THE WILL NIGERIA
The Presidential and National Assembly elections have come and gone. But mixed reactions had trailed the exercise, especially that of the Presidential. Politics as a game does not really favour all those who participated in the elections. All the same, winners must emerge.
History has been made in Nigeria, for the first time the citizens trooped out en masse to exercise their franchise. In previous elections, in some parts of the country some people had to be compelled to vote on Election Day.
This time around, the electorate took the initiative themselves. Apart from that, their votes counted in many states where relatively unknown candidates literally floored state governors and other incumbents that contested the National Assembly election.
In spite of the surprises and upsets recorded, the presidential and National Assembly elections were mired in controversy. Supporters of the major politically parties dissatisfied with the results have questioned the role of the Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Prof Yakubu Mahmood, in what they describe as “unfair” elections. Their grouse is that the presidential election, in particular, only favoured the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and its candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu.
In all, congratulations to the President-elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his victory in the election. Felicitations also go to the National Assembly members that scaled through the elections conducted on February 25.
According to INEC, Bola Tinubu polled 8,794,726 votes to defeat fellow contenders – Atiku Abubakar of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who got 6,984,520, Labour Party flagbearer; Peter Obi had 6,101,533; while the New Nigeria People’s Party (NNPP) candidate; Rabiu Kwankwaso secured 1,496,687 votes. Of course, even before the election, some Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations, had wondered if the President- elect possesses the needed capacity to pilot the affairs of the country. But alas! Listening to Bola Tinubu, one could find out that he is very sound, intellectually. On his health status, the man surely knows himself if he is fit or not.
Tinubu should not fail Nigerians, now that he has been voted into power as President. Not only that, as an ex-Senator, a two-time Governor of Lagos State, among other positions he held in the past, he should be aware of the plight of the people.
The President-elect should bear in mind that he needs to do his possible best to shock over 200 million Nigerians who had concluded in their individual and collective opinions that he has nothing to offer if he is given the mantle of leadership based on his health challenges.
Asiwaju Bola Tinubu has to deliver the dividends of democracy to Nigerians.
