Here are my thoughts and reflections concerning the just concluded presidential election in Nigeria. I will like to advise, this post is not for all, so please feel free to walk by if it doesn’t interest you. Its for a selected few. Its no news that President Goodluck Jonathan​ was defeated by Genral Muhammadu Buhari​ during the March 28 presidential election. As I sat down to ponder on all factors and actors that played out, my pensive reflection came up with the following thoughts. Factors that made President My Goodluck Jonathan​ to loose the presidential election: 1. Formation of a formidable opposition party which the President underrated with hope they can’t stand, but perhaps by the time he realized its was took late, he was already drowning lol. 2. Allowing the Five Governors to leave the PDP 3. The removal of fuel subsidy on January 1,2O12 which to led Occupy Lagos and other protest which GEJ never recovered from. 4. Poor handling of Insecurity, which led to the kidnap of the Chibok girls, women, bombings of churches and mosque, and numerous sadistic act of Boko Haram 5. Bad advisers aka praise singers who I call hawks and Mrs Jonathan mockery of the Chibok girls alleging they weren’t kidnapped. 6. Corruption and impunity in the land (Pension, Immigration, and NNPC Scam) 7. Poor shape of the economy which led to the devaluation of the naira in addition to huge unemployment. The list is not exhaustive. Feel free to drop yours… -Lessons learnt: You can’t have a second chance to make a first impression. -If you lose all options, never lose hope. -Don’t be deterred by what other people think of people of you, their opinions don’t really matter. When you have a dream/vision, remain focused and steadfast regardless of life vicissitudes . -Opportunity comes knocking at the door, when you see one, grab it because you don’t know when it will pass. – Never take away any opportunity that comes your way for granted regardless of how easy you got it. When you take things or people for granted, the things or people which you took for  granted will be taken from you. Nigerian Youths I must say, you guys are the biggest actors and players here, because,  you told our leaders and the global world, you can fool some people all the time, but you can’t fool everybody at the same-time. You did this by telling our leaders, its not longer business as usual. Enough is enough! You called the shots and were determined to change the status quo nor matter whose ox is gored. Now our leaders now truly know, they are accountable to the masses. They will learn to leave a legacy and work extremely hard as its been done in sane climes otherwise they will be shown the exit door. Probity and accountable will be our leaders watch world, as opposed to the nonchalant and lackadaisical attitude of our past leaders because we are now better informed. Its pertinent to know that, if you are not informed, you are deformed, and once you are deformed, you can’t perform, because information leads to reformation and transformation. Moral: Nigerians, especially the youths are now better informed and properly guided on the issues affecting them due to social media. Professor Attahiru Muhammadu Jega (INEC CHAIRMAN) You have indeed written your name in gold just like Humphrey Nwosu did in 1993 when he vowed to give Nigerians a credible election regardless of pressure from the then military government in power, which he actually did. Your calm, articulated and poised demeanor really helped to douse tension when the stakes were high especially during the hullabaloo by Godswill Orubebe when the election result was being announced. Nigerians will forever cherish and appreciate you for your firm, roged and charismatic nature! JEGA, you also taught some of us about the value of education, by appointing Vice -Chancellors as State as Resident Electoral Commissioner(REC) a position one can only get and handle if one is a Professor. President Goodluck Jonathan: Indeed, you were the biggest actor here. I will prefer to call you the compass, architect and maestro of the game. You orchestrated the music in such a way everybody danced to the tone you wanted, otherwise the lyrics wouldn’t have been funny judging from the rumored plan to send JEGA on three months leave vacation, to the conceding speech which you gave before the election result was finally announced. That was indeed historic! I can promise you, Nigerians will close their eyes to other ills that was synonymous with your government because you called the shot when it mattered most. Its quite unfortunate you couldn’t serve two terms which you wished. But I can assure you, if only you took 3minutes to listen to Kenny Rogers track on the “Gambler” which on numerous occasion I mentioned to you, I am highly optimistic if you had listened to it you would have won. You would have known when, where and how to call the shots in addition to knowing when to hold them;know when to fold them;know when to walk away; and know when to run; you never count your money sitting on the table for there will be enough time for counting when the deal is done; Every Gambler knows the secret to surviving is knowing what to throw away and what to keep; Cause every hand is a winner and every hand is a loser and the best you can hope for is to die in your sleep. Nigerians: Its instructive you know that, in the spirit of determinism, there’s no spoke without fire. If you are student of the Bible like me, you will concur with me, that the Book of life says in Jeremiah 29:11 “For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future”. I say this because, many people will wonder why things happen the way it happen, without knowing there’s a force that control the universe all things being equal. This is because, if you go back memory lane from June 11, 1993 when Chief M.K.O Abiola’s election was annulled by General Ibrahim Badamasi Babaginda, you will agree with me, God chose former president Olusegun Obasanjo to rule this country twice, before he handled the mantle of leadership to late former president Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, before President Goodluck Jonathan tool over the mantle of leadership despite all that happened by the cabals. Today, President Goodluck can stand tall or permit me to say he can be “likened” to the likes of former president Nelson Mandela former president of South Africa, and former president of Nigeria General Abdulsalami Alhaji Abubakar who championed the return to democracy. President Goodluck Jonathan on his part will be handing over the mantle of leadership to a former dictator who is highly respected for his integrity and body language concerning corruption- a dreaded canker worm Nigerians hate with passion. Moral: Regardless of what is going on in your life, please relax, don’t give up, be optimistic and stay positive because,  its all working for your purpose. Who knows if some other person was there, he/she would have refused to tow the path of honor just like President Goodluck has always said, “My Ambition Is Not Worth The Blood Of Any Nigeria”. I also want to use this medium to thank some egg-heads whom I discovered during the campaign trail. I must confess, they are part of the youths that can make the future of Nigeria bright. Please join me in thanking them for their pensive thoughts, analyses and reflections. They are Obi Chima Henry,​ Marilyn Oma Anona,​ Chukwudi Iwuchukwu, Blossom Martins,​ Ifeanyi-Cy Njoku​ and Tony Kanu Finally friends, permit me to tell you about the irony and beauty of our President-Elect: For the Records, General Muhamadu Buhari is the 4th President in the 4th Republic who was declared in the 4th Month after contesting for the 4th Time. I will end this post with a message for our incoming President elect with an article written by Dele Momodu​ http://www.thisdaylive.com/articles/buhari-and-the-burden-of-expectations/204009/#.VQOPqtEghPd.twitter Longlive Federal Republic of Nigeria.

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Henry Ukazu is a graduate of New York Law School. He is Founder and President at Global Empowerment & Mentoring Initiative. A trained life coach, prolific writer, and passionate youth advocate, he is also a highly sought-after public speaker. He is author of the acclaimed book, “Design Your Destiny- Actualizing Your Birthright to Success.

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