Nigeria on the right track

Mmegi Editor | Friday April 3, 2015 11:13

From 1983-1985, General Buhari was the military ruler of Nigeria before a palace coup put paid to his presidency. The man who helped to install him in power in a putsch in 1983, General Ibrahim Babangida, kicked him out, accusing him of all manner of evils.

With the late General Tunde Idiagbon as his second in command, Buhari tried to clean up an unruly Nigeria and in the process, earned enemies even within his inner circle.

It is believed that Babangida, who was the third most powerful man in the no-nonsense Idiagbon-Buhari regime, staged the palace coup because he feared the noose was closing around his neck after one of his close allies was dismissed because of corruption.

Whatever the case, Buhari’s grand comeback through democratic means after a number of failed attempts could be viewed as vindication. When he was overthrown, he was only 41-years-old  and could have been tempted to commit some of the offences he was accused of like human rights abuses. But throughout his life, Buhari has been known as a strict disciplinarian who has not been engaged in absurd corruption and massive theft associated with the Nigerian elite and military.

He has done well to take responsibility for the bad things that happened during his first reign. Jonathan must also be hailed for accepting defeat with grace, a rarity for an incumbent African president.

Despite the disturbances that occurred during election day, Nigerians deserve praise for the general peaceful manner they cast their ballot. This is the first time an opposition party has ousted a ruling party in Nigeria.

The election attracted a lot of world attention for the simple reason that Islamic terror group, Boko Haram has caused havoc in the country through killings, bombings and kidnappings.

 The world is still searching for answers as to what happened to the majority of 200 school girls who were kidnapped by Boko Haram last year, and whether the Nigerian government is really unable to deal with the group. The country is also faced with challenges of ethnic and regional tensions, religious differences, and the threat from Boko Haram.

It is our hope that other countries will follow in the footsteps of the likes of Goodluck Jonathan and step down when voters decide that their time is up. Actually, greedy leaders have contributed immensely to the continent’s dark past. We congratulate Nigerians for holding a peaceful election!