“Human progress is neither automatic nor inevitable. Every step toward the goal of justice requires sacrifice, suffering, and struggle; the tireless exertions and passionate concern of dedicated individuals.” — Martin Luther King, Jr.
THE 2015 general elections might be over but the indelible footprints it left on our political shore will remain trans-generational in the annals of history. Historians will continue to make reference to 2015 as a year that redefined Nigeria’s political voyage, when taken into considerations landmark successes recorded during the course of this noble exercise and the entrenchment of democratic principles in the polity, which ultimately made Nigeria the true winner of these elections.
It is no longer news that President Goodluck Jonathan of PDP, gallantly lost to Gen. Muhammadu Buhari of All Progressives Congress, who is now President-Elect of Nigeria. Congratulations to the nation’s indefatigable President-Elect, Gen.Muhammadu Buhari, who defiled all the hurdles placed on his way to emerge as the nation’s democratically elected president, but a million congratulations should go to President Jonathan, who made it possible for the long-silenced voice of Nigerians to be heard now by creating an enabling political environment that enabled our votes to count, by providing Prof. Attahiru Jega’s led INEC adequate resources and true independence it required to deliver the much-needed free and fair elections. President Jonathan transcended into heaven of statesmen and engraved his name in gold when he made that historic call to congratulate Gen. Buhari, which secured the much needed post-election peace in the country.
This courageous step has not only deepened our democracy, but has set the pace for losers in the just concluded Governorship and State Assembly polls to congratulate the winners.The story of 2015 general elections would not be complete without mentioning the roles played by Igbos in deepening Nigeria’s democracy. I was inspired to write this piece when I came across articles written for the sole purpose of portraying Igbos as being politically naïve for throwing their weight behind President Jonathan. Some of the so-called voodoo analysts described Igbos as a race wallowing in ‘political wildernesses’ because of their massive and formidable support for President Jonathan. Unfortunately, all these baseless and ignoble attacks on Igbo nation for making their choice were borne out of sheer ignorance of what truly defines an Igbo man or woman. These media tigers pouring venoms on Igbo race are simply bereft of the reasons why Igbos voted for Jonathan. Igbos voted for Justice, Equity and Freedom not Jonathan, fortunately for him, he represented the three main reasons why Igbos voted for PDP in bloc. President Jonathan did a lot to heal the wounds of civil war which endeared him to the Igbos; he gave Igbos a sense of belonging by integrating Igbos both politically and economicallyinto the nation’s centrifugal equation of governance. He made Igbos understood that this country belongs to all of us, irrespective of our places of birth, tribe and religion.
I can say it authoritatively without mincing words that Igbos will still vote for Jonathan a thousand times again without regrets if he chooses to contest again in the near future; as long as we continue to sense that scent of justice, equity and freedom in him. Anyone accusing Igbos of being gullible for voting for justice and self-emancipation in the name of Jonathan, is either drowning in the ocean of naivety or wandering in the desert of illusions, which is the hallmark of a person crying more than the bereaved.
To be continued…
Mr. Chidiebere, a social commentator, wrote from Abuja.
source:vanguard
God bless u sir
ReplyDeleteSensible write up.
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