FREE, FAIR, AND ACCEPTED

By Farouk Sanusi Umar
umarfarouk89@yahoo.com
For once in the history of this great country, an election took place without much violence. We thank Almighty Allah for helping Nigeria at a time when everybody expected otherwise. I will also like to thank the Chairman of INEC, Prof Attahiru Jega and the INEC team for conducting the most credible free and fair election in Nigeria. My thanks to President Dr. Goodluck Ebele Johnathan for giving Nigeria a chance to experience democracy. I will also like to thank the Nigerian citizens for coming out to vote in a tense atmosphere with all security challenges. All your efforts will never be in vain.
The President Elect, General Muhammadu Buhari rtd was born on 17th December, 1942 in Daura Katsina state in the north eastern region of Nigeria. He is a Muslim with one wife and ten children. He joined the military in 1961 where he rose to the rank of a General. He was Head of State of Nigeria from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after taking power in a military coup d'état. The government was known for removing or cutting back the excesses in national expenditure, obliterating or removing completely corruption from the nation's social ethics, shifting from mainly public sector employment to self-employment. Buhari also encouraged import substitution, industrialization based to a great extent on the use of local materials and he tightened importation. His government lasted for 2 years, after which the Babangida government took over. General Buhari was known for a disciplined government which had no room for corruption, lowering inflation, enhancing workforce and improving productivity.
In 2003, Nigeria witnessed more political parties contesting. The ANPP All Nigerian Peoples Party gave General Buhari the chance to run against the biggest political party in West Africa, PDP. General Olusegun Obasanjo and Atiku Abubakar as his running mate were victorious with more than eleven million votes.
After staying in office for 8 years, PDP gave a northerner from Katsina Umaru Musa Yar’adua, an outgoing governor the chance to fly the flag. General Muhammadu Buhari contested on different party, the ANPP, All Nigeria Peoples Party. The 2007 election year was mainly between two northerners from the same region and same state. For every election a winner is expected, and Umaru Musa Yaradua emerged victorious. This result didn’t go well with Buhari. The result was passed to the tribunals, but it didn’t go through. The level of election awareness and knowledge amongst the citizens has risen very high during Yar’adua.
General Buhari was the CPC Presidential candidate in the 16 April 2011 general election, running against incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party (PDP), Mallam Nuhu Ribadu of Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN), and Ibrahim Shekarau of ANPP. They were the major contenders among 20 contestants. The PDP won the election with over ten million votes as against CPC being the runner up. The elections were marred by widespread sectarian violence, which claimed the lives of 800 people across the country, as Buhari’s supporters attacked Christian settlements in the country’s center regions. The three day uprising was blamed in part on Buhari’s inflammatory comments. In spite of assurances from Human Rights Watch, who had judged the elections as “among the fairest in Nigeria’s history”. General Buhari claimed that the poll was flawed and warned that "If what happened in 2011 should again happen in 2015, by the grace of God, the dog and the baboon would all be soaked in blood”.
In 2014, PDP gave their total support to President Goodluck Johnathan to stay in office for more years than any president. This did not go well with some party members, especially the senior northern members. A faction was created, the New PDP which comprised of 7 members. The heat to the 2015 elections was already high even before the year came. The CPC joined forces with ACN, ANPP to become APC, All Progressive Congress. The APC had members from the CPC, ACN, ANPP and the New PDP camp.
INEC being an independent body was about to witness the most competitive election in the history of Nigeria. Some believed the state of affairs of the country is perfect and Dr. Goodluck Ebele Johnathan from the south south should continue, some believed change was necessary with General Muhammadu Buhari from the north east. Prof Attahiru Jega introduced a card reader which was used for accrediting voters before casting their votes. The PDP tried as much as they could to prevent the use of the card readers, while the APC supported the use of card readers for accreditation. On Feb 14th 2015, the day first scheduled for presidential election was moved forward due to security reports from the military chiefs.
On March 28th, 2015 presidential election held across the country. Election took place peacefully in all states, with Gombe and Rivers state experiencing few problems.
On March 31st, incumbent President Goodluck Johnathan called Buhari to offer his concession and congratulations as President-Elect. General Buhari will assume office on 29th May, 2015.
After 16 years, after more votes, General Muhammadu Buhari became the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. General Buhari is a man that will show Nigerians what democracy really means. We will like to say Congratulations to the President-Elect General Muhammadu Buhari and the APC team for this historic victory….Once again Nigeria Sai Buhari!