WINNERS AND LOSERS OF 2011 ELECTION IN NIGERIA

Winners and losers

- Ayodeji Ajayi

NIGERIANS from various walks of life, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic affiliations, remembered some days ago, amidst mixed feelings, the immediate former President, Alhaji Umaru Musa Yar’Adua who left this sinful world following a protracted illness on Wednesday, May 5, 2010 at 58.

On Thursday, May 5, 2011, it was exactly one year after Yar’Adua’s demise. Now, I remember with profound nostalgia that on December 16, 2006, Yar Adua emerged the presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) following an unprecedented display of support for him by his party’s delegates. He was unanimously nominated as the party’s flagbearer in readiness for the 2007 presidential election. When the crucial election took place in April 2007, the Professor Maurice Iwu – led Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) declared him winner of the highly controversial election which generated a lot of heat among Nigerians and even the global community.

But while some characters were losing their heads over the sensitive and worrisome issue, Yar’ Adua himself, especially judging by the general belief among Nigerians that he was deliberately foisted on the country by his immediate predecessor, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, admitted that the election that brought him into office was flawed. He then assured that he would embark on meaningful electoral reforms to ensure that future elections are free, fair and credible.

It is for this reason that Yar’Adua also deserves to share in the success recorded during the just – concluded 2011 general elections which have continued to be described as free, fair and credible compared with many of the elections conducted in the past in the country.

There is no doubt that before his sudden death, Yar ‘Adua, to a certain extent, had provided the template for organising credible elections in 2011.

Having served Katsina State as governor for two terms of four years each, Yar’ Adua crowned it all with that of president but unfortunately, he could not complete his first four – year term due to his death. And if he did not die, not many were sure especially judging by the nature of his ill – health, that he would succeed in clinching his party’s ticket for a second term. It would be recalled that even shortly before he was evacuated to Saudi Arabia for medical attention, many of his party members had started jostling openly to slug it out with him for the coveted seat.

Following his exit on May 5, 2010, his deputy, Dr Goodluck Jonathan, was formally inaugurated as President and Commander-in- Chief of the Armed Forces on May 6, 2010.

Incidentally, as Yar ‘Adua’s departure clocked one year on May 5, 2011, Jonathan’s one year in office as president also clocked one year on May 6, 2011. Interestingly too, having emerged winner of the April 16, 2011 presidential election, Jonathan is now anxiously looking forward to what promises to be the most memorable moment in his life when on Sunday, May 29, 2011, he will formally be sworn in as the President and Commander – in – Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria for a four – year term.

From all indications, the successful event of April 16, 2011 which produced Jonathan as clear and undisputed winner of the presidential election, has effectively put an end to what was described in certain quarters, as the Yar ‘Adua /Jonathan joint ticket. In effect, what this means is that on May 29, the swearing – in ceremony will be a joint Jonathan/Sambo ticket. And this is the reality on ground.

As expected, winners and losers have since emerged following the just – concluded elections across the country. Also, as expected, the winners have since been in joyous mood and have accepted victory with humility. The wise among the losers have since accepted defeat like good sportsmen and also congratulated the winners. However, as expected, the foolish among the losers have failed to accept defeat which to right – thinking human beings, are very glaring but have resorted, directly or indirectly, to instigating misguided youths to kill and maim innocent citizens. One of such gory instances occurred in some parts of the North on April 18, 2011 during which jobless and cursed youths went on rampage killing and maiming innocent youth corpers following the defeat of a prominent presidential candidate from that part of the country.

It is time politicians, no matter how highly placed, realise they can no longer hold the country and the citizenry to ransom. Anybody, no matter how highly connected, that engages in activities or is seen to have incited others to engage in activities that are capable of destabilising the country, should be dealt with decisively according to the laws of the land so as to serve as a deterrent to others. Nobody is above the law.

After 50 years of independence, Nigeria is expected to have assumed the position of a civilised country where the actions of the citizenry – both leaders and followers, irrespective of political, religious or ethnic affiliations, should be guided strictly by rules and regulations. Nigeria, 50 years after independence, should not be perceived as animal kingdom where although all animals are equal, but some are more equal than others.

It is because we still have lawless, lazy, corrupt and selfish leaders, especially among the politicians, that Nigeria continues to fumble, wobble and wander. It is worrisome that since the return of civil rule on May 29, 1999, Nigeria and its leaders have been dancing in cycle – moving five steps forward and 10 steps backward Bad leadership at various tiers, remains a recurring agonising problem yet to be solved.

Recycling of old horses in various spheres of life of the nation, especially in the corridors of power, is the order of the day and this is why bad results are being churned out. No lasting solution to national problems that continue to threaten the stability and survival of the country.

In civilised countries, losers accept defeat without embarking on activities that could destabilise such countries. And as a last resort, losers go to court to seek redress.

In Nigeria, losers never accept defeat. They want the country to collapse. They believe they must win at all costs even if they do not deserve victory. This especially applies to those politicians that have virtually become habitual or traditional losers in elections.

Having been trounced thoroughly in elections thrice or more, shouldn’t that be a signal that such a contestant is not a good electoral material? Is that not an indication that such a candidate should stop throwing his hat into the political ring even if it was God or Muhammad that told him in his dream to contest? Ahead of the May 29, 2011 swearing – in ceremonies across the country, many political gains and losses have already been recorded that are noteworthy.

Former President and Chairman, Board of Trustees of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, seems to be the greatest loser in spite of the fact that he did not directly contest for any elective position.

The defeat of his candidate in Ogun State, Chief Tunji Olurin, in the gubernatorial election, will continue to haunt him. The loss of Ogun State for the first time in eight years to the opposition, is a catastrophic disaster that will continue to give Obasanjo sleepless nights. The defeat of his faction of PDP by the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) in Ogun State, despite his grandstanding, is shameful. All the political abradacabras he did in the South – West in 2003 have now been overturned to show that no matter how long it takes, the truth will overcome falsehood and deceit. And above all, the landslide defeat of her beloved daughter, Senator Iyabo Obasanjo-Bello and that of the chameleonic Speaker of the House of Representatives, Mr. Dimeji Bankole, during the April elections must have thought Obasanjo and his cronies a lesson that nothing good or lasting is derivable from political lawlessness and legislative rascality. By the time Obasanjo’s tenure as PDP BOT Chairman effectively ends on May 29, his overbearing influence on the party and even on President Goodluck Jonathan would have been drastically checked.

But it is worrisome that rather than waning especially following his recent political losses in Ogun State, Obasanjo’s influence seems to be waxing stronger. Reports have revealed that unscrupulous political jobbers are trooping in large numbers with copies of their credentials, to Otta and Abeokuta to solicit Obasanjo’s support. They believe that with Obasanjo’s support, they will get political appointments from the president.

In his own interest, the president should be his own man. He should remember that he had no political godfather when he contested the recent election. Nigerians, irrespective of political affiliations, trooped out in millions to vote massively for him. He cannot afford to disappoint Nigerians. He should be wary of Obasanjo’s antics and the other “fixers” whose antecedents are not exemplary.

For instance, he should remember that Obasanjo’s undying ambition to ensure Iyabo is appointed minister is still burning like wild fire and he will go to any extent to ensure it becomes a reality.

It is regrettable that it is only in Nigeria that a former president who left office after spending eight years since 2007, is still influencing how the affairs of the country are run. This is very unfortunate. Is he indispensable? Are there no other leaders with superior intelligence who have the interest of the ration at heart?

The on-going retreat in Obudu by Mr. President is a welcome development. However, the objectives for which the retreat was conceived should be realised unfailingly. The President should not allow anybody, no matter how influential, to “hijack” the all-important exercise from him.

Those to be given appointments should be men and women of proven integrity and credibility, as well as unalloyed loyalty, unwavering commitment and unswerving dedication. This time around, the appointees must be performers and not sluggards, Mr. President urgently requires those who will be religiously committed to his goals and vision so that Nigeria can more forward from its present pitiable condition. The president should remember that the blame for whatever goes wrong will inevitably go to him.

Apart from Obasanjo, another political giant that had his dream shattered during the just-concluded elections is the Godfather of Kwara politics, Dr Olusola Saraki. Since the Second Republic when he was the Senate Leader during the President Shehu Shagari-led administration of the National Party of Nigeria (NPN), Saraki had solely been in control of the political machinery in Kwara State.

He anointed virtually all the civilian governors but whenever there was friction between him and the governors, he made sure they were not re-elected.

And so, in 2003, having been frustrated and disappointed by those he anointed as governors due to irreconcilable differences, he anointed his son, Dr. Bukola Saraki whose two-term tenure of eight years is expected to end on May 29, 2011.

But like others before him, Bukola, shortly before the governship election, started having some irreconcilable differences with his father who wanted Bukola’s sister, Senator Gbemisola Saraki to become the next governor in May, Watchers of political events in Kwara State have since been waiting for the outcome of the election.

It would be recalled that Saraki had boasted before the election that he is the indisputable political leader in Kwara and that the governorship election would determine who the political leader is between him and his son.

Incidentally, the outgoing governor’s anointed candidate, Alhaji Ahmed won gallantly but Elder Saraki’s anointed candidate, Gbemisola, lost woefully. And with the defeat of Gbemisola, Saraki’s age-long control over Kwara politics has crumbled like a pack of useless cards for the first time in several decades.

The septuagenarian, like Obasanjo, has been terribly demystified and rendered politically irrelevant. It is time for Obasanjo and Saraki to finally vacate the political scene and allow young Nigerians of impeccable integrity to help inject new blood and fresh ideas into Nigerian politics in order to take the country to the much-desired greater heights.

It is for this reason that I commend Nigeria’s first-ever military President, General Ibrahim Babangida (rtd) who said recently that he would soon quit active politics, especially judging by the fact that he will clock 70 in August next year.
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