The most valuable asset in politics is credibility. Politics is persuasion and “to be persuasive we must be believable; to be believable we must be credible” wrote the American journalist Edward R Murrow.

Muhammadu Buhari has just been elected as the next president of Nigeria by a margin of more than 2m votes because on the issues that mattered to Nigerians, he had more credibility than his rival, current president Goodluck Jonathan.

Corruption and insecurity dominated the agenda of Nigeria’s most competitive presidential election since its return to democracy in 1999. Pew Research has shown that 72% of Nigerians are concerned about Islamic extremism while more than eight in 10 feel that corruption (86%) and crime (88%) are “very big” problems.

Buhari and Jonathan both vowed to tackle these issues, especially with regards to Boko Haram, the Islamist terrorist group that has killed more than 13,000 Nigerians and displaced 1.5 million.

But Buhari, a 72-year-old retired general, enjoyed advantages on these fronts from the start. His record as Nigeria’s hard-headed military ruler from 1983 to 1985 lent credence to his promises to crush the Boko Haram insurgency. His reputation as an incorruptible politician who lives modestly rendered his pledges to tackle government graft believable.

Jonathan, on the other hand, couldn’t escape the fact that Boko Haram had grown in strength during his five years as president, or that he had failed to react swiftly to the kidnap of 276 girls from Chibok, most of whom are still missing.

Only six weeks ago, the Nigerian army, together with soldiers from neighbouring countries, launched robust operations to recapture territory lost to the Islamists who had declared a caliphate on Nigerian soil. The recent military successes, while welcomed, left many Nigerians wondering why Jonathan waited until the eve of an election before getting serious on terrorism. Regarding corruption, numerous financial scandals involving government ministers and allegations of billions going missing from public coffers in recent years made it difficult for Jonathan to convince Nigerians that he was serious about tackling what is widely regarded as the country’s biggest curse.
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The president’s campaign did what it could to try to discredit Buhari, but in a haphazard fashion. One day Jonathan’s people would accuse Buhari, a Muslim, of wanting to introduce strict Sharia law throughout Nigeria, the next they’d insist he wants to legalise same-sex marriage. Buhari, for his part, exhibited grace under fire throughout the campaign, maintaining an air of dignity. His never-say-die attitude invited respect; this was his fourth attempt at the presidency.

In the end, Nigerians responded in their millions to Buhari’s unoriginal yet effective slogan of “change”. People turned out to even in the troubled areas of the north-east, where Boko Haram had vowed to attack anyone who dared to vote.

Nigeria has suffered from mediocre leadership for as long as I can remember. Most heads of state have been corrupt, small-minded men, incapable of seeing further than the ends of their own nose. A principled man in the presidential office is nothing short of revolutionary in Nigeria. The excited reactions to Buhari’s victory in various parts of the country attest to the hope he inspires in many.

But his honeymoon with Nigerians will not last long. Millions of people believed in his message of change. Expectations are high and it will be easy to disappoint. It is not an easy country to govern.

With government revenues reeling from the slump in oil prices and a fast-growing population expected to reach 210 million by 2020 amidst high unemployment, Buhari will have his work cut out. If history is anything to go by, he will delegate economic policy to technocrats, and focus his own energies on tackling insecurity and reducing corruption in government.

But whatever happens, Nigeria will never be the same again. Something has changed in the psyche of the Nigerian citizen. For the first time since independence in 1960, Nigerians have defenestrated a sitting president. The masses now realise the tremendous might they can wield when they act collectively. It is a lesson that will embolden them. The era when Nigeria’s rulers could take the people for granted is no more.

http://www.theguardian.com/global/commentisfree/2015/mar/31/nigeria-election-muhammadu-buhari-revolution-voted-change

SirShymexx:
I wonder if GOODluck Jonathan will change his name to either TOUGH-luck or BAD-luck after this.

I'd admit that the name "Goodluck" is comic relief (what a name lol) - Tough-luck won't be a bad idea.

Missy89,

Come in here - I want to read ya supreme analysis of the elections: the biggest winners/losers in terms of power-play; if anything changed in terms of voting pattern; what Nigerians should expect; and where you think this will put Nigeria in the international scene.


Anyway, the hero has to be the Jega man for being brave enough to announce the winner. That man should be knighted for his bravery and steadfastness - he's a warrior.

Jelo4kul:
K

SirShymexx:

But whatever happens, Nigeria will never be the same again. Something has changed in the psyche of the Nigerian citizen. For the first time since independence in 1960, Nigerians have defenestrated a sitting president. The masses now realise the tremendous might they can wield when they act collectively. It is a lesson that will embolden them. The era when Nigeria’s rulers could take the people for granted is no more.

Missy89:


Most of the old Political/Business elites will still be in charge but they are now being supervised by a more observant and less corrupt president.
(The billionaires are paying homage already) It is a good thing. I am expecting APC to do much better and they can now see that it may only take time, but they can loose power too.

SW votes was a stalemate as far as i can see it. The difference wasn't that great (Its a good thing because it can still swing anywhere in future elections so the region remains relevant) and the SE on the other hand, almost killed their regional party with the alliance with PDP.

Looking forward to the state elections TEAM LABOUR PARTY

Jonathan's acceptance is a good thing for the country (Big Kudos to him. He's got a legacy now). Now we have a real democracy at least. My worry is that most PDP guys will decamp and render the party useless instead of regrouping and forming a strong opposition. we will see

Missy89:

Most of the old Political/Business elites will still be in charge but they are now being supervised by a more observant and less corrupt president.
(The billionaires are paying homage already) It is a good thing. I am expecting APC to do much better and they can now see that it may only take time, but they can loose power too.

SW votes was a stalemate as far as i can see it. The difference wasn't that great (Its a good thing because it can still swing anywhere in future elections so the region remains relevant) and the SE on the other hand, almost killed their regional party with the alliance with PDP.

Looking forward to the state elections TEAM LABOUR PARTY

Jonathan's acceptance is a good thing for the country (Big Kudos to him. He's got a legacy now). Now we have a real democracy at least. My worry is that most PDP guys will decamp and render the party useless instead of regrouping and forming a strong opposition. we will see

DollyParton1:

Now this right there is why I am so proud of my country.
History was made. The revolution is on.

SirShymexx:


Lol. Just pray those militants don't start blowing shiit up.

I'm sure their lords are negotiating free-passage right now - and if they don't get what they want, they might unleash them.

Anyway, the country still has a very long way to go, before it gets on feet, to even start walking.

Too early to celebrate...but you can celebrate the end of the clueless one.

DollyParton1:

Well, I am celebrating the end of the clueless one and the beginning of a new era, not in government per say, but within the Nigerian citizens. The unseating of an incumbent president.
You need to be in Nigeria to feel the tension. If those militants blow up, Nigerians wont sit on their arms like before.

Yea we are not there yet, but its a step forward. Still a long way to go, but its one step in the right direction. We will get there.

Check my earlier post.

SirShymexx:


Lol. Just pray those militants don't start blowing shiit up.

I'm sure their lords are negotiating free-passage right now - and if they don't get what they want, they might unleash them.

Anyway, the country still has a very long way to go, before it gets on feet, to even start walking.

Too early to celebrate...but you can celebrate the end of the clueless one.

Ogbeche77:
Lol.. those overfed militants have tasted oil money, they are never going back to the creeks to fight... They have 2 options
1. Enjoy the share of loot they already got from GEJ in peace OR

2. Famz with the new ruling party like Dangote & Otedola have done. Then hope some govt contracts shows up...

if they decide they take up harms, they ll be exterminated. I'm sure they are wiser than that

SirShymexx:


Lol. I don't need to be in naij - I've got my own shiit to worry about lol.

Anyway, when I start flipping in naija soon, I shall employ you to oversee my conglomerate. What say you?

Nigeria has a long way to go...I'm just interested in how Buhari will start off, and what his government will look like.

Hopefully, they will find a way to get regional government in there through the back-door. SWerners should have negotiated that. Nigeria can't work the way it's now.

DollyParton1:

You needing to be in naija is a figurative statement. Naija is fine with her own shîťš excluding you.

Aint running no negro's conglomerate. W[b]ill be busy bossing on my drug empire. I aspire to be an international drug boss lady. Yea!!! All them bîťčhêš gonna bow down. [/b]

Third paragraph is what am living for right now.

Regional government is not going anywhere soon, in Nigeria. That's what makes a Nigeria. We are divided to our very core, although we put up a united front.

SirShymexx:


What type of drug, street pharmacist?

Don't tell me you'll be shipping the "white lady" from South America to Europe via Africa - with the cartel.

Overlapping interests would always stagnate the growth of Nigeria...so regional government or confederation is the way forward.

DollyParton1:

I will be bossing my own empire. Aint no one got time for the street.

Actually, dream no 2 is to marry a drug cartel.... real dough lives with the white lady.

It will take a while for Nigeria to recognise a need for change in that aspect. Thats is how the government operates and we are used to that. Plus those regions benefiting from it will vehemently kick against it.

SirShymexx:


Lol. You need to show me the blueprint of ya empire before I can take you seriously lol.

Let's just see how it unfolds.

DollyParton1:


Lol... take me seriously at your own risk.

SirShymexx:


Obviously, I don't take what you say seriously but that badonkadonk is hella serious business lol.

Are you cool, tho?

DollyParton1:


Yea. Am Cool