By Abdul Rahman Aliagan
Although the much talked about 2015 general elections in Nigeria has come and gone, but the memories especially to the build up to the elections will never be forgotten in a hurry. Never in the history of the country has elections been so tensed up like the 2015 election. In order to avoid what transpired in the 2011 elections, some Nigerians resident in the different parts of the country, decided to move out in their numbers to their country homes. Time Nigeria reports that no fewer than 60 Nigerians lost their lives in the just concluded elections.
Be that as it may, the victory of the All Progressive Congress at the Presidential polls and President Jonathan’s conceding defeat clearly send only one message; that democracy has come to stay in Nigeria and that power belongs to the people contrary to what the citizens have been subjected to for years now.
However, Buhari’s emergence as the president elect did not come on a platter of gold as it took the tentative efforts of some Nigerians who can best be described as the silent heroes for ensuring that change is possible in this part of the world even though there are insinuations in some quarters that the silent revolutionists are agents of destruction.
But again only time will be the deciding factor and history will be there to judge on whose side the pendulum would swing.
Interestingly, while the People’s Democratic Party, which apparently is the opposition, was busy spending huge sums of money on advertorial and character assassination on the candidature of Buhari, these silent heroes were busy strategizing. These technocrats include;
Bola Ahmed Tinubu
Bola Ahmed Tinubu; A former Senator of the Federal Republic and a two time governor of the commercial capital of Nigeria, Lagos; Tinubu, who is currently the National Leader of the All Progressive Congress, is known for his outspokenness and certainly not President Jonathan’s fan. Credit goes to him for the role he played in seeing to the emergence of Prof. Yemi Osinbanjo, SAN as the running mate to General Buhari. For observers, that was a perfect calculation by the master strategist. At the inauguration of Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state, Tinubu had said; “2015 election will witness a common sense revolution, which is the ability of our people to use their permanent voter’s cards to send out the PDP government from Aso Rock.” He was a strong force especially in the Southwest. This resulted to the capture of all the states in the southwest save for Ekiti.
Rabiu Kwankwaso
Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso: He was a former Minister of Defence under Olusegun Obasanjo administrator, two time governor of the most populous state in the country, Kano. He was also a presidential aspirant under the APC, but lost to Buhari.
Not satisfied with the way the PDP led government was running the affairs of the country at the centre, Kwankwaso decamped to the waiting arms of APC a couple of years ago. Ever since he left PDP, he has had no regret whatsoever. At the just concluded elections, he was able to deliver his state to APC with well over 1.9 million votes while his deputy won the governorship election under the APC. For him, the end justifies the means. This was clearly shown at the elections.
Bukola Saraki
Bukola Saraki, if the political calculation with due respect to the zoning system of the Senate Presidency in the 8th Assembly is anything to go by, it just means that Senator Bukola Saraki might be squaring it up against George Akume, also from North Central (Benue) for the exalted position as the Senate President. Like Kwakwanso, Saraki was a two time governor of Kwara State and was equally on the presidential race under the APC, but paved way for Buhari to scale through. It would be recalled that prior to his cross carpeting, Saraki at a conference organized by the PDP, led five PDP governors out of the party and subsequently joined APC. Expectedly, Saraki, with all the resources at his disposal drummed support for Buhari and delivered his state to APC despite the heavy presence of PDP stalwarts in the state.
Rotimi Amaechi
Rotimi Amaechi Known for his radicalism and down to earth approach to issues not minding whose ox is gored, Amaechi must be commended for his contributions in ensuring the emergence of APC as the campaign manager of the party despite the fact that he was unable to win his state. His romance with the APC cost him his friendship with the first family which became so glaring. This however did not deter him as he was determined to bring change to the country. In the end Amaechi ended up creating more enemies for himself.
John Oyegun
Chief John Oyegun, As the party chairman, much was expected of him. His age couldn’t stop him. Today, the party is proud of his tenacity and style of leadership. At different fora he had given reasons why APC should be voted into power. Reacting to the outcome of the party’s convention held in Abuja recently, Oyegun noted, “It was all over the place because everybody thought we could not handle a democratic process but I said no, we are going to prove to this country that these things can be done. And whatever one spends cannot determine election outcomes. Let me not start being judgmental now because I am still chairman of the party”.
According to him, “Look at me. This is John Oyegun you are talking to. I promised this nation totally free and fair primary. I will not tell you that money did not change hands but we told everybody clearly, if anybody offers you money, collect it but don’t ever act on the basis of the money. Every effort was made to get me to sit down and twist my hands so we may have what is referred to as consensus candidate. I said no”.
Lai Mohammed
Lai Mohammed, He was the National Publicity Chairman of the All Progressive Congress and like every other party publicity chairman, he protected the interests of his party. Despite the knocks and kudos from the public, and he was focused and undeterred. A native of Kwara State, Mohammed belonged to rare class of intellectuals who have the country at heart. As a patriotic Nigerian, he was/is objective in his crictism. His criticsm, as it were, put the Jonathan led government on their toes. His collaboration with his kinsman, Saraki, ensured victory for APC in Kwara.
