By Temitope Oyetomi
“The United States congratulates the people of Nigeria, President-elect Tinubu, and all political leaders following the declaration by Nigeria’s Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) on the results of the February 25 presidential election.” – Ned Price, Spokesperson, US Department of State.
You know, I told you, this sort of thing, I cannot use my own words to express congratulations, I have to just quote someone. I have been seeing lots of congratulatory messages addressed to the declared winner of election but this is the first one I have seen that congratulates the people of Nigeria.
I was checking the pages of former Heads of State, Goodluck Jonathan and Abdulsalam Abubakar to see how they would convey their congratulatory messages but I don wait tire.
The UK Prime Minister congratulated the President Elect but I think he forgot to congratulate the people.
It is important and essential to congratulate the people FIRST, before the congratulating the President-elect and the US Department of State – a foremost diplomatic organisation has now done just that.
When a child is born, you don’t just congratulate the child, you congratulate the parents first then the child. When a people elect a new leader, you congratulate the people first for choosing the leader they want, then you congratulate the people. I should have gone ahead of the US Department of States to do this but I was studying the mood of the people.
I note that;
1) In 1999, Obasanjo won 62.78% of the votes cast, meaning that 37.22% of those who voted did NOT vote for him. Congratulations were in order.
2) In 2003, Obasanjo won 61.94% of the votes cast, meaning that 38.06% of those who voted did NOT vote for him. Congratulations were in order.
3) In 2007, Yar’adua won 69.60% of the votes cast, meaning that 30.40% of those who voted did NOT vote for him. Congratulations were in order.
4) In 2011, Jonathan won 58.87% of the votes cast, meaning that 41.13% of those who voted did NOT vote for him. Congratulations were in order.
5) In 2015, Buhari won S3.96% of the votes cast, meaning that 46.04 % of those who voted did NOT vote for him. Congratulations were in order.
6) In 2019, Buhari won 55.6% of the votes cast, meaning that 44.4% of those who voted did NOT vote for him. Congratulations were in order.
7) This 2023, Tinubu won 37% of the votes cast, meaning that 63% of thwose who voted did NOT vote for him. That was the point where I paused to ask whether congratulations are in order. Are congratulations in order? Maybe, yes, for the President-elect but maybe, no, for the people. Because, statistically, majority of those who voted did NOT want this President.
I note that the Press State of the US Government says, “We understand that many Nigerians and some of the parties have expressed frustration about the manner in which the process was conducted and the shortcomings of technical elements that were used for the first time in a presidential election cycle in Nigeria. Nigerians are clearly within their rights to have such concerns and should have high expectations for their electoral processes. We join other international observers in urging INEC to improve in the areas that need the most attention ahead of the March 11 gubernatorial elections.”
The stamement also says, “Meanwhile, we also congratulate the Nigerian people, especially the large number of youths who are relatively new to the political process, for demonstrating their strong commitment to their country’s democracy.”
In short, I adopt everything the US Department of State has said in that State. So, as a matter of DIPLOMACY, I must now say “CONGRATULATIONS TO FROWNING PARENTS AND THE SMILING CHILD”.
Congratulations, Nigeria.
Congratulations, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
Peace of the Lord be with you all.
+ Topman
