THE NATION
Nigeria is bigger than President Bola Tinubu and his rivals in the last presidential election, Atiku Abubakar of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and Peter Obi of the Labour Party(LP).
The trio vied for the highest office in the land because the country existed. Therefore, patriotism demands that the winner and his opponents should continue to hold the Nigerian Project very dear.
The election has been won and lost. That is the reality. The judgment of the Supreme Court has drawn the curtains on that epoch. It is final. The appropriate lessons should also be learned by stakeholders. But, in summary, the winners are Nigeria and democracy.
The leaders who approached the court with their claims and prayers have made contributions to national development in an unexpected way. The judgments of the presidential tribunal and Supreme Court have enriched the country’s jurisprudence. Lawyers, jurists, politicians, law students and other Nigerians are now in a vantage position to better appreciate certain constitutional interpretations and the sanctity of the constitution as the regulator of political behaviour.
Power has not landed on the palm of President Tinubu on a platter of gold. He struggled for political control and succeeded where some people had failed. But, the acquisition of power is only meaningful if it is used to cater for the welfare and happiness of the greater number of citizens.
The president is expected to deploy power with humility, be firm and decisive and allow the interest of Nigerians to shape his policy directions.
In Nigeria, people suffer in the midst of plenty. For a president who is committed to change and improvement in the life of the people, it cannot be business as usual. In particular, there is greater expectation that Tinubu, an activist, humanist and friends of the masses, will preside over a government that will reposition the country for excellence, and in the interest of the ordinary people.
The ruling party should now ensure that the government it had midwifed stays on course in the implementation of the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda.’
It is a self-imposed burden. Many APC stalwarts pride themselves as “progressives” and “welfarists.” Should they not make a difference to justify their public perception?
Neither should the opposition be dormant by the current disappointment. The beauty of democracy is that there is room for the opposition to thrive. Therefore, both the PDP and LP should not go into slumber. Other smaller parties that have not been de-registered should aspire to grow. They should cease to be surrogates to bigger platforms. Their responsibility is to keep watch over government activities, offer constructive criticisms and provide alternative solutions to pressing socio-economic challenges.
For President Tinubu, there is relief. For APC, the nightmare may be over. But, Nigerians, it must be noted, expect the dividends of democracy to flow without further restrictions or inhibitions. Five months after the inauguration of the Tinubu government, and after exercising patience for a reasonable period, the people deserves a new lease of life.
The president has described his victory at the apex court as an impetus for hardwork, a sort of energiser. More importantly, there is no further distraction arising from the litigations. As the president put it, “the court has put a stop to shenanigans, innuendos, lies and trials in the media. The court has demonstrated a strong commitment to the rule of law and justice. We will use the strength of our diversity to build a great country…