CONGRATULATIONS, PRESIDENT MUHAMMADU BUHARI
Realpolitik and the Incredible Shrinking of Bola Ahmed Tinubu
-Attorney Patryk Utulu**

May 29, 2015 (Nigeria's Democracy Day) was a very special day for me as my ancestral homeland took one more baby step on its mission to full participatory democracy. I have always been a patriot and the further away you go the nearer -- and dearer -- home becomes. Even the 9,000 kilometers between Nigeria and the U.S. was not going to keep me from fully participating. So I rescheduled all appointments, cheerfully ignored money, selectively turned off my cell phones and stayed home. And as I surfed from BBC to CNN, read and reread Nigerian news online, and waited for the inauguration I silently thanked Mother Nature for putting Nigeria's time zone five hours ahead of the U.S. East Coast time.

When I saw President (and soon-to-be-former president) Goodluck Jonathan and former President (and soon-to-be-president) Muhammadu Buhari sharing a platform to advance the Nigerian democratic experiment I was simultaneously thrilled at our achievement and saddened by the memory that due to military coups, assassinations and deaths (natural or suspicious) this would be only the second handover between two democratically elected leaders of Nigeria.

In a 55 year history spanning 13 "Presidential" leaderships. But better late than never, and "every family has bad memories," as Godfather Michael Corleone famously advised, yes?

Ah, what a day! Even from 9,000 kilometers away the presidential prestige and the pomp and pageantry shone through. As did the rapturous joy of the 'winners', the exclusion of the 'losers' and the peacockery of Nigerian clothing embroidery. I saw something else too: That although history may belong to the winners memories belong to victims who alone determine how to interpret it. So, I am hopeful that wiser heads -- not triumphalist trolls -- understand that there's so much national healing still needed, especially in the months ahead.

Did I mention that I've now read/listened to President Buhari's inaugural speech five times? Why? First, I liked the inspirational "I belong to everyone...and to nobody" statement. I believe he meant it but I am also old enough to know that the statement is for now, merely aspirational. Second, it is by reading history and paying attention to details that we draft future history in our heads where it counts the most.

Ah, yes, yesterday was a wonderful day for millions of Nigerians, a day of days to remember but as I turned off my bedside light another light came right on, in my head: whatever happened to Bola Ahmed Tinubu? It's not as though he was deleted -- or 'derelicted' -- but the loudly self-proclaimed Mastermind of 'Victory Buhari' seemed to have been downsized. Could it have been due to Tinubu's past brushes with the law or because PDP's Senator-elect (and U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration-indictee) Buruji Kashamu recently told the media that Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was his mentor and role model? Oh, what a difference the days after election make!

Here's food for thought. Whether you like him or not and whether you voted for him or not, so far Buhari has shown that smartness "get" different levels!!

Congratulations, Alhaji Muhammadu Buhari, President of Nigeria.
Thank you, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, former President of Nigeria!!!

******
Attorney Patryk A. Utulu
U.S.-based Attorney & Strategic Communications Specialist
Global Defense Analyst and Global Events Commentator
Executive Vice President, Nigerian Diaspora-North America
Executive Director, The Center 4 Community Empowerment & Lifeskills, Inc
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