The 2023 elections for the presidency, National Assembly, governorships, and state houses of assembly have largely concluded, with only a few areas still awaiting finalization by the Independent National Electoral Commission. Nonetheless, the process remains incomplete because aggrieved parties can still file suits before election petition tribunals, pursue appeals, and ultimately bring cases before the Supreme Court. Beyond the legal challenges, the nation faces pressing issues of peace, consensus‑building, reconciliation, and unity. Achieving broad, if not universal, support for the government at all levels is essential for development and nation‑building. This constitutes the central challenge of post‑election governance, and it will be difficult to address unless the competing parties understand both the “why” and the “how” of reconciliation.
Understanding the “why” of unity and reconciliation begins with recognizing the importance of a shared purpose. Nations are built on the collective contributions of all groups and stakeholders, each of which must feel a sense of belonging, have its contributions appreciated, and be acknowledged as part of the whole. Citizenship, human rights, and fundamental freedoms form the basis of nation‑building; no individual can give their best in an environment where they or their group are oppressed, profiled, or denied dignity. The first four preambular paragraphs of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) underscore this relationship, stating that recognition of inherent dignity and equal, inalienable rights is the foundation of freedom, justice, and peace. The UDHR further asserts that protecting human rights through the rule of law prevents rebellion against tyranny and oppression. Respect for fundamental rights, including the right to vote, is therefore essential for justice, peace, and development.
Article 21(3) of the UDHR declares that “the will of the people shall be the basis of the authority of government,” expressed through periodic, genuine elections with universal, equal suffrage and secret ballots. When citizens’ voting rights are denied, subverted, or ignored, the foundation for development is undermined. This widely accepted principle makes reconciliation and national healing crucial, prompting an examination of how such healing can be achieved.
President‑elect Bola Tinubu’s recent call for national healing appears appropriate, yet it raises questions about the basis for reconciliation. For the message to have real impact, several fundamentals must be met. First, there must be acknowledgment that individuals and groups were wronged and that their rights were violated. The responsible parties must be identified, and the offenses openly recognized. Second, a sincere apology is required—one that demonstrates repentance and acceptance of wrongdoing, not merely a perfunctory statement. For example, those who orchestrated the denial of Igbo voting rights in parts of Lagos must own up to their actions, and figures such as M.C. Oluomo must come clean with their sponsors. An apology must be accompanied by concrete guarantees of non‑repetition, embodied in laws, policy frameworks, and implementation mechanisms that empower targeted groups to activate preventive safeguards. These mechanisms should impose heavy penalties on perpetrators and on officials who fail, refuse, or neglect their duties, rather than relying on biased law‑enforcement agents.
The final step involves considering compensation for victims of voting‑right violations, reflecting the legal maxim *ubi jus, ibi remedium*—where there is a right, there must be a remedy. Genuine peace and reconciliation are indispensable for progress, development, and nation‑building. This peace must not be the “peace of the graveyard” or the “peace of the jungle,” where victims are simply eliminated. Nigeria is not an animal kingdom; human beings cannot thrive under a fabricated consensus.
Having undergone seven elections since 1998, Nigeria can no longer justify the infantile steps in electioneering that were previously excused for the 2007‑2011 cycles. The 2023 elections were not mere mistakes or negligence; they were premeditated, carefully planned, and executed. Despite substantial human, financial, and other resources devoted to electoral reforms since 1999, the country’s electoral performance has shown little improvement, and correcting one misdeed often opens the door to others. An impoverished nation cannot spend N305 billion on a low‑quality election.
The president‑elect must lead national reconciliation by acknowledging the failures that occurred under his watch in Lagos and urging other leaders nationwide to do the same. This acknowledgment will lay the foundation for national healing. However, such efforts are undermined when his chief spokesperson, Bayo Onanuga, issues ethnic slurs and, when confronted by respectable Nigerians—including members of his own party—refuses to apologize. Individuals who have committed offenses must be tried and punished according to the law, not shielded from prosecution. Nigeria’s current predicament stems from a history of impunity for electoral and other offenses, which has normalized misconduct. Only by ending this culture of impunity can the nation move toward genuine reconciliation and sustainable development.
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