A former special aide to the late M.K.O. Abiola and Abuja-based veteran journalist, Olu Akerele, has described the emergence of Muhammadu Buhari in the presidential election as victory for democracy.
Mr. Akerele noted that Buhari’s victory was akin to Mr. Abiola’s in 1992, which broke all ethnic barriers in the country, raising him as President.
He pointed out that “Buhari made history as he triumphed over religious, ethnic and regional cleavages to win the presidential election”.
He said despite efforts by ethnic jingoists in parts of the South-South and South-East geopolitical zones to turn the historic victory into a regional affair, the president-elect won squarely meeting all constitutional requirements.
Mr. Akerele said the Buhari team, made up of personalities Bola Tinubu, who he described as the astute and formidable politician in Nigeria, and Abubakar Atiku, former vice-president, were members of the Abiola political family.
“It is apparent that the Abiola spirit still lives as the brains behind that success story are in place to ensure actual change in the nation’s development leap,” said.
The veteran journalist added, “As ghosts are said to be spirits that rise from the dead, the ghost of June 12 and the late icon of democracy has at last resurrected in the resounding victory of the APC presidential candidate, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.”
He said Mr. Buhari’s victory was not only cross-culture in its diversity, “it was in fact, secured by a free-willing and free acting electorate though encumbered by, but stridently resistant to, the cankerworm of geopolitics, ethnography and religious divide.”
He lauded President Goodluck Jonathan for conceding defeat, urging all the president’s supporters to take a cue and accept the outcome of the elections.
Mr. Akerele advised persons aggrieved from the National Assembly elections to seek justice in the law courts rather than resorting to self help.
He urged Mr. Buhari to adhere strictly to his campaign promises as the people have long been deprived of the dividends of democracy which the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP) used in climbing into office.
“The incoming Federal Government must as a priority ensure it lives up its mantra of change if it hopes to rebuild the battered image of government,” Mr. Akerele said.
