I am quite sure no one was really shocked to learn that the incapacitated and ailing Nigerian leader Umaru Yar’Adua has passed away. The erstwhile Nigerian leader had been ailing even before he assumed office as President of Africa’s most populous nation. Tough task for someone in poor health. Yar’Adua had not been seen in public since November 2009 when he was whisked off to Saudi Arabia for medical treatment. In fact who would ever forget that comical phone call his predecessor Olusegun Obasanjo made to Yar’Adua whilst he was in Germany for medical treatment at the height of the 2007 presidential campaign. The call was to reassure Nigerians that Yar’Adua was still alive after persistent rumors that he had passed away. Well, he came back, won a deeply flawed election and was sworn in as President. Yar’Adua’s legacy would be difficult to highlight. He assumed office with a pledge to wipe out corruption, solve the crisis in the Delta region and pursue free market reforms. Nothing much was achieved because he had a health crisis of his own and not much credibility after a flawed election. The fact that he was handpicked by his predecessor did not bode down well with some critics even from within his own party.
Whilst historians would latter have to figure out the Umaru Yar’Adua legacy, Nigerians now have a task at hand, which is to put their political differences aside and rally behind the new president Goodluck Johnson as he takes full control of Nigeria ahead of elections slated for early next year. As the leader of Africa’s most populous nation the task ahead of Jonathan is enormous as Nigeria is beset with a barrage of issues that is threatening not only it’s democracy but it’s standing amongst the world community of nations. As Nigerians mourn the passing of their leader they should also be looking towards the future and should seize this opportunity to impress upon the rest of the world that Nigeria politicians and indeed the military can allow democracy to work and let the people of Nigeria decide who their next leader will be.
Since assuming office as acting President, Jonathan has made all the right moves and is considered to be a mature, calm and honest politician. These are accolades that are not normally reserved for Nigerian politicians. However, Goodluck Jonathan has fared well thus far. Nigerians should be thinking of putting aside their political and religious differences and work towards a unified Nigeria. The north south divide should now be a thing of the past. Tribalism, corruption and the problems in the troubled Niger Delta should be at the top of Nigeria’s priority at this time. A peaceful and credible election next year would be the way forward for this great nation. The whole world will be watching this giant nation as it strides towards peace, prosperity and a viable democracy.
After a peaceful transition of power to a new leader Nigeria is now in a unique position to craft a future of democratic success in Africa. This prosperous nation cannot afford to go back to the politics of old but forge a new political culture that other nations in Africa and beyond can emulate. Nigerians should prove the skeptics wrong by coming together as one nation not only for Nigeria but also for all of Africa. We need another success story and this time it should be from the great nation of Nigeria.
Jacob Palmer
