The recent election in Angola and its results have called for a lesson from all and sundry. The Angola opposition party, the National Union of the Total Independence of Angola. (UNITA) leader Isaias Samakuva, surprised the whole world when he accepted the results of the recent election held in the country.
Africa leaders should borrow a leaf from Isaias Samakuva, the main opposition leader in Angola, National Union of the Total Independent of Angola (UNITA) who sincerely accepted the results of their election held on the 5th of Sept. without putting the country into another crisis like what is happening in Zimbabwe until recently when the power-sharing agreement was reached between the opposing parties, the country was at a standstill.
It will be recalled that after several months of elections, the acclaimed winner of the election, President Robert Mugabe functioned without ministers because the opposition leader Morgan failed to accept the terms of power sharing like his counterpart from Kenya (Raila Odinga) whom the President (Mwai Kibaki) agreed to share power with unlike President Mugabe of Zimbabwe.
In our country Nigeria, for instance, people do not accept defeat in an election which always necessarily means constituting election tribunal. In 1999 when Nigeria returned to democracy, general election was held and ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo was eventually declared winner but Gen. Buhari as opposition leader never accepted defeat throughout Obasanjo’s eight years rule as the President. He kept on going to court until another election in 2007 which saw Alhaji Musa Yar’ Adua as the winner. Yet Gen. Buhari has refused to accept defeat even when the Supreme court ruled in favour of President Yar’Adua. Has he not seen that he cannot rule this country under democracy?, yes it is true he was a military Head of State of this Country through military coup between 1983-1985 and less than 2 years in office he was overthrown by Gen. Babangida through a military coup and ruled this Country for 8 years and all along, Gen. Buhari has been trying to rule this Country again and again, it is time for him to learn from Isaias of Angola.
Changes they say is the only permanent thing in life and I believe we should always accept those changes when they come. In Kogi State for instance, Prince Abubakar Audu was defeated in 2007 general elections (after serving as a governor)he was not satisfied with the results and went to tribunal and appeal court which eventually nullified the election and called for fresh election in the State and he was also defeated in the re-run election yet he was not still satisfied and went to tribunal for the 2nd time. Perhaps of what benefits would this crisis be for him? Instead of joining hands with the elected governor to move the state forward in the interest of the people, how long shall we continue to wait before we accept defeat like Isaias of Angola whether the election was peaceful, rigged or marred with electoral irregularities was not his concern rather the concern of his people and Country at large. In Kenya, over 200 people died during the election protest before they were able to agree on power sharing between the opposition leader Odiga and the President, what would then happen to the families who lost their loved ones? Would they be remembered or just used their lives as sacrifice for the Country? Come to think of it, power should not be seen as “MUST”. You may be rich, strong, popular and liked by the people but if God says you can’t be, no matter how rich, strong and popular you are you cannot be. We are all living witnesses to what happened to Chief M.K.O. Abiola’s election which was regarded as the freest and fairest election Nigeria ever had, yet June 12, 1993 election was annulled by Gen. Babangida which has become an anniversary for some people and organizations in this Country. It was the will of the people to have Chief Abiola as their leader/president but not the will of God hence the annulment. It is this same “ I MUST BE” idea that lead to the sacking of Alhaji Babagana Kingibe from office as the Secretary to the Government of Federation (SGF) recently, ironically, he was the running mate to Chief M.K.O. Abiola in 1993 election.
This brings to mind, the issue of Auchi Polytechnic crisis over the Rectorship position which ought to have been resolved since the Federal Government had appointed a substantive Rector for the school and an Alumnus of the school who knows the problems of the school.
Power and position come through many ways either by election, appointed, selection and promotion but in which ever way one attains such power and position, the opposition should accept it in good faith and join hands with the elected/appointed one to move the people forward by contributing his/her ideas rather than making it difficult for the person to govern/administer because 100 years is not for ever, it could be your turn or your brother’s turn tomorrow. Crisis doesn’t resolve issues through battle field or on the pages of newspapers rather through round-table talks. I was thinking the opposition would accept defeat like Isaias of Angola and join hands in moving the school forward with their ideas instead of the current accusation and counter accusation that is rocking the institution in recent times thereby putting the institution in an uncompromising position for students and lecturers.
It would have been a thing of joy for the people to see one of their own as being appointed as the Rector instead of appointing someone outside the institution who would not understand the problems of teaching and non-teaching staff and the students in the school. But with the appointment of Dr. (Mrs) Philipa Idogho as the Rector of Auchi Polytechnic, history has been made as the first female Rector of the institution and first Alumnus of the school to be Rector, let the opposition display the spirit of Isaias and accept defeat and join hands with her to move the institution forward for the betterment of the lecturers, students and the school at large as she tries to put the school in a roadmap for success as one of the B-Tech awarding institutions in the Country.
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