It seems all angles to the 2015 Nigeria's general elections debate, where the retired Head of States Major General Muhammad Buhari of the All Progressives Congress (APC) won convincingly has been exhausted. Which then leaves President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan of the People's Democratic Party (PDP) who conceded defeat by calling to congratulate Buhari even before the electoral commission (INEC) was done with the counting of votes cast, to conduct a handing over of government by the 29th of May 2015.
When the election was over, and peaceful as affirmed by both international and national election monitoring agencies, the world then began to wonder how and why the much predicted, and obviously evident threat of a broken and shattered Nigeria has not come to pass in violent chaos. It was this 2015 elections that so many pundits across the world including the United States of America (USA) gave as a pointer to a probable devastating war in Nigeria that would rock Africa and consequently, the world. And indeed, the tension was extremely high, that even Nigerians - both rich and poor - began exiting the Nation just before the election day. Not to mention how other nations warned their citizens resident or about coming into Nigeria, against the idea of staying put in the nation during the elections. It was heart wrenching for the passionate Nigerians and religionists who couldn't leave the country for one reason or another.
With the afore described scenario, the masses became helpless. And as usual, they cringed. The weak began to pray for peace vehemently, especially with Boko Haram- the violent Islamic extremists in the northeast insisting that Nigeria must become a Caliphate by killing and maiming citizens so ravenously that it seemed the FG and even the "Allied forces", including US forces could not stop them. The Christians got certified prayer warriors, insinuating there was a plan to kill all those worshipping Jesus by Boko Haram. But the Muslims refuted the claim saying Boko Haram is a product from hell and not from Allah or fighting for Islam as they claimed because they were equally massacring Muslims.
The critics began shouting on both ends. The Jonathan critics condemned him for everything from security down to being a moron! They argued, he's too weak to lead a nation like Nigeria. For many, Jonathan condoned corrupt officials who stole government money endlessly without checks either in court or by any known FG's so called "transparency" measures, especially with his popular definition of "stealing not being corruption" on his popular Presidential media chat program. For such critics, Jonathan was a symbol of a weakling and a fraud to even be considered by any measure to contest for a presidential election in Nigeria again.
The critics against Buhari took him up on majorly two points: 1, his former Military rule status where his measures were, as alleged, extremely draconian with such one-sided shambolic approach, and without apology even after so many years after the memorable "War Against Indiscipline" militaristic campaign. 2, TINUBU. The Lion of Bourdillon, The Jagaban of Borgu in Niger State, Nigeria, the Asiwaju of Eko city (Lagos), the Oju yo'bo (popping eyed) of the street urchins, the self styled "Awolowo" of our time, the indefatigable commercial politician of the 21st century and a former Lagos State Governor, Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Then the next question would be, why? What is the concern of Tinubu with Buhari?
Only a rookie in the history of Nigerian politics would not know readily the adventures and follower-ship of Tinubu, whether negative or positive. Tinubu is alleged to have been the only man who single handedly installed both the outgoing and incoming Governors of Lagos State and some other southwestern States going to ten years now. The stories has it that he took over control of tax collections across these states with the machinery of his private agency - Alpha-Beta Consulting. If what we hear is true: that Tinubu's Alpha-Beta makes 5 billion naira monthly from Lagos state government alone through collection of tax, there would be no need for him to own half of the landmass in Lagos as alleged through buying of all government available properties. That simply would have been too much for one man to acquire. But that's the potent rumor in town, and that's what an average rumor monger who forms the larger part of the Nigeria population believe about this phenomenon called Tinubu. To many who detest his guts, he's a slave master. He spends recklessly to back candidates into position of power only to enslave the masses at the long run through collection of taxes via the state governors, collection of huge contracts, building roads with toll-gates within states... And so on and so forth! What more would we not hear about this Trojan horse?
Fortunately or unfortunately, Tinubu was the bedrock of the multi-party merger from north to south of nigeria that gave the ruling and outgoing PDP government the fight of her life. It's this same merger that threw up Buhari as the sole candidate to contest the presidential slot on behalf of APC against Jonathan. It was Tinubu who insisted through his grandeur manipulation amongst the ranks of the ex-generals whom so many pundits believe curry so much influence in power play in Nigeria. Tinubu it was, who volunteered in the group of the APC party leaders to spend billions to back Buhari to change Nigeria for better. Today, Buhari is president-elect. Even Buhari himself could not help but gave kudos to Tinubu first during his acceptance speech in the presence of the entire world press when certificate of return was being handed to him by the electoral agency, INEC. This is the common denominator between Buhari and Tinubu.
Naturally during the campaign leading to the elections, Jonathan suffered his alleged "moron" and "corruption" stand while Tinubu more than Buhari suffered his believed "slavery mentality syndrome" (SMS). It was indeed a fierce battle among the registered, unregistered, employed and unemployed followers of the 2 parties. Accusations upon accusations, litigations upon litigations. This election more than ever, threatened the existence of nigeria. Breaking the nation into pieces was rife, yet the optimists kept crying and shouting to an unseen force to help dispel the impending doom. This election proved to show that there are no religion or worshipper that's beyond the Almighty God because Nigerians became united in calling this one Single God in as much as varied languages that exist in the nation and beyond. Maybe that was it, maybe that was the only thing we were yet to do that rocked the nation to her roots for ages.
Because, how did it become so blissful, not even sparks of riot after an election in Nigeria? Impossible! Even litigations are hard in coming. So what was it or who were/was the grand planner(s) of achieving this feat? We were heading for war they say. They were very sure! Then an answer runs through my mind, Tinubu and GEJ. Beyond the rhetorics of the men of God whose predictions toward the elections were neither here nor there, beyond the flair in the dancing and tearing of his PDP membership registration card comedy on national television of the likes of Obasanjo, beyond the reverie of Reverend Mbaka's weeping ascension against Jonathan in the daily newspapers and the rest, only Tinubu and GEJ conforms to some examples in the bible.
During the days of Prophet Isaiah son of Amoz in the old testament, Nebuchadnezzar was a great and wicked king. He was the king used by God to bring Israel (which happens to be the nation backed by God Almighty) into captivity in Babylon so that His prophesies might come true and most importantly, to correct the pervasiveness of the children of God in Israel. This king ruled over nations (from Iraq to Ethiopia), amassing taxation all through... But it was under this same "enemy of God-king", that the children of Israel under his captivity in Babylon, prospered. The likes of Daniel, Shedrack, Meshack, Abednego, Mordecai, Esther, Nehimiah and the rest became notable. They later led the Israelites out of bondage in their different capacity for a reestablishment with CHANGED hearts. The most important thing in this narration is that that king allowed himself to be used by God to turn Israel back to God. Tinubu may have been bad as some have claimed given all the allegation. The fact remains that he has released himself to God as weapon for this change Nigeria is witnessing.
As for Jonathan, his story is more of Ahab son of Omri, also a king in Israel of the old testament. Ahab was/is seen as a weakling because his wife Jezeebel thwarted all of his attempted good reason and he always complied. But Ahab gave Elijah, that fiery prophet, the chance to come into town after 3 years of drought that Elijah cursed Israel to standstill without rain. Yet, Ahab did not only allowed him into town, but he agreed to the challenge posed by Elijah to engage the 400 prophets of Baal who had, hitherto served Ahab and Jezeebel when Elijah cursed Israel. Though the Baal prophets as much as they tried, could not cause rain to fall for the 3 years Elijah was in self exile. Ahab allowed the contest and all Baal prophets were murdered in accordance with the dictate of the contest. Rain fell thereafter, Ahab was happy and threw a party even though his wife wasn't happy. For Ahab, as long as rain showered to kill the drought in Israel, he was happy. He did it for his people... He laid down his ego to save the lives of his people! Same with Jonathan and Nigeria.
No matter what anybody say about these two characters; GEJ and TINUBU, for me, they have yielded to the call of the almighty as at when needed. Irrespective of their disposition, GEJ averted war in the Nation suppressing his ego and power for his people and Tinubu used all he has; power money and all to transport CHANGE from the spiritual realm to the physical even when our "men of God" could not or were not worthy to be used by God for this great feat. Nigeria is all the better for it. No wonder, GEJ became more popular across the world for that 1 second call he did to concede defeat more than his 16 years of being in power with PDP at various levels of leadership. Tinubu for whatever you care, remains a phenomenon.
