Welcome Buhari, The Game Changer

A change has occurred in Africa's most populous nation – a transition unprecedented in Nigeria's political history.

The myth surrounding the People's Democratic Party (PDP) has thus been broken by the sheer determination of a people to effect a change in their political leadership and direction.

For president-elect General Muhammadu Buhari (rtd), the journey to yesterday did not come easy. Vilified and subjected to disturbing insinuations by his political opponent and his assigns, it appeared he would never make it to Aso Rock, but to this highest office is he headed for.

A few weeks ago we stuck our necks out for the presidency of the man who was yesterday accorded a red carpet treatment upon his arrival in Abuja when it became clear that he had won the polls. How times change!

For those who seek to achieve what the indefatigable Buhari garnered for himself and his motherland, many lessons abound for them.

It is instructive to learn that the retired General – now President – went through a harrowing experience in this social media age. His main opponent and his assigns arrogated to themselves the powers of God, as they described him as a man about to die.

There are striking similarities between the political circumstances in Nigeria and Ghana. Buhari and Nana are septuagenarians and both men have been sadly taunted because they have attained the blessed septuagenarian status by those who do not appreciate the gracefulness and experience of old age.

We have observed the excitement in most Ghanaians who yearn for political change in Ghana as the wind of change blows across Nigeria. They hope their country experiences a similar fate, especially given the shared historical experiences between the two sister countries.

We might have experienced similar fates over the years from independence to date. That notwithstanding, those who seek to chalk the success which has crowned the hard work of Buhari and his team should work harder and remain a united family for the cause of their motherland.

No election in Nigeria has attracted so much interest in Ghana like the one over which the curtains are about to be drawn. There is no doubt that this can be attributed to the quest for change which the peoples of the two countries which were once in the same colonial stable yearn for in the face of wanton corruption and impunity.

President-elect Buhari is assuming his position at a time when Nigeria has recorded its worst corruption rating since the country's independence in 1960. We saw in Buhari a man who can fight this cankerworm and accordingly reposed our confidence in him. We have not regretted our action. When he was a military ruler of Nigeria the feats he achieved are household knowledge.

He should work towards maintaining the confidence the people of Nigeria have reposed in him. Getting elected is only an aspect of the task, albeit very tough. We do hope that he would live up to expectation. Good luck, the man from Daura.