On February 25th, 2023, something extraordinary happened. Nigerians had been eagerly anticipating the day they could finally bury a political party that seemed to thrive on inventing new ways to inflict pain on its people.
As they went into the presidential election with simmering anger, Nigerians were frustrated by the fact that they had been denied access to their own money in what could only be described as an atrocious monetary policy.
Unfortunately, President Buhari had become synonymous with failure due to his countless calamitous decision-making instances during his two tenures as military dictator and civilian president. It was no wonder why Nigerians were ready for a change.
It could be contended however, that Buhari's presidential failure can be attributed to a plethora of factors. Among these factors is the persisting doubt among Nigerians as to whether he is truly the one leading his administration or if it's a cabal hijacking his government. But, Buhari has repudiated these claims and emphasized his firm control over his administration. This therefore, means that the responsibility for the government's actions rests on his shoulders.
The failure of the Buhari government is evident, and Nigerians made their disdain clear by rejecting the APC in the last presidential election. However, Buhari's desperation for power led to the manipulation of the electoral process with the support of INEC.
Prior to the election, INEC had touted its use of technology as a means of ensuring a fair and transparent election. But in a shocking twist, the electoral body disregarded its own guidelines and proceeded with the election despite objections from opposing parties and even former president Olusegun Obasanjo's call for a cancellation.
This heinous act against the Nigerian people can only be attributed to the lack of respect and regard for their choice by those in power. It is apparent that a group of high-ranking individuals are working together to keep us in perpetual suffering and maintain their hold on power. Buhari's poor performance in office is part of this agenda, and they are now seeking someone even worse than him to continue their agenda.
It is absurd to suggest that Nigerians have rewarded failure with more years in office by electing the All Progressives Congress (APC), in the last election. Instead, it is evident that we have been deprived of our right to choose a leader who will truly represent our interests. Moreover, it is unacceptable that an all-Muslim ticket was presented to the people, as Nigeria is a multi-religious and multi-ethnic society that deserves a leadership that reflects its diversity.
The notion that Tinubu, a man with a history of drug-related crimes, is the choice of the people is laughable. The same can be said of a man who is too old, unhealthy, and bears a striking resemblance to Buhari, whose first tenure was plagued by his frequent medical trips abroad.
It is also alarming that a man who has been known to use thugs to disrupt democratic processes in Lagos state and other parts of the country is being touted as Nigeria's choice. If at all the APC had any chance of winning the February 25th presidential election, Bola Tinubu is simply not the right candidate, nor a Muslim-Muslim ticket the right formula. The whole thing just doesn't add up.
In the last presidential election, Nigerians rejected the APC and instead voted for Peter Obi of the Labour Party (LP), a party that was mocked as unpopular and without political structures and holding no politically elected office in the country. The credibility of INEC was called into question as the results uploaded on its result viewing portal IREV contradicted what was declared by INEC. We cannot pretend that this doesn't matter.
There were also plenty of tampered result sheets on the IREV, which showed LP results switched or reduced and added to the APC or PDP all over the country. All of this excludes incidents of voter suppression and other irregularities reported on the day of the election.
Although the will of the people was openly and brazenly truncated by the Buhari government's failure to ensure a free, fair and credible election, members of the corrupt group holding the nation captive were out telling Nigerians to accept the outcome of the election and move on for the sake of peace and unity. This is unacceptable!
Nigerians cannot be told to accept a president they didn't vote for when nothing is done to address the faulty process by which his victory was derived. As Peter Obi rightly said during an appearance as a guest on the Arise Television Morning Show interview program, Nigeria has the habit of accepting "what is unacceptable" as the will of God.
"God’s wish is when you do the right thing. Is it God’s wish that we remain poor as a country despite its abundant blessings on us?" he questioned.
The right to a credible election is not about any particular individual but about doing the right thing. Winning an election isn't just about the popular vote; it's about winning the people. However, the Buhari government and those responsible for the lack of progress in the country want Nigerians to accept more years of suffering. But that's not going to happen this time.
That's why the Obidient movement is so strong and resilient. We've had enough failures in this country and want a better future for ourselves and generations to come. We want to experience good governance like other developed nations who are not as blessed as we are. A small group of people cannot continue to mess with the lives of over 200 million people.
We are currently in court to reclaim what is rightfully ours. The court must do the right thing by delivering a fair judgment and in the process, redeem its tattered image.
As things stand, the Nigerian government isn't interested in the anomalies that won Tinubu the last election, despite overwhelming evidence. It chose to side with Tinubu, confirming that what happened on February 25th wasn't just about INEC or Mahmoud, but that the Buhari government orchestrated it all. It was a coup against the Nigerian people, and we cannot allow it to stand.
The Buhari government has already initiated the transition process, and Nigerians are warned against undermining the May 29th inauguration event.
What we are witnessing is an example of state capture. Buhari and his cronies know that Tinubu and the APC were soundly rejected by Nigerians on February 25th. Tinubu has not met all the constitutional requirements to be declared the winner of the last presidential election. If anything, Tinubu belongs in jail, not the Villa. Proceeding to inaugurate him as President on May 29th would be tantamount to a declaration of war against the Nigerian people.
Article by Kassai Adams, via Critical Voices.
Twitter: @CWAAdams