The Very Long & Tortuous Road To Aso Rock

Ahead of the presidential election, it has been a busy period for the two leading political parties – APC and PDP. Punch's Eric Dumo DUMO in this piece examines the highlights leading into the contest:

Saturday is the day of reckoning for the PDP presidential candidate, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan and that of the APC, General Muhammadu Buhari, as they test their popularity and acceptance among Nigerians.

Described as the most important election in the country’s history by events watchers, the contest is between a man who has performed well, according to his supporters, and another whose record of honesty as a military Head of State between December 1983 and August 1985 is paving way for.

While Jonathan, the incumbent, whose message of Transformation and continuity has been marred with accusation of under-performance by a host of critics – local and international, Buhari, who clamours for Change on the heels of his prudent and strong disciplinary regime, is battling to convince critics that he is good for the job and he would perform even better than he did as military leader.

For both men, it has been a very hectic marketing campaign to sell themselves to a disillusioned electorate grappling with social and economic challenges on several fronts.

After both emerging their respective parties’ candidates late last year, Jonathan and Buhari quickly turned on the heat on each other in attempts to win over more converts. It was the beginning of a long battle on the pages of newspapers, the airwaves, Internet and other publicity platforms across the country.

Buhari, who spoke later at Chatham House in a paper entitled “Prospects for Democratic Consolidation in Africa: Nigeria’s Transition,” said that he wanted to be president “because the work of making Nigeria great is not yet done.”

Apart from the controversy generated by Buhari’s health and trip to Chatham House, other events also heated things up on the road to today’s election for both men.

Rivers State Governor, Rotimi Amaechi, once a staunch ally of Jonathan but now a major backer of the 72-year-old former military Head of State, alleged that Jonathan gave pastors across the country about N6bn to vote against the APC’s candidate. Though the Presidency and PDP quickly dismissed the allegation, a Borno State-based clergy, Kallamu Musa-Dikwa, soon revealed that the money was actually N7bn and not N6bn as initially claimed by Amaechi.

Musa-Dikwa, who is the Executive Director, Voice of Northern Christian Movement, told journalists in Kaduna that the money was channelled through the Christian Association of Nigeria.

He said CAN got N7bn on January 26, 2015 and disbursed N3m to each state chairmen of the association across the country. Though the allegation has yet to be proven, it remains one of the most scandalous episodes and major highlights leading into today’s battle.

In an attempt to sell his candidacy across the country, Jonathan embarked on a nationwide consultation of prominent traditional rulers. Emir of Kano, Lamido Sanusi; Ooni of Ile-Ife, Oba Okunade Sijuwade; Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi and Oba of Lagos, Rilwanu Akiolu, were among those visited by the President.

Jonathan described the visits as private. The move, no doubt, charged up the atmosphere with news emerging shortly after that large sums in foreign currencies were doled out to the monarchs. Events preceding today’s election were characterised with hate campaigns, mudslinging with many analysts concluding that the political campaigns were the dirtiest and most indecent in Nigeria’s history. There are diverse accusation and counter-accusations.

Issues surrounding Buhari’s certificate also added interesting side attractions in the build up to the poll. While the former Head of State insisted that his certificates were with the military, the Presidency and PDP claimed otherwise. It took weeks of accusation and counter-accusations before the APC candidate finally obtained a copy of his result from Cambridge and showed the world. Even after that, there were doubts over its originality. The matter, which has yet to fully subside, remains one of the major high points leading into today’s presidential election. It adds to a long list that has combined to provide tension and entertainment weeks ahead of the epic battle.

Not only that, the APC candidate refused to participate in a national debate claiming the PDP planned to use the debate against him.

- Also, the elections in Nigeria has always been won by any man who did not participate in debate. Buhari has been participating in debates before, but this time he has declined. Will he win like others?