It was first hinted in the old by British prime minister, Harold Macmillan. In a memorable speech to the then apartheid South African parliament in Feb­ruary 1960, he had asserted to wit: that the ‘wind of change’ blowing across the African continent was a political fact. No sooner, saw the chain independence of most of their erstwhile territories in the continent. Another of its kind was to blow in the Arab Spring of late 2010 to mid 2012 that saw to the demise of the totalitarian regimes in Tunisia, Egypt and Libya came tumbling.
However, its latest version ap­pears to be the apparent decision by the electorate in particular coun­tries to vote out groups that they have had enough of their political protuberance in free and fair gener­al elections. Without doubt, by the recent election of Donald Trump as the 45th president of the United States of America, this new wind of political change blowing across the world has berthed in the United States of America (USA).
First, it had been the Italians a while back deciding to hand the governance of their country to a team of technocrats rather than politicians. Then the ancient de­mocracy of Greece decided to hand over power to a non-tie wearing socialist as their nation’s economy swam in the sea of uncertainty steered by more-rigid-than-pliable politicians of old. And then an apo­gee was arrived when Justin – the 43-year old son of Pierre Trudeau who ruled Canada from 1968-84 – officially became the 23rd prime minister of the country.
Given his age, many had alluded to his experience being “too thin for a political leader” during the cam­paigns. A view based on the fact that before landing his county’s top job he had mostly been a teacher. But rather up to the task at hand, in his victory speech he vowed to run an open government, devoid of se­crets. Opining that the opposition were not enemies but neighbours, he said “Canadians from all across this great country sent a clear mes­sage tonight; it’s time for a change in this country, my friend, a real change.”
Also up to his words, no doubt, he had started on a swift note by riding to the inauguration in a bus with his ministers designate instead of the usual limos that dropped each off. Also, kick starting his open and accessible government he appointed a cabinet which in his words “looks like Canada” in all ramifications. Asked in turn why the cabinet coped with a parity of the genders he replied it was “be­cause this is 2015”.
The change of variable dimen­sions that also took place in the Southeast Asian and South Ameri­can countries of Myanmar and Argentina, respectively also stand up for the count. In the former, its last general election was won by no other than the National League for Democracy (NLD) led by Aung San Suu Kyi; winning more than 77% (887 out of 1,150) of the seats up for grabs thereby ending half a century of military dominance in their politics. In the election in Ar­gentina Mauricio Macri the mayor of Buenos Aires swept to power ending the 12-year hold on power by the Peronists via the Judicialist Party.
Inter alia, there had also been the unique experiences here in Ni­geria and that in Tanzania. In the latter, the election of its 5th presi­dent in John Pombe Magufuli in November 2015 had seen change in unforeseen proportions while in Nigeria after an uninterrupted 16-year stay in power, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) of Nigeria was displaced by the incumbent All Progressives Alliance (APC) in the general elections of 2015. Matched against a government in power, the APC had won the election against all odds. Not unlike Donald Trump in the present US experience, their presidential candidate then Gener­al Muhammadu Buhari had come up against so much castigation that it appeared as though his election appeared an abject impossibility.
Yet he had triumphed for none other reason that the people fell for his neo-change mantra. Not un­like has come to pass in the Trump case. However, apparently irked by the shenanigans of their Washing­ton politicians, the Americans have for a change voted in a man with no political experience whatsoever. In a campaign trail that sometimes ap­peared like a pantomime and cari­cature mixed up in one – from par­ty primary to the campaign proper – Trump appeared to be stumbling against even inexistent obstacles. So much that even noted proph­ets had predicted his loss even in faraway lands. Yet triumph he did when the votes were counted.
Here at The AUTHORITY we cannot but congratulate him on the humongous attainment. However it is our prayer that the touted chang­es that the United States’ electorate envisaged in casting their ballots do not turn to a pipedream no sooner than his inauguration into office early next year. We also ask The Al­mighty to give him the prerequisite intellect to appreciate the responsi­bility the victory has bestowed on him given his country’s unique role in the maintenance of order in the world.
COPIED