The
raw hate, bigotry and antagonism that characterised the United States
election in which Donald Trump emerged winner brings to mind the open
display of hate and bitterness during Nigeria’s 2015 election.
The two elections may have come and gone
but I am reasonably certain Nigerians and President Muhammadu Buhari
have some lessons to learn from the way the U.S. president-elect, Donald
Trump has conducted himself so far.
The conduct and utterances of the
U.S. president-elect show a man who fully understands the huge
difference between being a candidate of a political party and being the
president-elect chosen to preside over the affairs of a whole country
including those who didn’t vote for him. Listening to Trump since he
won the election, you’d be left wondering if he was the same man who
repeatedly used the term “crook” for his opponent, Hillary Clinton and
even vowed to ensure she sees the inside of a penitentiary should he
win.
The actions and utterances of the
president-elect so far have shown a man who truly understands the need
for unity and national cohesion after a very bitter and highly divisive
election campaign in sharp contrast to what we witnessed from our own
President Muhammadu Buhari after he was declared the winner of the 2015
presidential elections.
Let’s review some of the actions and utterances of the reality T.V personality, Trump since winning the elections:
In his victory speech, the billionaire
businessman showered encomiums on Clinton. Hear him: “Hillary has worked
very long and very hard over a long period of time and we owe her a
major debt of gratitude for her service to our country. And I mean that
very seriously.”
That was Trump speaking as a man whose duty it is to unite both Clinton’s supporters and his own supporters, too. That was Trump sacrificing his petty emotions and urge for vendetta in the interest of national unity.
That was Trump speaking as a man whose duty it is to unite both Clinton’s supporters and his own supporters, too. That was Trump sacrificing his petty emotions and urge for vendetta in the interest of national unity.
On those who didn’t support him during
the election, let’s hear Trump again: “For those who have chosen not to
support me……., I’m reaching out to you for your guidance and your help
so that we can work together and unite our great country.”
Note, the president-elect didn’t say he
was going to give more attention to those who supported him. He didn’t
say anything about 97% versus 5% either. He simply pleaded with those
who opposed his candidacy to please come and join him in making their
country great.
Now, I believe Buhari has one or two
lessons to learn here. You don’t go to a foreign country and start
implying you’d punish those who didn’t give you their vote during an
election. No one has to vote for you. No one owes you any vote. People
have the constitutional right to vote for any candidate in an election.
It smacks of a criminal sense of entitlement to feel that everybody in
your country must vote for you or risk being treated like second class
citizens by your government. This is the mentality of a man who knows
next to nothing about the term “government.” As a president, you are
both legally and morally obligated to treat all your people equally.
Matter of fact, a wise president goes extra mile to win the love of
those who didn’t support him at the polls. Even as president, those who
didn’t support you don’t have to love you. You’ve got to earn their love
and support. It must be stated here that the 97% versus 5% speech by
Buhari where he promised to treat Nigerians on the basis of how much
vote they gave him remains one of the worst presidential gaffes in human
history.
All through the campaign, Trump never
stopped attacking President Barack Obama. He even questioned his
American citizenship and de manded to see his birth certificate. But the
moment Trump won the election, he realised that as the president-elect,
he owes it to himself and the American people to say and do only those
things that will promote national unity. After meeting with Obama for
the first time, Trump described him (Obama) as “a very good man” and
promised to seek his advice from time to time.
Trump did not describe Obama as a
kindergarten president. He did not start telling journalists how Obama
and his official had stolen billions of dollars. He simply said he
(Obama) was a very good man.
Again, Buhari needs to pay very close
attention to this. Speaking as a candidate is different from speaking as
a president-elect or even a sitting president. As a candidate, you can
say virtually anything and get away with it but once you are declared
president, your actions, inactions, speeches and even silence all have
far-reaching consequences. Your word as a president, whether
president-elect or a sitting president, can make or mar your country.
Even your body language as a president can do so many things.
It must be stated here that Buhari lost a
golden opportunity to heal this country and put her on the path of
unity after a very divisive and poisonous campaign that characterised
the 2015 general election. Instead of reaching out to those who opposed
him during the election, the president allowed his urge for vendetta to
cloud his sense of judgment. We must not shy away from the fact that had
Buhari not dedicated so much time to witch-hunting those who didn’t
support him during the election as well as ensuring that his
opponent, Goodluck Jonathan was made to look like the devil before
Nigerians, this country wouldn’t be as divided as it is right now.
Charles Ogbu is a social media activist. Connect with him on Facebook.The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
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