Need to keep the peace

Contrary to the predictions that the presidential election would spike violence across Nigeria, last Saturday turned out to be an anti-climax and a watershed in the conduct of elections in Nigeria.

Not only that the voting process was largely free and fair in many places to the admiration of local and foreign election observers, the peace that attended the exercise has been described as unprecedented.

After long hours of counting and collation, Attahiru Jega, chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), announced Muhammadu Buhari, who contested the election on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC), winner.

By that peaceful exercise, Nigeria has now joined the league of nations that enjoy peaceful polls, that also determine their leaders through the ballot box. It is indeed, a plus mark for a country known for electoral violence and brigandage.

Now that the presidential election has been won and lost, Nigerians must, irrespective of party leaning, see the outcome as a win-win for the country. For us, there is indeed, “no victor, no vanquished.”

It is our belief that the development has thrown up a huge challenge to all citizens of this country, to come together to awaken whatever things that may have “died” in the nation’s life.

It bears stating the obvious that Nigeria’s solid foundation built by the founding fathers has since been tampered with. Successive administrations have left it worse than they met it; the quality of life in the country has continued to drop to the point that life itself in Nigeria has become a cheap commodity.

Now, destiny beckons with the successful conduct of an election that many believed would have meant the end of the project called Nigeria.

While we call on the new administration-in-waiting to begin to think through all those promises upon which the masses of this country cast their votes last Saturday in its favour, the out-going government should also lend a helping hand by providing necessary pieces of advice that could engender progress.

We are satisfied by the spirit of sportsmanship exhibited by President Goodluck Jonathan in his congratulatory message to General Muhammadu Buhari, even before the entire result of the election was announced Tuesday.

To move to the next level of nation building, peace is an important factor. We must begin to see ourselves as ONE NIGERIA, rather than the narrow prism of the different ethnic groups where we come from. The earlier we see ourselves as brothers and sisters, the better the chances of rebuilding the country.

We now have a historic opportunity to help write the next chapter of Nigeria’s history. We have dwelt so long outside all that make life meaningful as a country. We have seen all manner of impunity and everything that is at variance with democratic norms.

We want to appeal to the conscience of political practitioners in the country, to give peace a chance. As we have always said, if the motivation for going into politics is to serve, there should be no reason therefore, why people should do everything within their powers to promote peace and unity in the country.

We align with the oft-repeated words of President Jonathan that his political ambition is not worth the blood of any Nigerian. We urge all politicians to borrow a leaf from the president’s disposition and give peace a chance.

Although there were tough talks, gush of intemperate words and employment of all manner of uncouth language during the electioneering campaign, now that the presidential election is over, let the bygone be bygone.

Time to move forward is now.