THE results of the just concluded presidential election, during which two prominent Nigerian citizens, incumbent President, Dr Goodluck Jonathan and former Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari slugged it out, have exposed the vanity in the religious perfidy and ethnocentric collocation between the duo and their supporters.Apparently, it has revealed that all is not well with Nigeria, and there is therefore, the urgent need to make its unity in diversity workable. This has remained a herculean task.Except for those who cannot read between the lines, the election is a clear indication that religion and ethnic attachment, not liberal and national politics still run in the veins of the citizens. It was clear that despite all efforts made by President Jonathan in his electioneering tour of every state in the North to seek votes, the people saw him as not being one of their own. It was also clear that despite all efforts by General Buhari, though he did not embark on aggressive campaigns in the South, he was seen as a northernera Hausa man who wants to continue the dominance of the North on Nigerias political scene.Apart from religious and ethnic attachments, there was also a flavour of political jingoism. The trio has often overshadowed any attachment to personality in our politics.From the results, one could assume that people did not vote on the ground of individual personality or they scarcely combined personality and party.On a serious note, however, Nigerian politics is still far from advanced democracy, but we shall be there some day.On the credibility of these two gentlemen, they may be ranked equal in certain aspects. Jonathan, as an individual has no problem. I have often said that his past records present him as a man willing and ready to deliver.The fear that many people entertained about him was connected with the political bloc and politicians around him. People clamour for a change. Change can hardly be attained with the old faces who have proffered all known solutions to Nigerias myriad challenges but failed. And they still insist on holding on to power to continue to proffer the same solutions.One is, thus, flabbergasted that since the PDP presidential primaries, the positions of the like of General Ibrahim Babangida and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar on zoning have remained uncertain, unclear or unknown. Does this mean that they have realised that there was no need for clamouring for regional politics in the first place There was a time when IBB threatened to pull out of the PDP, if the zoning arrangement of the party was not honoured to the fullest. A question from this is:Has the Northern politicians, who fought for this parochial demand caught up with the reality that the North/South political dichotomy is dangerous to the corporate existence of our dear countryBuhari is a good man, but his alliance with the masses and revelation of his true self during the past electioneering, cannot be jettisoned from being pivotal obstacles in his failed political machine.The Nigerian masses are yet too weak to be depended upon for victory in an election.They have proved to be easily induced because poverty and ill-health cohabit with them.And in Nigerian politics of today, it is difficult to convince the politicians, if one showed the intention to change the existing system overnight. A critic once said that a good man cannot rule Nigeria. Maybe the goodness lies in the individual penchant to effect a quick change. If not, it cannot be argued that some of our leaders of today are good in themselves, maybe different, because of political influence.In Nigeria, many politicians have perfected their ways to interact with different segments of the society. One finds that Alhaji A cannot be Alhaji A all the time. Similarly, Chief B is different in different scenes.This is part of the problems that have manifested in the current underdevelopment.Many politicians have proved to be unpredictable. They only pursue personal interests.If not, how can a Lagos-based ACN, with a presidential candidate - if he was accepted to be credible by the party - vote massively for another partyIf there is anything better than bravo to say to Buhari, many citizens would proclaim it without hesitation. He has shown his credibility in this election and should exit from the political scene - at least he should not ever think of contesting for any political position or he will continue to be deceived. He should accept the stark truth that the masses cannot break the sitting power.Nigerian politics does not need imams and pastors to lead the nation, but to bless the political leaders with prayers. He was advised to picking a pastor as a running mate instead of a core politician, basically because of the presumed postulation that he was an imam. An imam-pastor ticket it was!A splendid congratulations to Buhari for shaking the PDP-led government and making it realise that it has to sit up and provide the yearnings of Nigerians, not the party members alone. The Buhari s CPC, a toddler party of less than one year, has done so well in the ongoing general election. But it must accept the fact that, as the Arabs believe, the great is great. The PDP has maintained its greatness. CPC cannot claim to have the structure the PDP has built across the states in 12 years.So, the party must call its members to order. Even if they lose, there should be no violence. They should take the right path and channel their observations or criticisms to the INEC or election tribunal. Let there be no more loss of blood. We must stand up against violence and any civil disturbances.Although the election were generally seen as free and fair, the National Chairman and National Secretary of the CPC, Prince Tony Momoh and Buba Galadima (Engr.), have lodged their complaints to the INEC. The letter, copied to the press, international observers and foreign missions in Nigeria, the CPC is seeking cancellation of the election in Cross River, Akwa Ibom, Rivers, Bayelsa, Delta, Edo; Abia, Anambra, Enugu, Ebonyi, Ekiti, Ogun, Osun, Lagos, Sokoto, Kaduna, Jigawa, Gombe, Yobe, Zamfara, Adamawa, Nasarawa states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja.Congratulations to the PDP, to President Goodluck Jonathan and to his vice, Alhaji Namadi Sambo. They should not be carried away by this victory. Let them be guided by the spirit of no victor, no vanquished. Those who did not vote them may not hate them on their individual basis, but only wanted a change in the political direction. If Jonathan -Sambo, for instance, had contested under another partys plaform other than the PDP, I bet not that they would have swept the North. Even before the election, I have heard many northerners praising the good work of President Jonathan.Now, he is the President-Elect, the President of Nigeria, not of the PDP or any region.All these point to the fact that President Goodluck Jonathan has an enormous duty to unify this country and make it really one.Ajah, an advocate of humanity and good governance is based in Abuja.
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