Thursday, April 30, 2015
THE POWER TO CHANGE NIGERIA IS IN OUR HANDS
Prior to the 2015 general elections, Nigerians were divided between those who wanted more of Jonathan and those who preferred a return to Buhari rather than a rerun of Jonathan. Among the Jonathanians were a number of people who unrelentingly worked to slander General Buhari and to distort public perception of the man; then there were the others who unabashedly lapped up whatever broth Buhari's slanderers chose to serve.
In the aftermath of these elections, many of these people have remained in denial of the reality on the ground, the reality that, despite their lies and half-truths, this country will be led by President Muhammadu Buhari over the next four years. But there are other Jonathanians who have embraced reality, who have chosen to remember that ours is Project Nigeria, rather than Project Buhari or Project Jonathan. This class of Jonathanians have, while preserving their preference for Jonathan, accepted that the 15 million other Nigerians who thought differently should have their way - at least for the next four years.
In accepting that however, they have - as true Nigerians - begun to make their own contributions to nation-building by giving advice - advice that Jonathan would have profited from had he been given and had he listened; advice that Buhari may yet profit from were he to listen. One of these Nigerians is Senator-elect Ben Murray Bruce. In this article, he draws Buhari's attention to a number of issues that, in his opinion, need careful attention. While I may not agree with every letter of his article, I admire the fact that this gesture has come from a "Jonathanian" and I hope some other ones I know can learn a thing or two from this. Most importantly, I hope the President-Elect picks two things or three from this.
The power to bless Nigeria may rest in the Hands of God, but the power to change Nigeria is in our hands - yours, mine, Buhari's. Let's get started. The clock never stopped ticking.