Victory for us, victory for them

THAT picture has gone public, the one you have seen, the one I have seen, but with many chances of us not unanimously understanding it. President Muhammadu Buhari, shortly after the tribunal decision, was captured with the National Chairman of the All Progressives! Congress (APC), Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, sharing a  peal of healthy laughter. At the most basic significance, the portrait represents a fresh breath, a huge heaving of sigh after a tense, but avoidable, performance. First, it proves what a previous article once reported on how people at the helm are robbed of the opportunity to bask in the moment’s success, kept at their toes by an ever-lurking and snarling threat. But last Wednesday nevertheless was another success, a victory that more than a mere win, is actually a confirmation of what has been initially stated.

What the Presidential Election Petition Tribunal outcome means however, is not just a confirmation of a prior victory,  but a verification of the capacity of our judiciary who even  in the face of overwhelming pressure applied through the insufferable subjection to bureaucracy, in the face of  attempts to suffocate its reason, blackmailing its emotional  intelligence by overwhelming drama, still stood its ground  and delivered accurate justice. The outcome marked a humongous victory for the president as his mandate is once again consolidated; for Oshiomhole whose visionary Leadership is proved, and for APC whose progressive drive is once again licensed. But beyond all these worthy celebratory reasons lies its best significance, the peoples’ victory.

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This is because, at a very slim chance of backpedalling the country into the drudgery days of Peoples Democratic Party, into an era of blinding ideological darkness and heartbreaking planlessness, the tribunal propelled the march of change and crusade against corruption to its higher gears. Now with the people assured and confident in the aptitude of this government can enter a humble braggadocio, expressing faith that with President Buhari’s revamping manifesto, Nigeria can finally enter its promise land. And even though the exodus from the dreaded days of backwardness, corruption, and nepotism that characterised PDP’s 16 years in power may be long and tasking, the dawn of greatness already breaking at the end of the sojourn keeps our hope high, our spirits elated and our soul jumpy, in preparation of the excellence that awaits us at the other side. Contrary to popular thinking, justice is not always soothing nor able to excite joy in everyone. For some people, last Wednesday may mark the end of any form of aspiration, permanently soaking them in despondency as they wear a mien of dejection, mourning, wailing and, sinking in their one tears. But that is normal, that is what always happens at the end of evil’s reign.

But even while we  feel for them, there is no more that can be done for them except granting them—a time out of the spotlight where they can reflect upon their lives and pasts before coming   back to politics—hopefully, repented and upgraded, able to play the new righteous politics of progress and development. Ultimately, the competition is between the people and the president. He may think he is the happiest but that is false as we are happier than him in this victory even though he may not see our own smile and laughter. He may one time ago have said he belongs to everybody. and to nobody, but that again, is a lie; Buhari belongs to us and we belong to him.

• Mayaki is a former Chief Press Secretary to the Edo State governor