Nigeria’s Election

Major Genera, now President Elect, Muhammadu Buhari

Buhari is the Winner!

I watched the Nigerian election results with my husband Clem and our older son Chinaku who is visiting from Nigeria. We were all thrilled with the result.

When we heard that President Goodluck Jonathan had called Buhari to offer his congratulations, we were doubly thrilled. That call removed the fear of dispute over the results.

Buhari gave an acceptance speech after receiving Jonathan’s call. For the first 2 and 1/2 minutes of the speech Buhari is addressing the dignitaries. He is applauded frequently as he says, “Your Excellency, Governor . .  , Your Excellency, Former Governor . . etc.”

I don’t know if all these individuals were actually in the audience.  The applause sounds like a small number of people.

After the greetings, he gets to real content, thanking voters and stating that he is ready to move on and not hold grudges. He invites all Nigerians to do the same.

 

President Jonathan gave a solid concession speech. I’m so glad. He wished his opponent well.

Later the president-elect gave a more complete acceptance speech. You can read Buhari’s full acceptance speech if you like. He gave this second speech after he had received the ‘official certification notice’ from INEC, the Independent Electoral Commission.

It is powerful, well-crafted, and seems heartfelt.

You can choose to read Ainehi Edoro’s blog post of the ten best quotes from the speech. I read the whole speech after looking at her quotes. I think she chose well.

We watched Channels TV from Nigeria which streamed throughout.

I agree with what I read somewhere – Jonathan is the real hero. I think he knew he would have ruined his legacy if he had not accepted defeat graciously. Instead he burnished his reputation with his early call of congratulations and his speech acknowledging his loss.

If you’d like more news about the election, you can read Max Siollun’s analysis of why Jonathan lost.

Western media also carried news of the election. The New York Times had a lengthy story by Adam Nossiter. Public Television’s NewsHour reported on the results. Did you follow the voting? What was your source of information?

University of Bridgeport To Sunrise Rotary

Two women from China in the U.S. for two months. They are English teachers.

This morning I went to the University of Bridgeport at the invitation of Peter Shaker, former Peace Corps volunteer in Thailand. He teaches a class in English communications. His students come from all over the world.

He is using the topic of race and multiculturalism as the theme for this part of the semester. He asked me to speak about my experience living in Nigeria, and about my biracial marriage.

Four students from Brazil. They were interested in my experience of racism.

I read a few short segments from my memoir Nigeria Revisited to illustrate a couple of points about cultural differences between Nigeria and the U.S. The students were interested and asked great questions. A woman from Peru bought my book – “It’s the first time I’m meeting an author who will sign my copy,” she said.

Tomorrow morning I am speaking to Westport’s Sunrise Rotary about my memoir and about Nigeria. Their meeting is at 7:30 am! I’m meeting Aline, my publicist, at 7:15.

Despite the early start I’m looking forward to it. I know many people in the group and expect a lively audience, even at that hour.