OPINION: TODAY IN HISTORY, I WITNESSED THE BIRTH OF A NEW DAWN
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By: Shehu Bashir Esq.
In Nigeria’s democratic rollercoaster, May 29th is currently the constitutionally chosen date for change of baton after every four years of take off of a new administration. The last one was may 2019. This year, being 29th May, 2023, we had the privilege to witness another change of baton from one brand of government with relatively different set of pilots to champion the course of the ship, though with the same sailing ship to another.
The day started with grace and ended with grace. Everything about President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR has always been with a touch of grace. This day came even with more grace. This transition is the seventh transition since the beginning of this democracy in 1999. It happened on the first working day of the week. There are only seven days in aweek. And God even blessed the day with one of His best gift to humanity – peaceful rain. At the early hours of the day, the rain came with so much calmness to cool off the heat of a previous sunny Sunday. And the event took place in the most serene atmosphere anyone could wish for. Even the sun that would have beaten the parade was kept cool by God. We wouldn’t need any handkerchief to wipe any sweat. It was incredibly peaceful. Which of the mercies of our Lord would we deny?
Coming to the swearing in proper, it was indeed an emotional time for many of us. Many of us who have been part of this journey since the “Hope ’93” of 1993 June 12 could not but thank Allah for renewing our hope. Some of us greeted the oath taking with tears of joy in praises of the Almighty, it was a day like no other. It was a day God brought to manifestation in evidence the grace He alone bestows on TINUBU. To Allah be the glory.
After the Oath, the celebration came with a loud praise in sob, tears of joy from the patriots. The pavilion I was sitting was loud in higher praises. It was a spontaneous honest reaction of fulfilment and joy. No one could calm the other. We were too deeply emotional. Finally Tinubu is the President, Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. The father of the birth of Nigeria’s fourth republic democracy is now the head of the government.
With our cheeks soaked in tears, little by little, the smile of joy took over and it was time to dance in different steps. I chorused K1’s popular lyrics – anu morigba Ade Ori okin -. If not for God that granted us His mercy, who are we? Alhamudulillahi Rabbil Alameena.
Like many others, I can’t wait for this government to dish out pragmatic policies that will make even the opposition clap in submission, the one that will make them join us in moving the country forward together, without any gene of bitterness left in their DNA.
As the Captain is preparing to dress up in the winter coat, the passenger, being the people are watching with the most anxious look, hoping to sail through a rather less mucky waters, a strait with almost zero iceberg or atleast with this particular vessel having the capacity to clear off the iceberg without necessarily damaging the ship.
The look on the faces of the people was not different any much, it was a look of anxiety, garnish in relish of hope with such passionate expectation for full service delivery. There is no doubt that many people just naturally love Asiwaju and even himself cannot explain why. Glowing in various attire, with the majority in the signature unshackling logo of freedom of the President, the clothes definitely demonstrated the hope of the people. We just wanted to show our love for our president as we have always been showing the love before now.
The event of the swearing in of this season came with many “probables”. The invitation to attend the event was so strictly implemented that you will consider it a great honour if you are lucky to attend. Some of us were “VVIP without IV”, but we managed to *slither” in…lolz. The scarcity of invitation cards did not deter Nigerians who see this incoming government as fully owned by them from attending, they still trooped out in thousands. When vehicular movement was restricted, many used their legs to maneuver through, it was an event in many respect like no other. No one wanted to be left out. If you consider a government your own, you would do everything possible to support it without justifying any excuse. That was exactly what many did. And gratefully everything went well.
The urge to be part of this history, to insist on being physically present at the Eagle Square to witness in real time the swearing in was more than just attending a ceremony. This season’s occasion was not like anyone since the beginning of this democratic dispensation in 1999. It was one with many history.
It was indeed very special in many ways – it was the incoming of an administration that will be led by one man who single handed championed the birth of this democracy through relentless fight to end military dictatorship. It is a government that will jump so many hurdles of conspiracy by opposition and opponents alike whose only weapon of contest was lies, bigotry, violence fueling against the state and most times treason and threat of chaos. It is a government that came through the dagger of friends who will poison the food of their fellow friend whom they don’t want to see him succeed on his presidential ambition bid. When they could not stop him from contesting, they attempted to stop him through undemocratic adoption of consensus candidacy. When they could not win him in the primary election, they resorted to using the instrument of the state through dangerous, delicate and illegal monetary policy to set the people against him and his ambition. Yet, to the glory of God, he won.
Witnessing this occasion therefore is a special fulfilment for some of us, to give thanks to Almighty Allah for affording us the opportunity to thank Him for making this day a reality inspite of all the doomsday wishers, and to pray to Him to grant the new administration all the grace to deliver on its many viable promises.
After the inauguration ceremony, the merry-merry at the dinner held at the banquet hall of the presidential villa gave the people the opportunity to wine down the day’s activity, it was a honour to attend that dinner with so much fun.
NIGERIANS have never been so anxious and yet, hopeful of a government. I watched and saw the passion on the faces of the true friends of President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, PABAT, they are all looking forward to proving the cynics wrong, they just want to relish on the change of order for the good of NIGERIA and NIGERIANS that PABAT will bring forth.
Today, I witnessed the solemnization of the Oath of the 16th President whose agenda is bigger than all the previous presidents combined. I witnessed the occasion of this inauguration with friends and families, thanking God for making this day a reality.
And truly, as I witnessed this occasion, I saw on the faces of Nigerians, the yearning for good governance. I saw the Nigerians who want a better nation than we have ever had. I saw the Nigerians who are tired of bad governance, failed promises and epileptic service delivery. I saw the Nigerians who are waiting to see a brand new pragmatic and effective policy initiation and implementation mechanism for the good of the generality. I saw these Nigerians, who are merely looking for a business friendly environment for them to invest in and make the nation greater.
I saw the Nigerian workers who are hoping to have the best working environment and adequate welfare for it’s staff. I saw the Nigerian youth, who are hoping to tap from the renewed hope juice to nourish them into prosperity for the good of the nation. I saw the Nigerian youth, who are striving to shun all forms of nefarious activities to channel their intelligence to greater use and embrace digital advancement.
I saw the members of the diplomatic Corp who are hoping to have a very friendly relationship with Nigeria to cooperate for the common good of each nation. I saw the representatives of foreign investors who are optimistically waiting to take advantage of the much promised incentives to attract foreign investment in the country.
Much more, I saw the Nigerians who have hitherto lost hope in the past as a result of several failed promises, but hoping that their hope will be renewed and translated into reality of peace, peaceful environment, adequate security, reduced corruption in the system, economic boom and adequate health service availability.
Today in History, I witnessed the birth of a government which will lift Nigeria and Nigerians from the dungeon of injustice, corruption, insecurity, illegality, criminality, hopelessness to the haven of prosperity. Today in History, I witnessed the taking off of the government of prosperity where the child of nobody who strove from the bottom to thrive to the top is hoping to turn the tide to create that same opportunity of prosperity to Nigeria and many other Nigerians.
There is no doubt that this administration has alot to deliver to save Nigerians from doubt of hope or loss of trust in government and it’s officials. Much more that the government has more to gain when the resources available to it from the abundance of the populace are well utilized.
All these anxieties notwithstanding, you cannot but be more hopeful with the presidential speech as delivered by the president himself at the inauguration. The speech was lettered with so many words of assurances, with that guarantee of full implementation of developmental government policies at zero cost to decency and legality. It was a bold speech not ready to compromise on political correctness ground but to hit the nail on the bud with commitment, dedication and selfless service to the Nigerian people.
Therefore, as this administration takes off, we can only stand up to give all our support to ensure that it does not fail. A failure of government is the failure of the nation. We cannot and we should not sit back and allow those who want Nigeria to fall to use false agents to materialize that failure through artificial orchestration. We must stand up like a soldier armed with weapon of patriotism to defend the government and defend the nation. NIGERIA must succeed and be great and Nigerians must be greater with it.
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