Finally,
the Presidential election has been postponed, a new date; March 28, has been
fixed. Whether some sets of people are responsible for the postponement, I can`t
tell, but there are evidences that suggest that some particular sets of people
were very interested in the postponement of the election and may have
influenced the decision for their selfish gains.
Come
to think about this; How do you describe the scenario when a media house-
Associate Press, reported on Saturday (7th February, 2015) Morning that an
official of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) told them that
the election would be postponed for 6 weeks due to security challenges and that
the announcement would be made later on Saturday. Then INEC swiftly debunk this
report that there was no official announcement yet as regards that and, it was
still meeting with stakeholders to come up with decisions which would determine
if the election would be postponed or not.
Then
after the meeting and consultations that were expected to influence the
decision of INEC, the announcement was made and the election was officially
postponed jsut as reported by Associated Press.
Firstly,
Associated Press reported that announcement would be made later on Saturday and
it was so.
Secondly,
Associated Press reported that the election would be postponed for six weeks
and it was so.
Thirdly,
Associated Press reported that the postponement was because of security
challenges and that was also so.
It
is then logical to conclude that, the decision to postpone the election has
already been reached before the INEC meeting and consultations with
stakeholders on Saturday. And that everything that happened at the meetings are
the consultations, were just mere political set up to fulfill all
righteousness. The truth is, the decision had already been taken before the
meeting on Saturday, that was why Associated Press was able to report it just
the way it happened before it happened!
Meanwhile,
after the election, going by the new date; March 28, it is either the people
choose to maintain the status quo or choose to go for change.
However,
since the conclusion of the Presidential primary of the All Progressives
Congress (APC); the major opposition party in the country, which finally
produced General Buhari as their Presidential candidate, the campaign proper,
has been from one form of attack to the other, from one form of character
assassination to another and from one form of propaganda to the other from both
major political parties.
Although,
the desperation of the ruling party has been so obvious, it has shown on
several occasions and with several scenarios that it`s so desperate to maintain
the status quo and keep the president in office for four (4) more years. Hence,
it has harnessed various forms and methods to distort the credibility and
fitness of the opposition candidate for the position.
In
this article; I would be considering some of those desperate steps that have
been taken by the ruling party and the presidency to retain their positions and
maintain status quo as against the determination of the people to secure a
change at the poll. I have tried to compile a list of attacks that have been
used against the major opposition party`s candidate; General Mohammed Buhari
since the election process began.
ATTACK ON HIS AGE
This
appears to be the first attack that the presidency adopted as a tool against
General Buhari. On several occasions and through different means, they have
tried to confuse and not convince the people that General Buhari; 73, is too
old to become the president in a country where there are vibrant, agile and
strong youths.
However,
the people have responded and have maintained that, even if Buhari is older
than this, they are willing to vote for him, and that the great Mandela was 75,
when he became the President of South Africa.
ATTACK ON HIS PERSONALITY AND PAST
LEADERSHIP
In
an attempt to further confuse the people on why not to vote for the General,
the presidency also went on a personal attack on his personality and on his
leadership attributes when he was Head of State. He has been alleged of being a
religious extremist with an Islamic agenda to Islamize Nigeria. As desperate as
they are, they sponsored a documentary through some media (TV stations) that
was aimed at assassinating the character of the General. But you know what; the
documentary has only succeeded in assassinating the little left over
credibility of those media houses that allowed themselves to be used as a tool
for political gains. And again the people responded with great determination
that they aren’t moved in spite of the propaganda.
ATTACK ON HIS EDUCATION
You
cannot overestimate the desperation of the presidency in securing power for
four (4) more years. This time around, it was an attack on his educational
qualification. They want the people to feel that the General is not educated,
hence, not fit for the position of the presidency. But the truth is, the people
don`t care if the General is a PhD holder or not, or even if he has no
certificates. They know he is not a graduate of any university and he never for
once claims that. He has always been proud to present himself as secondary
school certificate holder and as a General.
The
determination of the people for change responded to the attack and said, even
if General Buhari presents his Birth Certificate as his educational certificate
that they are ready to vote for him. That’s to show how determined the people
are for change.
ATTACK ON HIS RELIGION
General
Buhari is just a devoted and dedicated Muslim just like many others in the
country today. However, in his own case, he`s dedication is being used against
him by the presidency to gainer more votes for itself. On several occasions, he
has been falsely accused of being a religious fanatic with the intension of
Islamizing the country. But the fact is, the people maintained their position
for change, with a consolation that; Nigeria with its level of socialization
and exposure is too big of a nation in all its forms to be Islamized by one
man. Aside from that, even as a General, when he had the veto power to make
such happens, he didn’t do it. How then will he now do such when he is
returning as a democratically elected President?
ATTACK ON HIS HEALTH
While
the ruling party and the presidency have gone on rampage showing their
desperations to win the election, the attack on General Buhari`s health was not
left untouched. It was wrongly reported that Buhari collapsed during the presidential
campaign rally of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Calabar. Cross River
State, hence not fit for the presidency and should go treat himself. But one
thing is sure, unlike President Yaradua, that was not available during most of
his campaign rally, General Buhari, has actively been on the ground all through
his campaign and has been actively involved. To show more desperation, about
the health of the President as a reason for him not being fit, the Governor of
Ekiti State, made public an advertorial depicting a possible death wish for the
General. In all of these, the people have been so resolute about their choice
of candidate and a strong need to vote for change.
This
is the first time in the history of our democracy since 1999 that the incumbent
is finding it pretty difficult to believe what they are seeing and is being
scared of losing the election. Before now, they have always been at the better
side of victory.
As
it stands now, it seems there is no time the election is held that it would not
result to victory for the opposition party. The desperation of the presidency
has been quite obvious but also the determination of the people has been very
strong and firm. The people do not care about the attacks and propaganda any
longer, what they simply desire is change.
While
some believe that it is the desperation of the presidency to maintain the
status quo that influenced the postponement of the election, one thing is
certain, whether the election holds today or tomorrow or next year, the people
are tired of celebrating Mediocracy as Transformation Agenda. They want to try
change and are ready to get with all determinations.
God
Bless Nigeria
Ogundana
Michael Rotimi
I
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