it. I am happy and celebrating. My greatest joy is that the unity of our nation can now be restored. Sai Buhari. Emmanuel O. Mbah, mbahbase@yahoo.com
My prayer for him
I must congratulate you for standing with the man Buhari to the end. I am a regular reader of your Friday columns and have seen that and even in the midst of stiff opposition, even at the risk of your job and life, you supported the man. Our prayer now is for the president-elect to succeed, and I know our good God will give him the wisdom, strength and everything he will ever need for that exalted office. Samuel Idowu Alade, Dubai UAE, delealade08@yahoo.com
At last we won!
I remember during the announcement of 2011 polls, I reached you with tears, but today with joy. Shalom shalom. Uko, uko200089@yahoo.com
Flight APC OO1
Congrats and welcome to APC flight 001 taking off from Daura to Aso Rock. We shall be flying over Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Benue, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, and Lagos states. We will, however, experience some turbulence over Taraba, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Cross River, and much heavier turbulence over Delta and Rivers states. Just fasten your seat belts and be assured that your pilot has many years of flying experience dating back to 2003. Just as the co-pilot is super experienced too. This is a flight you have waited so many years to take off. Congratulations. Ibrahim Bala, ibmahmood@yahoo.com
Pop the champagne
Let me send you a congratulatory message on the victory of GMB. You really championed his cause and stood by him all this while. Pop your champagne because you deserve it. Ben, bengudosai@yahoo.co.uk
Words for my Igbo brothers
When I declared my support for the people’s general, it was as if the world was against me. I lost friends, made more enemies amongst my Igbo brothers but never gave up my support for the People’s General, Oguefi Muhammadu Okechukwu Buhari.
Anyway, now GMB has won the presidential seat, what will my Igbo brothers do with the delusions of Islamisation and the civil war hatred? As for me, the civil war ended 45 years ago. Am neither ruled by hate or fear, and I advise my Igbo brothers to do the same. Congratulations GMB. Unjoerated Onwukeme, Enugu. Unjoeratedjoe@gmail.com
The lesson
When the opposition parties were coming together, PDP dismissed them as strange bedfellows. When they succeeded in becoming one, PDP told us they would soon scatter when it comes to sharing positions. When the opposition shared their positions gracefully, PDP had no Plan B.
Lesson: Do not underrate your opponent. Revd Canon Kayode Abegunde, kemmabbey@yahoo.com
Sweet victory
Mummy has been singing your Buhari victory song: I can see everything turning around… You deserve to be congratulated for your loyalty to Buhari and APC no matter what. Keep up the good work. Dr John Odiase, odiasejon@gmail.com
We have spoken
Congratulations. Nigerians have spoken. I am the Okoro who said I am from Nsukka not Daura, a Christian Muslim but I will vote Buhari again and again. My Nsukka and Igbo brothers almost killed me. Now that both north and south have made their choice, I don’t know what to say but hallelujah. Okoro Christopher, Nnewi, cokoro54@yahoo.com07062466361
When God turns to you, it’s your turn. Nothing can change or reverse it. Not any power on earth, underneath the earth, or even from hell can alter it. That was what happened to former military head of state, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari, last weekend, when over 15 million Nigerians trooped out to elect him as the next president from May 29, this year.
Buhari, our next president? What happened to the health certificate allegedly procured by the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), showing that he had a terminal illness? What happened to the claim that he has no secondary school leaving certificate? What of his alleged extremist religious views, or his draconian inclinations, as alleged by opponents? Is he not supposed to be brain-dead? What of the many other virulent and venomous accusations? They were all like water off a duck’s back. They didn’t stick. And lo and behold, Mr President has emerged, waiting for inauguration in about eight weeks.
The emergence of Muhammadu Okechukwu Buhari as President in-waiting holds many vital lessons for Nigerians, and indeed, humanity.
I am the son of a teacher (and later school principal) in the old Western State. And before I learnt to crawl, I had been subjected to memorisation of quotations. Pa J. O. Adesina did not differentiate between the home and the school. Everywhere was his classroom. So, from infancy, I learnt to recite: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again.” It was like a singsong in our home. And that truism has been given flesh and blood by Gen. Buhari. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again.” He ran for president in 2003, 2007, and 2011, after which he wrote himself off. On the eve of the presidential race that year, he announced that it would be his last outing. He didn’t win. And the man retired to his modest homes in Daura and Kaduna. However, fate and fortune were not done with him yet. He had reckoned that by 2015, he would be 72 years, and might be too old for the soapbox. But that was the time ordained for him to be president by God. Those of us who had always believed in him asked him to join the race again. He did. And won. “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again.” That is the lesson from Abraham Lincoln, the American president popularly called Honest Abe, who had lost elections many times, before fortune smiled at him. And that is also the lesson from our own Honest Abe, Muhammadu Buhari. Please join me in that boyhood chant: “If at first you don’t succeed, try, try, and try again.”
Another lesson. Integrity may seem not to pay at the beginning, but it will eventually bear the right fruits. Let’s invoke Pa J. O. Adesina’s memory once again, as he always told his seven children: “Honesty is the best policy.” It was a staple we grew up on. If you lose every other thing, remain honest. “Honesty is the best policy,” he would say, till it began to ring in our ears.
Buhari has been almost everything that can be called something in this country: military governor, petroleum minister, head of state, chairman of Petroleum Trust Fund (PTF), everything. Yet he remains a man of modest means. In his last public position as chairman of PTF, he could not afford to send his daughter to school abroad. So, what did he do? He sold his house in Lagos. Mama mia! He sat atop billions of naira in PTF, why not simply take money from the till? Or call some PTF contractors, and tell them his need? They would fall over themselves to meet such need, and even more. But not our own Honest Abe. He rather sold his house in Lagos.
But what goes round comes round. Sow good seed, and reap bountiful harvest! Buhari’s honesty has now yielded positive dividends. When corruption became stifling, almost asphyxiating Nigerians, the people looked for a man of good report to rescue the situation. And they found one in Muhammadu Buhari. They gave him their overwhelming votes last Saturday, urging him; please come and restore probity and accountability to our country. We know you can do it. Come to Macedonia and help us. Please do. And the lesson? At the risk of disturbing Pa Adesina in his eternal sleep of 20 years, let’s quote one of his favourite sayings again. “Waste no more time arguing about what a good man should be. Be one!” (Marcus Aurelius, in his work, Meditations). When you are a good man, goodness returns to you. So it is with our Honest Abe. Integrity is beyond cash, and it is worth its weight in gold.
Another lesson, this time political. Pragmatism demands that if you would ever be President of Nigeria, you need a coalition that is national in outlook. That was what Buhari lacked in 2003 and 2007, when he ran on the platform of All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP). The party was largely circumscribed in the Northeast of the country, and in some parts of the Northwest. It was not formidable enough to win him the presidency.
In 2011, Buhari ran on the platform of newly formed Congress for Progressive Change (CPC). He ran a good race, but I kept emphasizing that he needed an alliance with the then Action Congress of Nigeria. The latter was very strong in the West, while CPC was strong in the North. I almost shouted myself hoarse, saying the two parties needed an accord if they would upstage the PDP. The alliance was not consummated before the polls, and the two parties lost out.
But they learnt their lessons. In 2013, a rainbow coalition, comprising of ANPP, CPC, ACN, and a part of All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), formed the All Progressives Congress (APC). They kindled the fire that has now cooked the goose of the PDP. Lesson: you need a national platform to win the presidency in Nigeria. That is what APC has proven.
Let me digress a little, and talk about the mistake of the Igbo nation. I love their sense of enterprise, and regret that they have not produced the president of this country, beyond the six months done by Gen Johnson Aguiyi-Ironsi, as military head of state. Inevitably, a time should come when the Igbo must be president. But how do they do it, without a national alliance? In 2011, when the power sharing agreement of the PDP was being subverted, I counselled that it paid them to queue behind a northerner, who would rule till 2015. The North would then ally with the East in an expression of one good turn deserving another. But no. Out of questionable sentiment I can’t fathom till tomorrow, the Igbo allied with the South South, and Goodluck Jonathan became President. But that was also because the Southwest was in the picture. Now that the region has gone with the North in 2015, they have elected a President from the North, and the Igbos are left with the very short end of the stick. Not even an APC senator. If Chris Ngige had been re-elected last weekend, he could have emerged Senate President, as a ranking senator. But the scenario now is that the Igbo cannot even have Number 3 position, since they don’t have a returning APC senator. This is self-immolation, if you ask me. A Southeast / South South alliance can never produce the president. What then is the future of the Igbo nation politically? Big question. They need political re-alignment, and fast too.
But we return to the lessons. Pastor Tunde Bakare, Overseer of The Latter Rain Assembly, who ran as vice presidential candidate with Buhari in 2011, has spoken about the men who supported the former head of state to now become president-elect. He says he believes in “contact without contamination,” so he can’t stand some men who are now around Buhari. Well, as a preacher, Bakare has a point. But as a politician, unless you work with all sorts, power would just be like a pie in the sky. You would just look at it longingly forever, but it would never drop in your mouth. Just like the saying that a roasted partridge would never land in your mouth just by wishing, you would never gain power unless you ally with those who have the levers of power in their hands. Does it necessarily mean you get contaminated? Only if you are not your own man! Gen. Buhari sure knows where to draw the line, and the alliance he formed to get power does not mean he would cede the national treasury to anybody. And by the way, none of the people who worked with Buhari has been convicted of corruption. Suspicions or allegations are not the same thing as conviction. We would never get a Buhari if he had continued playing holier-than-thou. If the men who supported him are corrupt, let the security agencies do the needful. At least, some of them have been out of office for about eight years, and have no immunity from prosecution.
Oh, can I forget this lesson? I dare not. Hubris. Pride. Arrogance. God hates it. The Good Book says pride goes before destruction, and a haughty spirit before a fall. PDP became haughty. Insufferable. Conceited. Disdainful of Nigerians. It had not even ruled for 20 years, it was already talking of being in power for a minimum of 60 years. Now, after 16 years, it has kissed the dust. Who is that person that ever has tomorrow in his hands? The Good Book says when we are making plans for tomorrow, we should add the caveat: by the grace of God. Because we are not even assured of tomorrow! But PDP was talking of 60 years. Never abuse the alligator till you have safely crossed the river. But PDP was midstream, and it was cursing the father and mother of the alligator. And today, it is resting (in pieces?) in the stomach of the alligator. Pride goes before a fall.
We cannot exhaust the lessons in one piece. But some people actually did Jonathan in, by the very words of their mouths. By your words, you shall be justified, and by your words, you shall be condemned. How can the former Niger Delta militants threaten war if Jonathan loses in a free and fair election? It was a huge disservice to the President. And how can campaign spokesman, Femi Fani-Kayode, spew out those hate speeches continually, and think it would not boomerang against his principal? It did, and mightily too. And first lady Patience Jonathan, how could she utter those bilious things against Buhari and the North, and expect to get votes for her husband in that region? The people were rather mobilised against Jonathan in the process.
The last lesson, for today: human resource is the greatest resource available. How can a party lose five seating governors in one day, and still pretend that everything was okay? How can such party lose its national secretary, a former acting national chairman, many former governors and other bigwigs to the main opposition party, yet everything remained okay? It couldn’t be okay. They even lost a two-term former president, who directed that his PDP membership card be torn openly. They are the ones that have now done PDP in, and Buhari has reaped the advantage. Hold the people you have tight. They are your greatest resource. Don’t shrug your shoulders in indifference if they leave, or it would come back to haunt you. Ask the PDP. That party, for the first time, now has to learn how to be in opposition. How are the mighty fallen!
Last week, I promised to sing one of two songs after the presidential election, depending on which side victory swung. I thank hundreds of people who have phoned in to sing the song with me after the results were announced in the wee hours of Wednesday. My phones were virtually jammed, and I have hundreds of text messages that I am yet to reply. Surely, I would reply all in due course. Things are turning around for Nigeria’s good, as Buhari would surely perform, taking us through the straight and narrow path. If he does not, you know I won’t keep quiet. Change has come, and you need not stone anybody as somebody had counselled. It is change for good, and our eyes would see it. Our hands would touch it, and our mouths would sing:
I can see everything turning around
Turning around
Turning around for my good.
This change is for the good of all Nigerians. I can bet on it.
Kalu as hero of change
This is not yet the tribute I intend to pay to those who made themselves agents, heroes and heroines of change in Nigeria. As God gives grace, I still intend to do a full piece on that topic later.
But I should single out a man for honourable mention today. He is Dr Orji Uzor Kalu, former Abia State governor, and publisher of this newspaper, The Sun.
In the run up to the presidential election, Kalu minced no words about his support for President Goodluck Jonathan to get a second term in office. But there I was, Managing Director/Editor-in-Chief of his newspaper, writing and advocating for change. Muhammadu Buhari had always been my man since his days as military head of state, and I said so unmistakably.
But in his liberality and large-heartedness, Kalu allowed me to express my opinion freely. When I wrote a piece with the headline, ‘We need Buhari more than he needs us,’ all hell was let loose from the highest quarters in the country. Kalu was told to sack me. And he would have been justified if he did. But he did not. What did he do? He merely wrote in his column in Saturday Sun that I was entitled to my opinion, but my opinion does not equate the opinion of the paper.
What Kalu has done is very, very rare. Even strange. Do you sit in Pope and kick at the Pope? The Pope can then kick you out of Rome, since he rules the Vatican. Kalu could have given me a kick so hard, that I would have landed in my Osun State homestead, jobless and licking my wounds. But he did not. I salute his free spirit, his sense of fairness, which I believe the world may never have seen before in newspaper proprietorship. I remain thankful to him.
Also in The Sun, you would have noticed that the regular columnists that stood with Gen. Buhari were former presidential spokesman, Chief Duro Onabule, and myself. We were the ‘two-men-battalion’ against anti-Buhari writers like Lewis Obi, Steve Nwosu, Dan Onwukwe, Ebere Wabara, Amanze Obi, Robert Obioha, Onuoha Ukeh, Clem Aguiyi, and many others. Because Kalu gave me liberty, I also censored no opinion article, except just one that crossed the boundary of decency, filled with hate and bile. As Editor-in-Chief, you really could stop anything you didn’t want published, and nobody can hold you, except the publisher of the newspaper.
On Tuesday evening, as the victory of Buhari became apparent, I went round the offices of the anti-Buhari troops, greeting and laughing with them, promising that I would be magnanimous in victory. And so I have been. When you are a recipient of grace, as I’ve received from Dr Kalu, why shouldn’t I also extend the grace to others? The robust commentaries continue, even in victory, and in defeat.
Re: God of FeBuhari is also God of March
Thank God for Buhari
Thank God that Buhari won and thank God that President Jonathan conceded defeat. Nigeria will not disintegrate. President Jonathan did very well to concede. He must be a good man.
The mandate given to Buhari is to fight corruption, win the war of insecurity and propel economic development. These were the issues he adequately and eloquently discussed. He abused nobody. But the jackals were busy abusing him. Whenever he replied, he did it constructively.
I saw this victory many years ago and I followed it bumper to bumper until its present realization. I congratulate General Buhari for this sweet victory. I congratulate the great Asiwaju and Prof. Osinbajo for their roles in bringing this about. I congratulate also Professor Jega for his unbiased officiating of the election. I will call him a great umpire.
With Femi Adesina I sing: ‘I can see everything turning around, turning around for the good of Nigeria.’ Prof Donald Nnemeka Ike, profdonald99@yahoo.com
Excellent
I want to describe your write up with one word. Excellent. I agree with you totally that the God of FeBuhari is also the God of March. For that is what the bible says in the book of Hebrews 13v8. Jesus Christ is the same yesterday, today and forever. Emmanuel O. Mbah,mbahbase@yahoo.com. 08034474210.
Divine court
I was extremely happy and contented that you took the case of who wins the presidential election to the divine court of justice. This rare quality is what clearly distinguishes you as a writer. Muhammad Rabiu Ada, Gwagwalada Abuja, 08054748244, 08035322484.
Why I love him
Ever since his emergence in January 1984 as Nigeria’s military head of state, Muhammadu Buhari’s sterling attributes of integrity, honesty, selflessness, simplicity, discipline, accountability, have endeared him so much to my heart. I have not only been his consistent supporter, but a resilient adherent, despite insults and threats to my life.
When mischief makers and propagandists labelled Buhari a religious bigot, I wasted no time in replying that if he was truly one, he would have taken Nigeria into the membership of the Organisation of Islamic Countries (OIC), when he had absolute powers as a military head of state. The last time the Onitsha-Enugu dual carriageway and the Enugu-Okigwe-Umuahia-Aba-Port Harcourt highway were in good order was when Buhari used the PTF to reconstruct them. It was Buhari’s PTF that established the Greater Oji River water scheme. The scheme draws water from far away Oji River to Enugu metropolis, which the present state government is now reticulating to all nooks and crannies of the Coal City.
Have we so soon forgotten the intervention of Buhari’s PTF in the health and education sectors? PTF reconstructed (not rehabilitated) some major urban roads like in Enugu where I live, Edinburgh, Edozie, Obioma, Zik Avenue, etc? How can we be so easily swayed that Buhari is Igbo hater when he did all this in the southeast zone? The two dual carriageways earlier mentioned are today death traps, yet we have federal and state governments in place and our people are not talking.
General Buhari is a unique and quality brand that any person that cherishes integrity would like to associate with; and for me, no amount of threats, blackmail and castigation or name calling will wane, vitiate or remove my support for him to lead Nigeria again. Sir Abuchi Anueyiagu, veteran independent journalist/public affairs commentator, buchisbuchis1961@gmail.com, 08080242128.
Best president
I think there is need to study General Buhari, how he became so popular among Nigerians despite being modest. If you add all the former heads of state plus ex-presidents together, none can command the crowd of GMB. He will be the best president we ever had. solafakeye@yahoo.co.uk
Wise march
A critical analysis of the views held and expressed by Buhari’s supporters show how blunt they are in assessing reality without necessary hurling invectives on GEJ or disparaging him. But that is not the case on the flipside. The march for GMB remains the wise one. Emeghebo, Anthony Ebuka, 08033927370, ebucity2000@gmail.com
I’ll join you
I can’t wait to join you sing everything is turning around in our land. God bless you richly. Odofin Oluwaseyi, odofuat80@yahoo.com
The final say
Just like a number of your write-ups in the past, ‘God of FeBuhari is also God of March’ moved me almost to tears. Your deep commitment to the principles of the General makes me check how I form my own impression about people. ‘Who has the final say?’ was the exact song I led my family to sing on Saturday evening when indications of hope began to emerge when we remembered how ineffective all the calumny against GMB seemed to have turned out after all. Indeed it is God that has the final say, even if all the Nollywood stars and comedians are mobilized against the man from Daura. Femi Balogun, readalittlemore@rocketmail.com
God be praised
Our God has done it. I am happy and celebrating. My greatest joy is that the unity of our nation can now be restored. Sai Buhari. Emmanuel O. Mbah, mbahbase@yahoo.com
My prayer for him
I must congratulate you for standing with the man Buhari to the end. I am a regular reader of your Friday columns and have seen that and even in the midst of stiff opposition, even at the risk of your job and life, you supported the man. Our prayer now is for the president-elect to succeed, and I know our good God will give him the wisdom, strength and everything he will ever need for that exalted office. Samuel Idowu Alade, Dubai UAE, delealade08@yahoo.com
At last we won!
I remember during the announcement of 2011 polls, I reached you with tears, but today with joy. Shalom shalom. Uko, uko200089@yahoo.com
Flight APC OO1
Congrats and welcome to APC flight 001 taking off from Daura to Aso Rock. We shall be flying over Sokoto, Kebbi, Zamfara, Niger, Benue, Yobe, Bauchi, Gombe, Adamawa, Borno, and Lagos states. We will, however, experience some turbulence over Taraba, Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Cross River, and much heavier turbulence over Delta and Rivers states. Just fasten your seat belts and be assured that your pilot has many years of flying experience dating back to 2003. Just as the co-pilot is super experienced too. This is a flight you have waited so many years to take off. Congratulations. Ibrahim Bala, ibmahmood@yahoo.com
Pop the champagne
Let me send you a congratulatory message on the victory of GMB. You really championed his cause and stood by him all this while. Pop your champagne because you deserve it. Ben, bengudosai@yahoo.co.uk
Words for my Igbo brothers
When I declared my support for the people’s general, it was as if the world was against me. I lost friends, made more enemies amongst my Igbo brothers but never gave up my support for the People’s General, Oguefi Muhammadu Okechukwu Buhari.
Anyway, now GMB has won the presidential seat, what will my Igbo brothers do with the delusions of Islamisation and the civil war hatred? As for me, the civil war ended 45 years ago. Am neither ruled by hate or fear, and I advise my Igbo brothers to do the same. Congratulations GMB. Unjoerated Onwukeme, Enugu. Unjoeratedjoe@gmail.com
The lesson
When the opposition parties were coming together, PDP dismissed them as strange bedfellows. When they succeeded in becoming one, PDP told us they would soon scatter when it comes to sharing positions. When the opposition shared their positions gracefully, PDP had no Plan B.
Lesson: Do not underrate your opponent. Revd Canon Kayode Abegunde, kemmabbey@yahoo.com
Sweet victory
Mummy has been singing your Buhari victory song: I can see everything turning around… You deserve to be congratulated for your loyalty to Buhari and APC no matter what. Keep up the good work. Dr John Odiase, odiasejon@gmail.com
We have spoken
Congratulations. Nigerians have spoken. I am the Okoro who said I am from Nsukka not Daura, a Christian Muslim but I will vote Buhari again and again. My Nsukka and Igbo brothers almost killed me. Now that both north and south have made their choice, I don’t know what to say but hallelujah. Okoro Christopher, Nnewi, cokoro54@yahoo.com07062466361
Buhari could have beaten Jonathan with more votes - Shehu.
Leke Baiyewu
The Director, Media and Publicity, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Garba Shehu, tells LEKE BAIYEWU in this interview why General Muhammadu Buhari would have won the presidential election with more votes
What is your general assessment of the presidential election, apart from the fact that General Muhammadu Buhari won the race?
We are satisfied with the process because we have won. The overall goal is to win and we have won with a clear margin. If we have to pick holes in this election, obviously there are two things; one, the card reader technology has been sabotaged in the South-East and the South-South. We do not know how they did this but we have strong suspicion that they sabotaged the technology. Therefore, the technology did not work and they blackmailed the Independent National Electoral Commission into adopting manual (voter) accreditation. They are very comfortable with it because that was what they wanted.
In one of the (presidential campaign) rallies, Governor Rotimi Amaechi (of Rivers State) said in the South-South and the South-East, they (the electorate) do not vote; what they were after is the result sheet. When some people are queuing to cast their votes, it will be an exercise in futility and a fruitless exercise because the result sheets have been taken somewhere and are being filled. You remember what Governor Amaechi did on the day of election in Port Harcourt. He said ‘I will not vote until I see the result sheet.’ He was not shown any result sheet and he did not vote.
The election was rigged in Delta, Imo and in Rivers in particular. This explained the large numbers that came out of those places. While people were on the streets of Akwa Ibom, protesting that they were not allowed to vote, these large numbers were coming out. In Rivers, people were at the INEC office, including the (APC) governorship candidate, chanting ‘we want to vote, we want to vote.’ They were not given the opportunity to vote. Our people did not make noise over it. We allowed it to pass because we believed that we had a wide margin to competently absorb all these nonsense. And that was what happened. That election would have been decided by between 65 per cent and 70 per cent win by the APC; that was our expectation. But we allowed it to pass.
If truly the APC supporters were disenfranchised in the election, why then do you think the PDP is also contesting the result of the exercise?
Our belief is that wherever the card readers were used, rigging was forestalled there. I can assure you that in the North and the South-West, the card readers worked and they worked to our satisfaction. If they (PDP) have any evidence, let them go to court.
But is it ideal for the APC to overlook the alleged disenfranchisement of its members?
Do you think that all the National Assembly seats that were carted away in Rivers will be allowed to go? I am sure that with all of those seats that were stolen in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and some other places in the South-East, fresh elections will be ordered. They will not be allowed to go like that.
Do you think there is anything spectacular about the APC that made it win the presidential election?
There are two things: first, the country generally was ready to accept change. We have to give it to Nigerians. The political environment was ripe for change. The country has been mismanaged for so many years by the PDP. They have taken Nigerians for granted. Second, you must also consider Buhari and his integrity status — the personal integrity of the leader of the campaign. It was important because Nigerians needed somebody they could trust. Third, we ran an issue-based campaign. We isolated the key issues of concern to Nigerians; the issue of insecurity, corruption, economic downturn and unemployment.
In spite of all efforts to distract us from these elements, we stayed on. While the PDP was busy jumping from one personal issue to the other, forgetting the main issues in their campaign, we addressed the issues concerning the people.
Next are the governorship and state Houses of Assembly membership elections. What is your expectation?
We will do better than we did at the presidential poll. Any police commissioner who allowed rigging in favour of Jonathan and any army commander who collaborated in rigging in the last election will now see Buhari as the next Commander-in-Chief. I don’t think any of them will allow the PDP to mess them up with the next elections.
There will also be the bandwagon effect. The bandwagon factor is moving at a fast speed and whoever is not on it is a loser. Nigerians know how the game is played; they will come on board.
But the PDP has dismissed any bandwagon effect on the forthcoming governorship poll.
Let them go and tell the people from the moon. Nigerians know themselves; we know ourselves, and we know the way it works.
How much hope do you have in breaking the PDP strongholds in the governorship poll?
The security services that played game, thinking that Jonathan would win have now seen that they were wrong. If I am the police commissioner of Rivers State, and my hope is to become the Inspector-General of Police one day, I will not follow Jonathan to the grave – a political grave. Igbo people have a parable that says it is the greedy fly that gets buried along with the corpse.
Considering your comments, is there any possibility that Buhari may come after some people when he gets into office?
No. Give him the benefit of the doubt. He had said repeatedly that there is no time for witch-hunting. Otherwise, the job won’t get done.
Does that include those believed to have been used against him or his party?
Why would he go after them? Are they not citizens? He had said he would be a president for all. You heard his (acceptance) speech on Wednesday. They should not entertain any fear. But he will take responsibility for whatever is done under him. If you’ve not committed any crime under him, there is no reason to be afraid of him. However, if the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) has been investigating someone; it is not for Buhari to stop it. That is like interfering with its work. So, ongoing cases will continue.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH
The Director, Media and Publicity, All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council, Mr. Garba Shehu, tells LEKE BAIYEWU in this interview why General Muhammadu Buhari would have won the presidential election with more votes
What is your general assessment of the presidential election, apart from the fact that General Muhammadu Buhari won the race?
We are satisfied with the process because we have won. The overall goal is to win and we have won with a clear margin. If we have to pick holes in this election, obviously there are two things; one, the card reader technology has been sabotaged in the South-East and the South-South. We do not know how they did this but we have strong suspicion that they sabotaged the technology. Therefore, the technology did not work and they blackmailed the Independent National Electoral Commission into adopting manual (voter) accreditation. They are very comfortable with it because that was what they wanted.
In one of the (presidential campaign) rallies, Governor Rotimi Amaechi (of Rivers State) said in the South-South and the South-East, they (the electorate) do not vote; what they were after is the result sheet. When some people are queuing to cast their votes, it will be an exercise in futility and a fruitless exercise because the result sheets have been taken somewhere and are being filled. You remember what Governor Amaechi did on the day of election in Port Harcourt. He said ‘I will not vote until I see the result sheet.’ He was not shown any result sheet and he did not vote.
The election was rigged in Delta, Imo and in Rivers in particular. This explained the large numbers that came out of those places. While people were on the streets of Akwa Ibom, protesting that they were not allowed to vote, these large numbers were coming out. In Rivers, people were at the INEC office, including the (APC) governorship candidate, chanting ‘we want to vote, we want to vote.’ They were not given the opportunity to vote. Our people did not make noise over it. We allowed it to pass because we believed that we had a wide margin to competently absorb all these nonsense. And that was what happened. That election would have been decided by between 65 per cent and 70 per cent win by the APC; that was our expectation. But we allowed it to pass.
If truly the APC supporters were disenfranchised in the election, why then do you think the PDP is also contesting the result of the exercise?
Our belief is that wherever the card readers were used, rigging was forestalled there. I can assure you that in the North and the South-West, the card readers worked and they worked to our satisfaction. If they (PDP) have any evidence, let them go to court.
But is it ideal for the APC to overlook the alleged disenfranchisement of its members?
Do you think that all the National Assembly seats that were carted away in Rivers will be allowed to go? I am sure that with all of those seats that were stolen in Akwa Ibom, Rivers and some other places in the South-East, fresh elections will be ordered. They will not be allowed to go like that.
Do you think there is anything spectacular about the APC that made it win the presidential election?
There are two things: first, the country generally was ready to accept change. We have to give it to Nigerians. The political environment was ripe for change. The country has been mismanaged for so many years by the PDP. They have taken Nigerians for granted. Second, you must also consider Buhari and his integrity status — the personal integrity of the leader of the campaign. It was important because Nigerians needed somebody they could trust. Third, we ran an issue-based campaign. We isolated the key issues of concern to Nigerians; the issue of insecurity, corruption, economic downturn and unemployment.
In spite of all efforts to distract us from these elements, we stayed on. While the PDP was busy jumping from one personal issue to the other, forgetting the main issues in their campaign, we addressed the issues concerning the people.
Next are the governorship and state Houses of Assembly membership elections. What is your expectation?
We will do better than we did at the presidential poll. Any police commissioner who allowed rigging in favour of Jonathan and any army commander who collaborated in rigging in the last election will now see Buhari as the next Commander-in-Chief. I don’t think any of them will allow the PDP to mess them up with the next elections.
There will also be the bandwagon effect. The bandwagon factor is moving at a fast speed and whoever is not on it is a loser. Nigerians know how the game is played; they will come on board.
But the PDP has dismissed any bandwagon effect on the forthcoming governorship poll.
Let them go and tell the people from the moon. Nigerians know themselves; we know ourselves, and we know the way it works.
How much hope do you have in breaking the PDP strongholds in the governorship poll?
The security services that played game, thinking that Jonathan would win have now seen that they were wrong. If I am the police commissioner of Rivers State, and my hope is to become the Inspector-General of Police one day, I will not follow Jonathan to the grave – a political grave. Igbo people have a parable that says it is the greedy fly that gets buried along with the corpse.
Considering your comments, is there any possibility that Buhari may come after some people when he gets into office?
No. Give him the benefit of the doubt. He had said repeatedly that there is no time for witch-hunting. Otherwise, the job won’t get done.
Does that include those believed to have been used against him or his party?
Why would he go after them? Are they not citizens? He had said he would be a president for all. You heard his (acceptance) speech on Wednesday. They should not entertain any fear. But he will take responsibility for whatever is done under him. If you’ve not committed any crime under him, there is no reason to be afraid of him. However, if the EFCC (Economic and Financial Crimes Commission) has been investigating someone; it is not for Buhari to stop it. That is like interfering with its work. So, ongoing cases will continue.
Copyright PUNCH.
All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH
Tuesday 31 March 2015
Nigeria's Goodluck Jonathan: Five reasons why he lost.
By Damian Zane
BBC News
Goodluck Jonathan is the first Nigerian sitting president to lose an election
Nigerians are so used to the idea that an incumbent should win presidential elections that President Goodluck Jonathan's failure to beat Gen Muhammadu Buhari needs some explaining. Here are five reasons why the opposition won:
1: Harder to rig
Past elections have been marred by serious irregularities and suspicions of rigging. In 2007 observers said the presidential poll was not "credible". In 2011 the vote was considered to be better run but observers said that rigging and fraud still took place.
This time the electoral commission took more steps to prevent rigging, including new biometric voters cards.
Also President Jonathan's party, the People's Democratic Party (PDP), had lost control of some key states which meant it could not control the electoral process there.
line
2: Boko Haram and security
Nigerian soldiers displaying a Boko Haram black flag
The Nigerian army has made some recent gains against Boko Haram, but not enough to convince Nigerians
The election took place against the background of an Islamist insurgency in the north-east of the country. The Boko Haram militant group has killed 20,000 people and forced some three million others from their homes and President Jonathan was criticised for not getting to grips with this.
The poll was delayed for six weeks to give time for the security situation to improve, but even though most areas controlled by Boko Haram were recaptured, it seems to have come too late for many people.
line
3: United opposition, crumbling PDP
PDP supporter
The extra six weeks of vigorous campaigning by the PDP was not enough to halt the slide in the party's fortunes
The PDP has been described as an election-winning machine. When it was created it united a northern elite with leading politicians from the south, but that alliance has broken up and the party lost some key figures. Even former President Olusegun Obasanjo came out against Mr Jonathan.
At the same time, the opposition managed to unite under the All Progressives Congress (APC) banner. The last six weeks of desperate and dirty campaigning, in which the APC responded in kind, was not enough to turn the tide.
line
4: Economy
Dollars and Naira
Nigeria's economy is growing but the wealth is not being spread around
Nigeria is Africa's biggest oil producer and its largest economy, but many fail to feel the benefits with nearly half the population living below the poverty line. Continued corruption is seen as partly being to blame.
National income is due to grow by more than 5% this year and next year, but people did not seem in the mood to thank Mr Jonathan for this.
line
5: Time for a change
Nigerian election posters
APC supporters chanted "change" wherever they went and it seems to have caught the mood. The PDP has been in power since the end of military rule in 1999, and 2015 is the year that Nigerians decided that someone else should have a go at sorting things out.
President-elect Buhari now has to prove he really can change things.
Nigeria election: Muhammadu Buhari wins
Residents celebrate the anticipated victory of Presidential candidate Muhammadu Buhari in Kaduna, Nigeria 31 March 2015
Supporters of Muhammadu Buhari celebrated as the results came in
Former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari has become the first opposition candidate to win a presidential election in Nigeria.
Incumbent Goodluck Jonathan telephoned Gen Buhari, 72, on Tuesday night to congratulate him and concede defeat.
Unofficial voting tallies put Gen Buhari more than two million votes ahead of his rival.
Observers have generally praised the election, though there have been allegations of fraud.
Election results as they happened
A spokesman for Gen Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) party praised Mr Jonathan, saying: "He will remain a hero for this move. The tension will go down dramatically."
Gen Buhari's supporters took to the streets in APC strongholds, including the northern cities of Kano and Kaduna, to sing and dance in celebration.
The APC issued a statement after the result was announced, calling for "calm, sober celebrations" and warning supporters not to attack opponents.
"He or she is not with me, whoever does that," the new president said.
line
Analysis: Will Ross, BBC Nigeria correspondent, Abuja
Buhari agreed last week to respect the outcome of the polls
Gen Buhari's victory is a hugely significant moment in Nigeria's turbulent history. Never before has a sitting president been defeated in an election.
Since independence from Britain in 1960, there have been numerous coups and most elections have been rigged. Of course in a close election there will be many voters who are not pleased with this outcome but the whole process is a sign that democracy is deepening in Nigeria.
The poll has once again brought to the surface dangerous religious and regional differences and there is still a threat of violence.
The man who has been voted out, Goodluck Jonathan, has played a huge part today in trying to prevent that. He made the phone call when there would no doubt have been some in his camp who would have preferred to dig their heels in.
Profile: Muhammadu Buhari
Profile: Goodluck Jonathan
The former military ruler managed to win more than 25% of votes in 24 states, meaning he avoided the possibility of a run-off with Mr Jonathan.
He dominated the country's north-western states, which have suffered most from attacks by Islamist militant group Boko Haram.
In Borno state, one of the worst-affected by Islamist violence, Gen Buhari won 94% of the vote.
It is the fourth time that Gen Buhari, 72, has sought the presidency.
He ruled Nigeria from January 1984 until August 1985, taking charge after a military coup in December 1983.
Mr Jonathan had led Nigeria since 2010, initially as acting leader before winning elections in 2011.
Nigeria has suffered from several attacks by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has killed thousands of people in its drive to establish an Islamic state.
Many voters have said that they believe Gen Buhari is better positioned to defeat Boko Haram.
The verdict on Mr Buhari's 20 months as military ruler is mixed.
The European Union's top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, congratulated Gen Buhari on his victory, saying she "looked forward to working with" him.
Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria's new leader
Muhammadu Buhari in focus:
◾Aged 72
◾Muslim from northern Nigeria
◾Elected president in 28 March poll
◾Military ruler of Nigeria from 1984 to 1985
◾Deposed in a coup
◾Poor human rights record
◾Seen as incorruptible
◾Disciplinarian - civil servants late for work had to do frog jumps
◾Survived an apparent Boko Haram assassination attempt
Supporters of Muhammadu Buhari celebrated as the results came in
Former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari has become the first opposition candidate to win a presidential election in Nigeria.
Incumbent Goodluck Jonathan telephoned Gen Buhari, 72, on Tuesday night to congratulate him and concede defeat.
Unofficial voting tallies put Gen Buhari more than two million votes ahead of his rival.
Observers have generally praised the election, though there have been allegations of fraud.
Election results as they happened
A spokesman for Gen Buhari's All Progressives Congress (APC) party praised Mr Jonathan, saying: "He will remain a hero for this move. The tension will go down dramatically."
Gen Buhari's supporters took to the streets in APC strongholds, including the northern cities of Kano and Kaduna, to sing and dance in celebration.
The APC issued a statement after the result was announced, calling for "calm, sober celebrations" and warning supporters not to attack opponents.
"He or she is not with me, whoever does that," the new president said.
line
Analysis: Will Ross, BBC Nigeria correspondent, Abuja
Buhari agreed last week to respect the outcome of the polls
Gen Buhari's victory is a hugely significant moment in Nigeria's turbulent history. Never before has a sitting president been defeated in an election.
Since independence from Britain in 1960, there have been numerous coups and most elections have been rigged. Of course in a close election there will be many voters who are not pleased with this outcome but the whole process is a sign that democracy is deepening in Nigeria.
The poll has once again brought to the surface dangerous religious and regional differences and there is still a threat of violence.
The man who has been voted out, Goodluck Jonathan, has played a huge part today in trying to prevent that. He made the phone call when there would no doubt have been some in his camp who would have preferred to dig their heels in.
Profile: Muhammadu Buhari
Profile: Goodluck Jonathan
The former military ruler managed to win more than 25% of votes in 24 states, meaning he avoided the possibility of a run-off with Mr Jonathan.
He dominated the country's north-western states, which have suffered most from attacks by Islamist militant group Boko Haram.
In Borno state, one of the worst-affected by Islamist violence, Gen Buhari won 94% of the vote.
It is the fourth time that Gen Buhari, 72, has sought the presidency.
He ruled Nigeria from January 1984 until August 1985, taking charge after a military coup in December 1983.
Mr Jonathan had led Nigeria since 2010, initially as acting leader before winning elections in 2011.
Nigeria has suffered from several attacks by the Islamist militant group Boko Haram, which has killed thousands of people in its drive to establish an Islamic state.
Many voters have said that they believe Gen Buhari is better positioned to defeat Boko Haram.
The verdict on Mr Buhari's 20 months as military ruler is mixed.
The European Union's top diplomat, Federica Mogherini, congratulated Gen Buhari on his victory, saying she "looked forward to working with" him.
Muhammadu Buhari
Muhammadu Buhari, Nigeria's new leader
Muhammadu Buhari in focus:
◾Aged 72
◾Muslim from northern Nigeria
◾Elected president in 28 March poll
◾Military ruler of Nigeria from 1984 to 1985
◾Deposed in a coup
◾Poor human rights record
◾Seen as incorruptible
◾Disciplinarian - civil servants late for work had to do frog jumps
◾Survived an apparent Boko Haram assassination attempt
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