“You voted for change, and now change has come.”
This made part of the first sentimental response by Nigeria’s president elect Muhammadu Buhari to his uncontested win in the country’s presidential vote whose results were released on Wednesday.
And sure Nigeria is one of the countries in Africa that need change of the situation they plunged in ever since it downed on the country that they were target of militants. This has instilled terror in the country and also pressed the country’s economy to its knees.
In Nigeria, people live their days one at a time unsure of next day’s survival. There are murders in the air, with people being shot, slaughtered, chainsawed and maimed in the wickedest means ever thought of by ISIS- affiliated group Boko Haram.
Boko Haram have become a recurring fraction to Nigeria and other West African countries including Niger and Chad. In their history of existence in Nigeria, at least 15,000 people have been killed and thousands left maimed for eternity. A larger percentage of Nigerians have also fled for refuge in other countries.
One of Buhari’s biggest challenges will therefore be Boko Haram, which has been terrorizing Nigeria as it tries to institute a strict version of Sharia law in the country.
His major rival Goodluck Jonathan had been criticized for not doing enough to combat Boko Haram which started by kidnapping over 200 schoolgirls, and later has bombing both churches and mosques, killing hundreds.
This radicalization was key in the postponement of the presidential vote which was moved from February 14 to six weeks later.
Buhari won Nigeria’s presidential elections, garnering a whole 2 million votes on top of Goodluck’s 13.3 million.
Yet anyone who has background on Muhammadu Buhari would trust that this is maybe the right man worth giving a try. Buhari was a military leader during a dictatorship in Nigeria. Prospects are therefore great that he will use his military tactics to address terrorism.
In this way also, Nigeria’s economy will once again thrive with reconstruction of infrastructure and a conducive working environment promoted by security.
