Nigeria election changes Africa
April 14, 2015 18:03:46
On April 3rd, 2015, Nigerian Leadership media released a recent telephone call recording of
congratulations from President Goodluck Jonathan to his opposing candidate Buhari.
This 1 minute telephone conversation calmed down a restless country. Jonathan’s act
has ended the curse of “violence during elections” in African countries. This set an example
for the upcoming elections in 10 or more African countries later this year.
March 29th, Nigerian presidential and parliament voting ended. On March 30th, independent
national election committee announced the voting results of each state at National votes
certifying center. Around 5 p.m. on the 31st, even though the final result was not announced,
the defeat of the party in power was a certainty. Jonathan picked up the phone and said
to Buhari:”Congratulations. If you have time in the near future, let’s talk about transition.”
Buhari replied:”thank you, respectiful president.”
Goodluck Jonathan is a person that is well named. He has been named a“good luck” president
who will “ appear at the right time and the right place”. After graduating from college, he taught
and then was elected the deputy governor of Bayelsa. On December 9 2005, Jonathan was
sworn in as Governor of Bayelsa State upon the impeachment of the then Governor Diepreye
Alameiyeseigha by the Bayelsa State Assembly after being charged with money laundering in
the United Kingdom. In 2007, Jonathan was nominated as vice president. Then President
Yar’Adua died 2 years shortly after been elected President so Jonathan became acting
president of the federation and won the presidential election in 2011 as his party’s nominee.
Now, Jonathan, as an experience politician, congratulated his opponent after being defeated
and has become the first to establish a peaceful transition of power after an election in more
than 30 years. This avoids loss of numerous innocent lives. Jonathan’s bravery and courage
has won much admiration nationally and internationally.
This one minute telephone conversion
will be written into the history of African democracy.
Jonathan definitely has “Good luck”. But this time, he has given his “good luck” to Nigeria
and Africa. “One will reap what one sows”. Maybe Jonathan’s “good luck” will continue.
The 2015 Nobel peace prize might be waving at him.