I congratulate President-Elect YarAdua, Vice President-Elect Jonathan Goodluck and President Obasanjo, the people and government of Nigeria on the election of a president and vice president respectively.
President-Elect Umaru YarAdua, Vice President-Elect Goodluck Jonathan and their PDP campaigned throughout Nigeria. They campaigned vigorously, even with a very hectic and rigorous campaign schedule. The president and vice president elect traversed the entire land space in Nigeria.
Conversely, the opposition political parties vacillated and procrastinated. The opposition political parties swung between platitudes and threats of violence and anarchy, as they told Nigerians and the entire world many stories that were clearly at variant with reality! The opposition political parties stated too many mutually exclusive positions, amongst which are:
(A) The opposition political parties stated that the elections would not take place because President Obasanjo is unwilling to leave the political scene at the end of his constitutionally permitted two terms of four years per term.
(B) The opposition political parties also threatened to boycott the elections
(C) The opposition political parties at some point, also promised to present a fusion or common presidential candidate to fight the PDP and its candidates for the elections.
(E) The opposition political parties, in their last-ditch desperation, sought by means fair and foul, to have a postponement of the elections. But they failed woefully on every count. And of course, the elections proceeded as planned. The opposition political parties apparently do not like the outcome of the just concluded general elections!
(F) They, the political opposition parties now say, the election results should be cancelled, just because they have lost? Why did the opposition political parties lose the elections? Why did they have such poor showing and outcome?
Their loss was of course expected! They did not campaign, they did not have ANY focus or sustained strategy… they were always in flux and their position was always, always, always so fluid! Why are they then surprised that they have lost? I am at a loss!
The opposition political parties have been threatening violence, anarchy, coup, lawlessness instead of trying to convince the Nigerian electorate as to what their various political parties would do differently, compared with the ruling party, the PDP.
Nigeria and Nigerians do not need violence! Nigerians need good government and good governance. A government and a leadership that improves lives and delivers on its promises and follows through with policies and programs upon which campaigns and manifestoes were based.
Nigerians do not need violence. Anyone who foments violence, would, and should expect to be consumed by it. And such fomenter of violence must not take Nigeria and Nigerians with them into self-destruction. Those headed for the precipice, much go alone!
Those who were unsuccessful at the just concluded elections should embrace the rule of law, due process and democracy. Those who have genuine grievances should head for petitioning at various elections tribunal and Nigerian courts for redress. So long as they have credible evidence and proof of irregularities or fraud. The burden is on them.
No one must resort to self-help or extra-judicial means or methods. All Nigerians must be reminded that the best cure for imperfect democracy is more democracy! Even as old as American democracy is, when there are elections irregularities or frauds, the Americans rely on public hearings, elections petitions and the judicial process! The current federal government of America was produced through such a process.
The presidential elections between President George W. Bush and the former Vice President Al Gore was deadlocked and was eventually decided by the Supreme Court of the United States!
I applaud President Obasanjo, President-Elect Umaru YarAdua and Vice President-Elect Goodluck Jonathan, for a gallant election battle and the resulting victory.
I call for national reconciliation and unity for Nigeria’s rapid ascent to Nigeria’s pride of place on the world stage and global scheme of things.
Nigeria’s national interests is clearly above the interests of individuals or political groups…. when it is all said and done, it is all about… NIGERIA, NIGERIA & NIGERIA!
God Bless NIGERIA!
10 comments
Dear Thomas Osuji:
I am a Nigerian Canadian writing you from Brandon Manitoba.
I have an urgent matter that I want you to look into for us. With
your status as a newspaper columnist and human right advocate,
you can facilitate the process of the matter.
Mrs. Margaret Idisi, the wife of Chief Humphrey Idisi, the oil magnate
was abducted on the 19th of April, 2008, today making it 8 days since
the abduction. She is not in good health to start with and the condition
of abduction is so unbearable to the strong not to talk about the weak.
Can you get on the Nigerian government and particularly, President Umaru
Musa Shehu Yar’Adua to look into the situation? I am a minister of the
gospel and Chief Idisi is my wife’s uncle and they are in Nigeria.
I will appreciate it if you can give this matter an urgent treatment and make
it a priority case.
Thank you for listening to me and reading my letter. May His grace be
multiply to you and your wife including your family and the staff in Jesus
Name.
Warmest Regards,
Rev. Henry A Idonije
God Bless Nigeria. Nothing happens without God's approval. One love my people.
There is no doubt whatsover that Mr. Adujie is a paid agent of Obasanjo's fraudulent and criminal acts. In all your writings about this lawless government, you have showed some crude mentality and support for Obasanjo's fraudulent behaviors and arrogance. This is a government that has stolen vitually every dollar generated from her oil without any serious commitment to the growth and development of the country in 8 years in office. There must be something that OBJ is giving you and your agents to support his government. Otherwise, why must any right thinking person congratulate a person purported to have won such a fraudulent elcetion that has been condemned by international observers and every Nigerian person? If Mr. Adujie truely is very convinced that Yar'Adua actually won the elections inspite of the numerous frauds observed during the elections, then he must be a very dishonest son of Nigeria. Even where all the international groups that monitored the elections unanimously agreed that the entire process was nothing to write home about (better referred to as a sham), yet Mr. Adujie still feels that it is alright for Obasanjo, Iwu and other brainless INEC officials to impose their stooge on the people of Nigeria. This is really very sad for Nigeria to produce someone like Mr. Adujie as a true son of the country. In fact, Mr. Adujie must be living in the past and he is an agent of evil. If Yar'Adua on the other hand is convinced that he had won a free and fair elections, he must be a jack-moslem to say the least. Yar'Adua must reject this presidential victory that is being offered him by his masters because he cannot benefit from a dubious and fraudulent elections to claim victory. His acceptance of a flawed, manipulated and seriously rigged election is an indication of his ineptitude and very anti-islam because islamic faithfuls must never accept an unjust outcome. This time, his despiration will surely fail him becuase any outcome that is built on fraud must fail in the long run. Mr. Adujie should also burry his head in shame for congratulating robbers and a fraudulent exercise.
Sometimes I think Nigerians are quick to forget or the heat from the sun in that country is frying the brains of the people.
Why should we care for the losers of this election? Are they not the same goons that won the rigged elections of 2003 as PDP members? Now that they've decamped to other parties they want the poor masses to fight/rally against the winners this time around? When these thieves were stealing money and enjoying their ill-gotten wealth, they did not call us to come and chop with them.
Nigerians should rally to all stay home on May 1st to show these people we are not fools.
The opposition should stop trying to incite us.
Mike, please can you clarify what you mean by "Yaradua is a non-starter"?
And what the f*ck does "irrendities" mean? Don't blame me I am a scientist not an english major!!!
Hogwash..as usual, a regurguitation of irrendities. What we will not know is the future- but to support the absurd in the name of let us see is not only foolish but cowardly. Yaradua is a non-starter!
Adebisi, Biko – Hold your peace. Can you swear that "more and more Nigerian youths…." You have been mis-indoctrinated. You cannot love Nigerian youths more than Mr Adujie whose nick-name (by the way is: I LOVE NIGERIA.
What is the meaning of "sociopolitical fraud"? Do you doubt that Umar Yar'Ardua won the Presidency? Did Buhari win but was rigged out? (Have you forgotten that our own very Kongi advised us (and we verily believe him) that a wicked ex-military dictator should not be elected?)
Did Atiku win? As an educated man, don't just join the insanity over the internet. Most of those people are paid to write garbage about their country, its leaders and its institutions. Mr Adujie's write up is excellent truthful and patriotic. The youths should rally round Umar Yar'Ardua to move Nigeria forward. Niger Delta problem is temporary and we shall eventually say: SHAME ON YOU PEOPLE that advocate armed struggle by others but are scared to face the bullet yourself. Omoluabi ni e o. "Ma ba ara e je o"!
Adebisi Olubowale
What do you expect Mr President to do in the situation that he found himself? Hand over power to Mr Atiku that all will sell this country for five pence, or to the ex general whose action in the early eighties plugged Nigeria into a tunnel of hopelessness for almost three decades.
Though Mr Buhara is known to be very patriotic, you cannot rule out the facts that his regime was characterised with cruse abuse of human right. While Mr Atiku has a history of being corrupt right from the customs. The only credible person among the top runners for the office of Mr President was the person of Umaru Ya Adua. His tenure as governor was one of the best. We should see the action of the president as the best for the nation, just as late Boris Yetsin appointed Mr Putin after trying many hands
The more i educate myself about Yar 'Adua, the more I think God is up to something wonderful for Nigerians. Please checkout: http://www.tribune.com.ng/25042007/gamji_feat.html
Un-believable!!!
Shame on you people. Do you know how long it has been since we got independence? Yet we have not learnt to get it right. Congratu… what???? What is the purpose of the congratulations? That more and more Nigerian youths are going to continue to be plagued with abject poverty, unsure future, social ammenities and security? Why dont we take the veil off and tell it as it is?
With an attitude like this, where we applaud apparent sociopolitical fraud, I will not be suprised if one day, Nigerian youths take up arms and force the elites in the country to take their future seriously, and not just that of their kids – trust me, it is already happening in the Niger Delta