By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
  • Home
  • International
    InternationalShow More
    United Nations
    4th International Conference On Financing For Development Delivers Renewed Hope And Action For Sustainable Development
    2 weeks ago
    The African Development Bank and the United Nations Human Settlements Programme (UN-Habitat) scale up drive for sustainable urbanization in Africa
    AfDB, UN-Habitat Scale Up Drive For Sustainable Urbanisation In Africa
    2 weeks ago
    UN
    North Africa: Green Climate Fund Approves Record $300m For FAO-designed Projects In Papua New Guinea, Saint Lucia, The Sahel
    2 weeks ago
    UNICEF
    How Wars Across Middle East, North Africa Affecting Children – UNICEF
    2 weeks ago
    UNDP
    UN Development Programme Welcomes Historic Deal On Sustainable Development Even Amidst Global Turmoil
    2 weeks ago
  • Africa
    Africa
    Show More
    Top News
    AfDB Boss, Adesina To African Mayors: Let Us Act To Transform Africa’s Cities
    2 years ago
    2023 UN Water Conference: Nigeria Shares Success Stories In New York
    2 years ago
    First English Slave Fort In Africa Uncovered On Ghana’s Coast
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    At Gender Statistics Forum, African Leaders Urge Renewed Commitment To Quality Gender Data
    1 week ago
    Ooni’s Wife, Olori Temitope Enitan-Ogunwusi Takes Ile Ife Royalty To ADWIN Launch In Cote d’Ivoire
    1 month ago
    Independent UN Body Finds Systemic Racism Against Africans And People Of African Descent
    1 month ago
    Public Exit: Why South Africa Businesses Are Moving To Private Cloud
    1 month ago
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
    Politics
    Show More
    Top News
    APC Groups In Southwest Revolt, Dump Tinubu/Shettima Ticket For Atiku
    2 years ago
    Mbah’s Victory In Enugu State Excites Nilayo Sports Boss, Olopade
    2 years ago
    Tinubu Is An Actualiser, He Worked Hard To Win Presidential Election – Prince Mohammed
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Youth Party Releases Primary Election Guidelines Ahead of August 16 Bye-Elections
    5 hours ago
    Youth Party Appreciate Voters, Rejects Lagos Council Polls, Alleges Widespread Rigging
    1 day ago
    Lagos LG Poll: APC’s Osagie Daniel Coasting Home To Victory In Amuwo Odofin’s Ward K
    2 days ago
    Lagos LG Poll: I’ll Bring Government Closer To The People – APC Aspirant
    3 days ago
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
    News
    Show More
    Top News
    Ondo Governor, Akeredolu Begins Construction Of First Flyover In Akure
    2 years ago
    Celebration Of Life: Reverend Adewumi Jegede Of Later House Of God Assembly Buried Amid Pomp
    1 year ago
    Pa Abdulfatah Amoo Ayanwale
    Pa Ayanwale Dies At 76, Fidau Prayers Holds 8 August
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    She Was an Amazon Who Left Indelible Marks — Ayorinde Pays Tribute to Late Ambassador Adefope
    6 days ago
    IMSUAA 2025 Convention Mascot: A Symbol Of Love, Unity And Cultural Diversity
    1 week ago
    Lagos Hosts Groundbreaking Revenue Recovery Summit
    1 week ago
    CFE Foundation Seeks Sponsors to Sustain Humanitarian Programs Amidst Funding Challenges
    2 weeks ago
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
    Entertainment
    Show More
    Top News
    Come Play Naija Season 2 Finale, BB Titans, Other Shows On GOtv This Weekend
    3 years ago
    Bishop Obey-Fabiyi, Onaolapo, Back May 7 World Praise Day
    2 years ago
    Savy Henry Evicted From Nigerian Idol Season 8
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Purp vs Raymu: Who Will Be Crowned The Next Nigerian Idol?
    7 days ago
    Local Content Powers African Dreams
    1 week ago
    The Drama Returns As BBNaija ‘No Loose Guard’ Reunion Premieres June 23
    3 weeks ago
    You Can’t Fake it — James Omekwe On MultiChoice’s Impact On African Filmmaking
    1 month ago
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
    Lifestyle
    Show More
    Top News
    YSMA
    Yemisi Shyllon Museum of Art and Toledo Museum of Art Launch Historic Cultural Exchange
    2 months ago
    Leadership
    CEO Shares 3 Qualities Every Effective Leader Has
    1 year ago
    ‘Artificial Nails, Wigs Attract Misfortune To Ladies’
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    Noble Call to Service: Inside the Induction of 104 New Knights of St. Mulumba
    4 weeks ago
    Joining The Knighthood Brings You Closer To God -Sir Eva Njemanze
    4 weeks ago
    Africa Tech Festival Unveils Strategic Themes For 2025 Event,
    1 month ago
    Lagos SWAN Joins UN To Celebrate World Nutrition Month At Unilag Confab
    2 months ago
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
    BusinessShow More
    Petralon's Nigerian Drilling Campaign to Boost Offshore Oil Output
    Petralon’s Nigerian Drilling Campaign To Boost Offshore Oil Output
    7 days ago
    Year 2025
    How Nigeria Can Unleash Its Economic Potential – IMF
    1 week ago
    GTCO Plc Becomes 1st West Africa’s Financial Services Institution To Achieve Listing And Trading Of Its Ordinary Shares On London Stock Exchange
    1 week ago
    Unity Bank
    Unity Bank Empowers Young Entrepreneurs With ₦16M Business Grant
    2 weeks ago
    NNPCL Board Accused Of Planning Lavish Party In Rwanda Amidst N210tn Financial Scandal
    3 weeks ago
  • Health
    Health
    Show More
    Top News
    Lagos Moves To Tackle Neglected Tropical Diseases In 20 LGAs
    2 years ago
    2 Billion Genetically Modified Mosquitos To Release In The US
    Dangerous New Mosquito Breed Invades Ghana
    2 years ago
    IAS 2023: Health Leaders Celebrate Australia's HIV Success
    IAS 2023: Health Leaders Celebrate Australia’s HIV Success
    2 years ago
    Latest News
    SSB Tax: Industry Actors, Paid Mouthpieces Slammed Over Campaign To Stop CAPPA
    5 days ago
    CAPPA Warns Nigerians On Excessive Consumption Of Sugar-sweetened Beverages, Says Nigeria Is In The Throes Of Public Health Crisis
    6 days ago
    Rising Non-communicable Diseases: WHO Wants Higher Taxes For Sugary Drinks, Alcohol, Tobacco
    1 week ago
    WHO Unveils Bold Push To Raise Health Taxes And Save Millions Of Lives
    1 day ago
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Reading: For PMB, It’s Nigeria And Nothing Else By Femi Adesina
Share
Notification Show More
Aa
Independent News ExpressIndependent News Express
Aa
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
  • Politics
  • News
  • Entertainment
  • Lifestyle
  • Business
  • Health
  • More
Search
  • Home
  • International
  • Africa
  • Corporate News
    • Media Outreach
  • Politics
  • News
    • Agriculture
    • Breaking News
    • Tech
    • Maritime
    • Crime
    • Art & Culture
  • Entertainment
    • Comedy
    • Movies
    • Music
    • Television
    • Concert & Events
  • Lifestyle
    • Fashion
    • Love & Life
    • Food & Drink
    • Travel & Tourism
    • Relationship
    • Sex
  • Business
    • Banking & Finance
    • Oil & Gas
  • Health
  • More
    • Sports
    • Aviation/Transportation
    • Deliverance Hour
    • Industry & Labour
    • Insurance
    • Interview
    • Judiciary
    • Metro
    • Opinion
    • Property
    • Religious
    • Romance
    • Science & Discovery
Have an existing account? Sign In
Follow US
  • Advertise
© 2022 Foxiz News Network. Ruby Design Company. All Rights Reserved.
Independent News Express > Blog > Opinion > For PMB, It’s Nigeria And Nothing Else By Femi Adesina
Opinion

For PMB, It’s Nigeria And Nothing Else By Femi Adesina

Last updated: 2023/03/03 at 4:25 PM
2 years ago
Share
SHARE

In some other lands and climes, elections are held on weekdays, in which people cast their votes, and proceed to the office, or other places of endeavor.

But here, we must first die many times before our death, when elections approach. Many are the doomsday scenarios painted, that we do not know whether to stay in the country or show a clean pair of heels. To japa, as the new lingo has it.

The 2023 presidential and National Assembly election was not different. Some young mothers were already conceiving how they would strap their babies to their backs, and make a dash for it, when trouble flares. To where, specifically, I asked one of them. To nowhere, she responded. “I’ll just start running.” Lol.

- Advertisement -
Ad imageAd image

Many were also the family heads who had started planning where they would seek refuge with their ‘entourage’ when the bubble bursts. But elections are not war, and should not be.

But do you blame Nigerians? No, you shouldn’t. History has shown us that one election is progressively worse than the other in the country. Well, till President Muhammadu Buhari came in 2015.

I was already here, but too young to remember the elections that led to ‘Operation Wet e’ (douse with petrol and set ablaze) in the mid-60s, which caused severe unrest in the Western part of the country, and eventually culminated in seizure of power by the military, and dovetailed into the Civil War.

The next was the 1979 election. I was a young adult, and recall the sabre-rattling, the allegations of sharp practices and stealing of votes, pockets of violence, and loss of lives in some areas.

If that was bad, 1983 was worse. Sorrow, tears and blood. Riots, killings, civil unrest. Again, it contributed a long way to the takeover of power by the military in December of that year.

What of June 12, 1993? The mother of it all. Peaceful build up, calm polls, but how did it end? In a fiasco. The winner, Basorun MKO Abiola couldn’t assume office, as the ‘owners’ of the country annulled the election, and foisted an Interim National Government (ING) on us. It ended in another military adventurism.

How about 1999, 2003, 2007, and 2011? Rumors of war. Tears. Bloodshed. Panic, higgledy-piggledy. Why? Because we were holding elections. Should it happen that way?

But Muhammadu Buhari won the very pulsating race for power in 2015, and since then, our elections began to improve. Off-season polls didn’t have to be won by the party in power, through hook or crook. Let the people choose whoever they wanted, and we saw it in bold relief in Ondo, Kogi, Bayelsa, Anambra, Osun, Ekiti, and many other places. The mantra of President Buhari is; “let us respect our people, and let them choose whoever they want, across the party lines. Yes, I want my party to win, but then, our candidates must work for victory.”

It was against that backdrop that the 2023 elections held. Wherever and whenever he had the opportunity, locally, internationally, even at United Nations General Assembly, the greatest platform in the world, President Buhari said it. “I will leave the legacy of free, fair credible elections for Nigeria.” In other words, it won’t be a do or die affair, as we had once been told by a retreating President.

Even some of his party men and women began to suspect the President. Are you for us or against us? What is this dogged commitment to free, fair, credible polls, when we want to hold on to power for as long as possible? But the man was not fazed. He held onto his grounds, stuck to his guns. Even some economic policies, like the currency swap, which seemed to be hurting the people and reducing the chances of the All Progressives Congress (APC) for a possible return, President Buhari stuck to, knowing it was good for the country, and a veritable way to clean up our elections.

The first phase of the 2023 elections has been held, to elect a new President, and National Assembly members. Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu has been declared winner, and issued with Certificate of Return. Was it a perfect election? Not so. Electronic transmission of results failed, due to technical glitches, and the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had to resort to manual collation. Joseph Stalin, the Soviet Union tyrant had been credited with saying: “Those who cast the votes decide nothing. Those who count the votes decide everything.” Hmmmm. The Devil comes in during collation. Very serious. Did such happen in last Saturday’s election? We wait to see, depending on evidences that will be brought forward by those challenging the declared result.

But one thing is definite about President Buhari. He would never be part of any mago-mago or wuruwuru. Just give him unimpeachable evidence of underhand dealings, and he throws you away like a bad habit.

The President’s first loyalty is to the country. Unflinching. Unassailable. Despite being a loyal party man, and committed to the candidate of his party, whom he went round the country campaigning for, he told Nigerians several times: vote for the candidate of your choice across the parties. That’s the heart of a father, a man beyond partisan considerations, as a democratically elected President.

To prove cynics and septics wrong, the man displayed his ballot paper last Saturday, after voting for APC candidates. Some lawyers have criticized the action, saying it runs contrary to electoral laws. But we know why the President did it. To shut the mouths of conspiracy theorists, who had been trying to establish that he was against the candidate of his party.

There are contentions about the declared results. Yes, it is part of good electoral practices that those who have issues should be listened to. Even the President himself challenged election results up to Supreme Court three times. When he was ruled out the third time, he said “God dey.” And God eventually showed up. The Almighty is still at work in Nigeria.

President Buhari has provided a level playing field for all contestants in the election. Any other contrary thing was not at his instance or instigation. Couldn’t have been. He remains the authentic Nigerian hero, a stickler for integrity, accountability and rectitude.

*Adesina is Special Adviser to President Buhari on Media and Publicity

You Might Also Like

Impact Of Fake Colleagues In The Workplace By Timi Olubiyi, Ph.D.

Fr Mbaka’s Persistent Attacks Against Evangelist Ebuka Obi; A Serious Cause For Concern By Nene Daniels

Oborevwori And The Task Of Reconfiguring Delta APC

Are Africans Genetically Inferior? By Timi Olubiyi, Ph.D.

Vaping In Nigeria: Green Outside, Deadly Within By Robert Egbe

TAGGED: 2023 General Elections, Buhari
INadminNG March 3, 2023 March 3, 2023
Share This Article
Facebook Twitter Whatsapp Whatsapp LinkedIn Telegram Email Print
Previous Article Sanwo-Olu Lagos Guber Poll: Christians Back Sanwo-Olu For Second Term
Next Article Naira Redesign: Buhari Is A Disobeyer Of Court Order – Supreme Court
about us

Independent News Express (iNews Express), a publication of 4Ds Nigeria Limited, is birthed out of the desires of the founding fathers to report News as it is.

We value Professionalism, Excellence, Service, Creativity and Integrity.

The Company

  • Home
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Privacy & Policy

Quick Links

  • Advertise with us
  • Newsletters
  • Deal

Categories

Find Us on Socials

© Independent News Express. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Lost your password?