FLASHBACK: Two years ago, Nigeria made history by voting for ‘change’

The hands that beat the drums of war may be active for so long, producing sounds so intimidating for too long, but when those hands are called to clap in unison, the drums go silent, like they were never made to make some noise. This is the story of change.

Before March 28, 2015 — exactly two years ago — intelligence report from across the world spelt doom for Nigeria. Many said the country would go up in flames, the nation would tear up in shreds, blood would flow like a mighty ocean. But you, Nigerians, proved the world wrong!

For nearly 15 months, political parties were spewing messages of hate and hope in the same breath. They promised a new dawn in the shadow of a fading dusk. The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was preaching continuity and consolidation, the All Progressives Congress (APC) was promulgating the gospel according to “Saint Change”. But Nigerians were to ultimately decide.

JONATHAN ‘GOD’S CANDIDATE’ WAS SURE OF VICTORY

In an interview with TheCable, Goodluck Jonathan, the incumbent president at the time, said the All Progressives Congress was overrated, highlighting how sure he was of victory — Jonathan neglected the fact that victory belongs to God, or, if you like, to the people.

“I am not underrating APC, but I think they are grossly overrated. We shall meet on the field. That is where we will test our true strengths. We are fully ready. You will soon see,” Jonathan said.

He however agreed that God made him president,  and if He says it’s time to go, he will return to Otuoke in no time.

“You see, it is God that made me president. If God says I will be re-elected, there is nothing anybody can do to stop me. All the plots against me will fail.

“All the lies will crumble. All the hate messages will amount to nothing. God put me here and if he says it is time to go, he knows best. If He says I will do a second term, no amount of lies can unseat me.”

BUHARI BELIEVED HE COULD PULL AN MKO-KINGIBE STUNT

Mumammadu Buhari on the other hand was always expressing cautious optimism, having run on three different occasions and lost at all times.

“So the question of this Muslim-Muslim ticket, although it was a long way from Abiola and Kingibe [in 1993], all the same, I have not absolutely closed my mind to picking a Christian or Muslim as running mate,” he told TheCable.

“I firmly believe that Nigerians, having gone through what they have gone through, realise it is not a matter of religion, but a matter of Nigeria. And the main religions, Christianity and Islam, they know and they believe in the almighty God. The question of stealing and short-changing people in the name of religion should stop.”

Eventually, Buhari went for another pastor, Yemi Osinbajo, who went on to become the nation’s second citizen.

THE THUMBS OF THE PEOPLE IS THE HAND OF GOD

They say “Vox populi, vox Dei” — the voice of the people is the voice of God; this time around, the thumbs of the people became the hand of God.

In what turned out to be one of the most historic Nigerian elections, Buhari polled a total of 15,424,921 votes ahead of Jonathan, who secured 12,853,162 votes.

Kano, which is Buhari’s strong base, gave him a total of 1,903,999 compared with Jonathan, who had 215,779 votes. In Kaduna, Buhari had 1,127,760, while Jonathan had 484,085.

And by so doing, Nigeria made history — and that history resonates till date.

Though questions trail Buhari’s  performance thus far; many regret printing their thumb to paper for the 74-year-old, while some remain resolute, that he alone is capable of changing Nigeria.

Whatever the conclusions are, one thing is certain: Nigeria can make change happen again on February 16, 2019 — if elections are not postponed, the ruling party can also better the lot of the citizens before the next election, that way its chances at the poll would be bright.