INDEED, THERE IS GOD!

I feel really and truly uplifted as a Nigerian at where we find ourselves today. I feel a real sense of accomplishment that we have arrived. We have arrived at a destination. What we do now that we are here will go a long way in forging the direction and the speed at which we can truly propel ourselves into the 21st century.

We have so many areas that we need to focus on so that we do not lose the momentum that we have set ourselves. We have to say a big thank you to INEC and Professor Jega. I am sure that you will all agree with me that he is a cool potato and we can all learn a thing or two from the way that this man has focused and refused to be derailed from his mission to deliver free and fair elections in Nigeria. There is no doubt that there were obstacles all the way, many mistakes were made, but when you are steadfast in your mission, it is clear as he has shown us that we can get there.

The import of what he has achieved should not be lost on us. The introduction of the PVC, along with the card reader, was a masterstroke.  In one foul swoop, he was able to ensure that for the first time, our votes – yours and mine – would actually mean something. I can assure you that the introduction of this strategy is why our votes counted and we have not seen the usual acrimony that comes with the announcement of results. We have to also thank the social media in the role that it played in disseminating information.

I am one of those who was disenfranchised and never received my PVC. There are many who did not believe in the process and either did not bother to get registered, or did not bother to vote. It could all have gone horribly wrong and I urge all of us that hitherto, we should put pressure on INEC to improve on this system. After all, if I am able to use my ATM card anywhere I feel in the world, there is no reason why I should not be able to use my voter’s card anywhere in Nigeria. It should very quickly become an identification document for every Nigerian over 18, whether s/he chooses to use it or not should have one.

We should have awareness campaigns and explain to all Nigerians that the politicians who rule us when they should be serving us are appointed by us and therefore answerable to us for the tasks that we set them to do. If they are incompetent or unable, we should make sure that collectively we can remove them and appoint people who understand our mandate, devoid of ethnicity or religion.

We have a true task now, one that we should not slack on. We should ensure that the APC start the way that they intend to finish and we should give them no leeway to do things as usual.  Buhari, despite his many faults (after all he is human), is disciplined and honest but he is one man in a dark place. We need to watch all the politicians that have gotten him there and surround him. This is the time that we need to scrutinize his appointees and ensure that the roadmap is clearly spelt out to us and guarded jealously.

We need to get over our euphoria and focus on the gubernatorial elections. These are arguably even more important to our local lives, depending on where you live than anything happening in the center. We should ensure that we get out there again and stamp our thumb prints for who we believe will serve us and better our lives by providing for our welfare and security, again the basic tenets of our democracy.

Talking of basics, this is what Buhari has to do. He must revisit the power sector and ensure that it is on a fast track program to delivery. We cannot be industrialized; we cannot create a manufacturing base, unless we have power.  To achieve this, Buhari needs people. You and me and anyone from anywhere in the world with the requisite skills. He needs the right human resources and a change in the psyche of the average Nigerian in the public sector who is so accustomed to stealing corruption and getting away with it.

There are so many around him now who will be thinking that it is now OUR TURN this must not happen. We must strengthen our institutions if we are to have even a fighting chance or breaking the pattern. There cannot be any silo mentality as is usual. This must be all about team building.

Since God has shown us the way, we should light up our path and make sure that we can race to our destination as opposed to stumbling around in the dark.