Many Nigerians are celebrating after former military ruler Muhammadu Buhari claimed victory over incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan on Tuesday in the most hotly contested election in the country’s post-colonial history.
Here are five things you need to know about the outcome of Nigeria’s electrifying election.
1. It’s historic.
The election marks two firsts since Nigeria’s independence from Britain — it’s the first time an opposition party has democratically taken control of the country from a ruling party, and the first time an incumbent president has been beaten by the opposition.
‘Democracy has won in Africa. It has big implications in Nigeria and beyond.’— Mwangi Kimenyi, Brookings Institute
Sola Tayo, an expert on Nigerian politics with Chatham House in London, says that’s a pretty big deal.
“Those two very important things that we take for granted outside of Nigeria, and outside of West Africa, are actually quite historic events,” she said.
Mwangi Kimenyi, a senior researcher at the Washington, D.C.-based Brookings Institute, calls it a significant win in a region plagued by polarizing elections.
“Democracy has won in Africa. It has big implications in Nigeria and beyond,” he said.
“I think the example that has been set by Nigeria — there has been no post-election violence, you have a president who conceded — I think for Africa that’s a very positive thing.”
2. Many people were ‘fed up’ with Jonathan.
Buhari’s victory comes after increasing complaints of corruption within the Jonathan administration, from huge amounts of cash going missing to massive black holes in government budgets.
Muhammadu Buhari, a 72-year-old former military dictator, was elected in a historic transfer of power following the nation’s most hotly contested election ever. (Sunday Alamba/AP)
“This particular administration is considered incredibly corrupt compared to other administrations … and people were fed up with it,” Tayo said. “The problem with Nigerian politics in general is the politics don’t really stand for anything … In Nigeria, it’s very much a personality-led thing.”
Nigeria is the most populous nation in Africa and has the largest economy, but the country continues to falter, and its residents are growing increasingly frustrated.
“I think people saw Jonathan as a failed presidency,” Kimenyi said.
“It was not leading Nigeria where it should be as a continental leader and a country that should be respected internationally. Nigerians did see that [Jonathan] was not the person to take Nigeria to the heights that it deserves.”
3. Buhari first seized power in a 1983 coup.
Before unseating the country’s president in this election, Buhari briefly led the country in the 1980s, when he headed a brutal regime following a military coup.
“Buhari has been counted as a great democrat, but removed a democratic president in the ’80s,” Tayo said. “The way he’s been presented as Nigeria’s Obama is not actually the truth.”
‘Now he’s got kind of a Herculean task on his plate because he has to unite the country.’— Sola Tayo, expert on Nigerian politics with Chatham House
A former major general, Buhari has assured voters he’s reformed his authoritarian ways, calling himself a late convert to democracy.
“Now he’s got kind of a Herculean task on his plate, because he has to unite the country,” Tayo said. “The real first test will be who he appoints in his cabinet.”
What about critics who worry Buhari might return to his autocratic ways?
“To me, I would say that I have a lot of hope — not because of Buhari as a man, but because of the institutions,” Kimenyi said. “We should never rely on the good nature of a man as a leader. We should follow good institutions, and I think he’s coming in under different institutions.”
4. The future of Boko Haram?
Much of Buhari’s appeal is pinned on the hope that his military background will be key in the fight against Boko Haram, the homegrown Islamic extremist group wreaking havoc in northern Nigeria.
Jonathan’s regime was criticized for its slow response to Boko Haram and for failing to contain the jihadis because the country’s military wasn’t sophisticated enough to take them on.
“[Voters] know Jonathan’s record. I think what really gave Buhari more [authority], when it came to security, is that they knew the alternative was a failure,” Kimenyi said.
Buhari is also expected to gain support throughout the continent, already promising to rebuild relations with neighbouring countries, including Chad and Niger.
Supporters of opposition candidate Muhammadu Buhari took to the streets to celebrate his historic win. (Ben Curtis/Associated Press)
“If they [the new government] can keep that momentum up, there should be no reason Boko Haram should continue to be able to traipse around,” Tayo said.
In keeping with his campaign pledge, Buhari issued a stern warning to the militant group the day after his victory.
“Boko Haram will soon know the strength of our will and commitment to rid this nation of terror,” he said in a speech on Wednesday. “We shall spare no effort until we defeat terrorism.”
5. There are problems beyond security.
Buhari faces a host of sobering challenges in the days ahead.
Tayo said he’ll need to grapple with three key issues: dissent within his own party, rebuilding relations with South Africa and the United States and state elections scheduled for later this month.
President Goodluck Jonathan called challenger Muhammadu Buhari to concede and congratulate him on his electoral victory, paving the way for a peaceful transfer of power in Africa’s richest and most populous nation. (Tiksa Negeri/Reuters)
“There’s a hell of a lot at stake because state governments have massive, massive budgets,” she said. “All these small things — they seem quite minor — are actually quite major for Nigeria.”
Kimenyi suggested Buhari will need to turn his attention to security issues, corruption and tensions between the country’s north and south.
“My take on Nigeria at this point is there are great, great opportunities, and a new leader who is committed to confront the many, many challenges can succeed.”
Source:: http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/nigeria-election-5-things-to-know-1.3018010?cmp=rss
