As we approach the May 29^th  handover date and as we get ready to practice the “CHANGE” we have clamored for, it is important we understand the significance of that word. To Nigerians, the word “change” should mean differently from the rest of the world due to many reasons.

      This is the first time Nigerians have actually succeeded in electing someone that they actually want and need at the same time in an election that is far from being free and fair

      This is the first time Nigerians have been able to vote out an incumbent president

      It is also a bloodless revolution of some sort to Nigerians (Look around other African countries and you would appreciate the significance of what we just pulled off in this election).

It is important Nigerians know General Muhammadu Buhari (GMB) is not the Change we voted for; he is not the law. He is merely the person we need to enforce the laws and bring about the change we all labored and continue to pray for. We needed him to enforce our existing laws and bring about change to the lawlessness prevalent in our society today. If GMB fails to enforce our laws and uphold the constitution of the federal republic of Nigeria, then he would be no different from Goodluck Jonathan or the other horrible leaders that came before them.

GMB and his team alone cannot deliver this change. Every citizen has a duty to help their cause and make it easy for them to deliver on their promises. It is a common thing in Nigeria to blame all our woes on our pitiless leaders, which to a certain extent is justified, but one thing we have failed to realize is we are part and parcel of the problem that have bedeviled the country for so long.

This past election threw up interesting intrigues on our deep regional mistrust for one another. To some southerners, GMB was just another northern Hausa/Fulani Muslim who was out to advance northern interest. Equally, to many northerners, he was a Hausa/Fulani Muslim (one of them) who’s out to protect their interest. But to many of us (Northerners and Southerners alike), the reason we have continually supported GMB is our belief in his abilities, his competence, his steadfastness, his patriotism and our conviction that  he is the link we need to hold Nigeria together. Such rare qualities in one politician are unheard of in our present Nigeria. Nothing gave me more joy like seeing our Yoruba, Igbo and Christian counterparts supporting GMB during and after the election. If we can be honest, many Northerners/Muslims supported him because they felt he is one of them. But the genuine love came from people across the six regions that supported him regardless of his religious and cultural orientation. 

I have had arguments with people on social media in the course of my support for GMB, some called him all sorts of names before the election but months later, I saw them riding hard for this same man they called several unprintable names including religious bigot few months prior. For some of them, it was sincere love but for many, it was just bandwagon mentality, while for some more, it was just to save face because they were smart enough to realize the change this time round was unstoppable. Whatever their reasons, it was a step in the right direction. One thing I’m confident about is that GMB is not going to be the president of the North or treat a Southerner any less than he will treat a Northerner. That wasn’t what I fought for. GMB will be the president of Nigeria for all Nigerians.

This Change wasn’t needed only because of all the corrupt politicians, money launderers, armed robbers, terrorists, militants, drug dealers or 419ers who roam our land. This change was needed to curb our indiscipline, curtail the excesses of our lawless law enforcement personnel, traffic offenders, our lack of punctuality in the workplace, to meetings and school. Come May 29, GMB and Nigerians will begin the journey to actualize all those magic and wonders we all want him to perform. All the campaign promises must be kept because they are possible. They won’t come suddenly or easily but they will eventually come. I personally don’t think it requires magic to deliver dividends of democracy. I don’t think it is going to be hard to perform those wonders we all want. All that is required is sincerity on the part of our leaders; and cooperation and patience from the people.

Come May 29^th GMB and his team will swing into action in an effort to rebuild this country.  The three key points of their campaign were insecurity, economy and the fight against corruption; and these will be their main focus. The first two may just be easier to deal with than the third considering the complexities of our nation. For the first time we will actually be witnesses to a real fight against corruption; that may raise emotions and there are people who will not hesitate to give it ethnic coloration. Same Nigerians, who may have no qualms about setting ablaze a common thief for stealing 200 Naira on the street of Lagos, will cry blue murder and witch hunt when some powerful politicians are prosecuted for embezzling public funds just because they are from the same region or religion. Same Nigerians that will lynch a Boko haram suspect to death in Borno and Gombe will sing different tunes when some powerful people they benefit from financially are arrested as sponsors of BH. They may even go the extent of providing human shields or protesting on their behalf (the dramas that ensued during Maina Waziri pension scandal and James Ibori’s attempted arrest are still fresh in our memories).

 

GMB is not the law. The law is the law and therefore we must allow it to take its course if we must move forward as a nation. The era of criminals siphoning public funds to build mansions they don’t need or live in; or buying luxury cars they only drive in very rarely and traveling abroad for medical purposes with little regard for the plight of poor Nigerians should be history. If criminals get away for their crimes against the state, then our country will only breed more criminals. When people are punished for erring, then the society will be a better place. I know Nigerians are compassionate; even though our leaders care little about us and they make us suffer, when the table is turned and it is their turn to face the music, they start asking for forgiveness. there is a need to separate our penchant for forgiveness and the provisions of the law. We must understand that as a people, we can forgive but the law doesn’t forgive or forgets. Our nation can only move forward if we allow the law to takes its course. We must allow the enforcer of the law do his job.

Some of us fought gallantly and voted for this change but we can’t go around thinking because we supported GMB, then he owe us and should alter the law to suit us. That would amount to double standard on our part and it won’t make us any different from those corrupt criminals we sought to change. There is so much lawlessness in Nigeria but we are all too willing to be law abiding when we visit other countries. This is only possible because these countries ensure enforcement of the law but here, we termed the leaders dictators for trying to enforce laws. I do not mind being punished if I disobey the law; like the law forcing me to wear my seatbelt when in fact it is intended to safeguard my safety on the road. But how many of us will wear the seatbelts willingly? The truth of the matter is Nigerians are no better than our leaders. Sometimes it’s just lack of opportunity else we would do exactly or worse than they are doing. The kind of mischief and evil we mete out to our fellow citizens sometimes rank higher than what our leaders dish out to us. So are we ready to change from our ways seeing that this change is not about our corrupt leaders or just criminal but about all of us? 

There is corruption at every level in Nigeria.  There are more Fayoses, Anenihs, FFKs, Iboris, Maina Waziris or Faruk Lawans in Nigeria than we have Buharis, El-rufais, Fasholas and Kwankwasos and until we are all willing to change our ways, Nigeria will never get to the promise land. I have no doubt in my mind about GMB. I have always felt as though I know him better than every Nigerian. As funny as that may sound, that is how much confident I am in his incorruptibility and ability. I have always believed that he is the most suitable person to lead this country to its promise land, but GMB is not a saint and won’t be an island of knowledge without our support. Nigeria has a second and probably its last chance to make it and deliver on its promise and potentials. As they say “the ball is in our court” whether to make it or mar our nation. 

 

Mu’awiyyah Yusuf Muye is an advocate of good governance 

He tweets @P_Muye