Nigeria’s Goodluck Jonathan concedes, saving his legacy, and his country from chaos

 This election has produced some genuinely remarkable imagery and moments. Think of the queues of defiant Kanuri women in the Boko Haram-ravaged north east state of Bornu or the Zen-calm and Yoda-demeanour of Nigeria’s electoral chief Attahiru Jega under what must have been the most intense pressure.

It was clear there are nefarious elements in his People’s Democratic Party (PDP) who were determined to hold on to power at all costs – these are the shadowy people who constitute what Nobel laureate Wole Soyinka recently called the ‘very sinister forces in control of the president’.

We watched live on television today as one PDP former minister tried to disrupt the announcement of the election results as it became clear Buhari’s All Progressive Congress was winning. One can only imagine what other plans to sabotage the overwhelming will of the masses are being hatched in the dark places of the soul that these people inhabit.

The wrong move

As we have seen in the past across Africa, things can go a number of ways: the incumbents can delay and disrupt, mobilizing the security forces to the point of making the country ungovernable in a naked abuse of power such as former military president Ibrahim Babangidaunforgivably did on June 12, 1993. They can tie the process up in expensive court cases while they try to subvert the judiciary to find in their favour on a series of loopholes and technicalities. Either of these options will cause the country untold damage, and be a slap in the face of what has been one of the country’s finest moments since independence. Overseeing such a process would have guaranteed Goodluck Jonathan’s name being remembered for all time in the annals of political villainy which will resonate through the ages.

We’re now looking forward to Jonathan’s press conference at Aso Rock. He can tell us how disappointed he is that the outcome of this election has gone against him. He can tell us how proud he has been to serve his country in the highest office in the land. He can tell us how he has always been a servant-leader, ready to do his duty with sacred obligation.

He can acknowledge that there were some irregularities but accept that these were overall inconsequential in the final analysis. He can tell us of his many achievements in office over the past 5 years. He can tell us how much respect he has for the Nigerian people and how proud he is that he has overseen this expression of their democratic will.

He can tell us that at all times his desire has been to see the country progress and that this moment is another rung on our ladder to the stars. He can tell us that this is the reason why he is conceding the election, wishing general Buhari and his team every good wish and assuring the country of his availability to serve in any future capacity.

Then he can take Patience’s hand, turn around and head back to Otuoke, Baylesa State with his head held high and legacy secure.

For his and the country’s sake.

*Source QUARTZ