By Mallam Jamiu Gidado
In spite of the initial hiccups, pockets of violence and acclaimed irregularities that trailed the Saturday, 25 February, 2023 Presidential and National Assembly Elections, the outcome of the election has come to stay and Nigeria is already marching forward in her fledging democratic enterprise without let or hindrance.
Going by the wishful thinking of some doubting Thomases and the unwitting illusion of anti-democratic elements, the election would have been cancelled or declared inconclusive, thereby taking the nation several steps backward in her political trajectory.
I personally felicitate with the Jagaban of Borgu for his laudable victory in the protracted battle which dates back to the eventful but most trying period of intrigues and politicking that characterized the APC presidential primaries.
I equally commend him for his uncommon courage, resilience, hard work, Spartan discipline, legendary faith, focus and determination that saw him through the entire process. More importantly, it is worthy of note that Asiwaju’s victory in the presidential election is largely hinged on his strength of character, his cosmopolitan personality, his decades of building bridges across the nation as well as his years of political networking which transcends the primordial cleavages of ethnicity, religion and political affiliation.
It is, therefore, imperative that the much awaited Tinubu presidency must espouse values that could further strengthen national unity, cohesion and integration in Nigeria. The last six months or more had witnessed the most rigorous and ferocious political campaigns occasioned by so much emphasis on ethnic and religious sentiments which almost tore the nation apart.
Invariably, arising from the prevailing sentiments surrounding the APC Muslim-Muslim ticket, that the President-elect and his Vice are devout Muslims of the northern and southern extraction, there is an urgent critical need to douse the highly pronounced religious and regional tensions around the country, to the extent that it is politically expedient that both the incoming CoS and SGF should be tested and trusted Christian patriots with proven wealth of experience and unquestionable progressive credentials.
Needless to say, Mr. President does not have the final say as to the choice of the Senate President and the Speaker of the House of Representatives. As echoed on Monday this week through his Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima during the meeting of the party leadership and elected parliamentarians at the Banquet Hall of the Aso Rock Villa, the President-elect cannot impose his choice on the Senators and Members of the House of Representatives based on the doctrine of separation of powers but can only offer ample advice on the zoning of the various principal offices that constitute the leadership of the nation’s apex legislative institution.
However, the ultimate decision with respect to the recruitment of the Chief of Staff to the President and Secretary to the Government of the Federation is the exclusive preserve of Mr. President. This is one of the decisions where he has the final say, albeit, with wide consultation of major stakeholders within the party and beyond. In other words, Tinubu has the ample opportunity to hit the ground running by further proving to Nigerians that he is not a religious bigot that some pastors and bishops had portrayed him to be by ensuring that the CoS and SGF are notable detribalized Nigerian Christians of remarkable political pedigree.
I wish our esteemed President-elect, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his ebullient Vice President, Sen. Kashim Shettima a very refreshing and eventful inauguration into office on 29th May, 2023, even as I equally wish them and their team a peaceful, productive and rewarding tenure in office. Together, we shall take Nigerian nation to greater heights.
Jamiu Gidado is a veteran journalist and renowned public affairs analyst. He writes from Keffi, Nasarawa State.
