President Bola Tinubu’s recent praise of Ghana’s peaceful and credible elections is an affront to Nigerians and an extraordinary display of hypocrisy; a glaring reminder of the shameful fraud that marred his own scandal-ridden ascent to power. Standing on an international stage, at the 66th ordinary session of ECOWAS, Tinubu had the gall to commend Ghana’s democratic “maturity” while his own presidency remains a product of one of the most rigged, chaotic, and disgraceful elections in Nigeria’s history. He lauded Ghana’s presidential elections as a beacon of democratic maturity and urged ECOWAS leaders to draw inspiration from Ghana’s peaceful transition of power, highlighting the political maturity of the candidates and the electorate. The audacity of Tinubu’s hollow sermon reveals the alarming disconnect between his rhetoric and reality. Nigerians remember all too well the chaos, disenfranchisement, and massive rigging that marred the 2023 elections – an election that handed Tinubu the presidency under circumstances that defied both credibility and fairness. This hypocrisy is not just insulting; it is enraging.
While Tinubu’s commendation of Ghana’s democratic process is well-deserved, it is impossible to ignore the glaring irony of his statements. Tinubu himself ascended to power through an election marred by widespread irregularities. The contrast between his words and his actions raises serious questions about his commitment to the democratic principles he so fervently praises. Ghana’s recent elections were indeed a model of democracy. The incumbent Vice President, Mahamudu Bawumia, and the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) gracefully conceded defeat with dignity, congratulating the President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, even before the official results were announced. This act of political maturity and respect for the will of the people stands in stark contrast to the contentious and disputed election that brought Tinubu to power. Nigeria’s election was defined by chaos, desperation, and a complete lack of integrity. Nigerians were met with violence at polling stations, systematic voter suppression, and the failure of electoral technology.
Is it not a cruel irony that the same man who benefited from a rigged and chaotic electoral process now holds Ghana up as a beacon of democratic virtue? While he praises President Nana Akufo-Addo and Ghanaians for their civility, Tinubu conveniently forgets the embarrassment his administration has brought to Nigeria’s electoral integrity. Ghana’s election was peaceful; Nigeria’s 2023 election was marred by chaos, intimidation, and the brazen undermining of the people’s voice. Tinubu’s hollow words on political stability and respect for the will of the people ring louder as a mockery of the very Nigerians who were disenfranchised, intimidated, and silenced during the 2023 elections.
Tinubu’s hypocrisy is galling. His words are not only empty; they are insulting. How dare Tinubu hold Ghana up as a model of democracy when his own election was a stain on Nigeria’s democratic history? He has the audacity to urge West Africa to follow Ghana’s example, yet he refuses to confront the glaring failures within his own administration. The world watched as Nigeria’s electoral process was dragged through the mud, tainted by unrelenting disenfranchisement, vote-buying, rigging, and manipulated results. In Ghana, there were no prolonged court battles to uncover the winner. In Nigeria, Tinubu’s so-called victory was contested in courts for months, leaving millions of Nigerians disillusioned and betrayed. Does he think Nigerians have forgotten how their voices were silenced? Does he believe that empty platitudes will erase the reality of his rigged mandate? True leadership starts at home and Tinubu’s government has been a disaster for democracy, legitimacy, and the rule of law.
Tinubu’s call for West African leaders to prioritize national unity and political stability is undoubtedly important. However, true leadership requires more than just rhetoric; it demands leading by example. The Nigerian election that saw Tinubu’s rise was fraught with rigging, vote manipulation, voter suppression, and a lack of transparency. These issues undermine the very democratic values that Tinubu now champions on the international stage. As Nigeria approaches its own democratic milestones, it is crucial for its leaders to reflect on the principles they espouse. Genuine democratic progress cannot be achieved through hollow praises and empty gestures. It requires a steadfast commitment to free, fair, and transparent elections, where the will of the people is respected and upheld.
If Tinubu truly believes in Ghana’s example, then let him hold himself to the same standard. Let him ask why Nigerian voters were subjected to failed technology, rampant vote-buying, and electoral violence. Let him acknowledge that his so-called victory came at the expense of a shattered democratic process.
It is laughable, if not downright insulting, that the man who benefitted from such a debacle now lectures West Africa on “political stability” and “maturity.” If Tinubu wants Nigeria to stand as a beacon of democracy, let him stop parading as a reformer on the global stage and start fixing the rot at home. Let him address the shameful failures of INEC, prosecute those responsible for voter suppression, and implement real electoral reforms. Anything less is cowardice and deceit.
Nigeria deserves better than this charade. Instead of patronizing speeches about democratic maturity, Tinubu should look inward. It is sickening to hear him lecture other nations on democratic values while his own administration represents the very opposite. The Nigerian people deserve better than a leader who preaches integrity but oversees corruption, incompetence, and chaos. Mr. President, spare us your self-righteous speeches, and practice what you preach. Stop hiding behind Ghana’s successes to distract from your own failures. Ghana’s elections are a reminder that democracy is not just about peaceful transitions but the integrity of the entire electoral process. It is time for Nigeria to address the flaws in its electoral system and strive towards the high standards Tinubu so readily applauded in Ghana. Until you deliver free, fair, and credible elections to the Nigerian people, Mr. President, your words will remain a farcical and shameful stain on this nation’s conscience. Nigerians will not forget. They will not forgive.
