Nigerians were presented with two bad options; they had to settle on one- Baako
Goodluck Jonathan and Muhammadu Buhari were not the best of candidates; Nigerians had to settle on one and they chose Buhari, Editor-in-Chief of the New Crusading Guide Newspaper, Kweku Baako has said.
According to him, Goodluck Jonathan did not do a good job when he was elected as president but Muhammadu Buhari does not have a very clean political history either, so they are both not good candidates, he opined.
The two political parties – People's Democratic Party (PDP) and All Progressives Congress (APC), should have presented credible candidates, Kweku Baako suggested.
Speaking on Peace FM's morning show 'Kokrokoo', the veteran journalist said Nigerians were presented with two bad options and they did not have a choice but to choose one of them.
Mr Baako noted that although he does not intend in any way to undermine the process with which the elections were held and its peaceful nature, he believes that the parties in Nigeria could have presented people who would have served the interest of the nation.
Buhari is a retired Major General in the Nigerian Army who was Head of State of Nigeria from 31 December 1983 to 27 August 1985, after taking power in a military coup d'état which led to the overthrow of Shehu Shagari.
Buhari ruled for two years, until 1985, when he was overthrown by General Ibrahim Babangida. His short stint was said to have been characterised by some human rights abuses that have come to be associated with military regimes.
He ran unsuccessfully for the office of President in the 2003, 2007 and 2011 elections. In December 2014, he emerged as the presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress for the March 2015 elections. Buhari won the 2015 general election, defeating the incumbent President Goodluck Jonathan.
Muhammadu Buhari, president-elect of Nigeria
BUHARI'S CHALLENGE
Kweku Baako congratulated Nigeria nonetheless for the show of maturity they displayed during the elections, ensuring that the process – except for a few skirmishes, was fair and devoid of problems.
He said he wonders if Buhari can make any significant impact within the fours he has been given.
Buhari's challenge now, in Mr Baako's view is how to clear the bad image Nigeria has come to be known for in terms of corruption, the Boko Haram insurgency and the misuse of the country's resources.
He said although Gen Buhari's victory has strengthened the country's democracy, how well he is able to turn things around will consolidate the success he and his party have chalked.
Considering the fact that Buhari was a former military dictator and Nigeria has reverted to democratic rule, Kweku Baako is of the view that the president-elect will have a difficult time in restructuring the system to suit him.
However if he is able to do this and turn things around in Nigeria it will be a great plus to him, he added.
Mr Baako also congratulated the Chairman of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC) Attahiru Muhammadu Jega for the impressive role he performed in ensuring that the electioneering process was free and fair.
Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Naa Sakwaba Akwa | faustine.akwa@myjoyonline.com