What was suspected in the final stages of the vote counting of results of Saturday's General election, was confirmed less than two hours later as, now former, President Goodluck Jonathan, conceded to his rival, Muhammadu Buhari, with a phone call congratulating him and wishing him all the best.
The call brought the five year Presidency of Jonathan, who inherited power following ill-health of the former President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua. He was sworn in to served out Yar'Adua's term before winning an election on his own ticket, which ended yesterday, with Saturday's elections.
On his part, Nigerian election winner and President-elect, Muhammadu Buhari congratulated outgoing President Goodluck Jonathan, for peacefully relinquishing power.
The events in Nigeria have been remarkable in several ways: Buhari's victory at the polls remains the first time an aspiring politician will unseat a sitting president ballot box. It is also the first time, an opposition political party has won power from the ruling party.
It marks a turning point in Nigerian politics because, the event effectively sets back the dark years during which a peaceful transition was unimaginable and the incumbent never dreamed of relinquishing power.
The failure of Goodluck Jonathan's PDP to win this around at the ballot box shows the disenchantment with which Nigerians viewed his presidency, especially as the Boko Haram saga unfolded, and insecurity became a common word on the lips of the citizens.
Equally unforgettable is the fact that over 200 schools girls abducted from Chibok by the terror group remain unaccounted for, nearly one year after the incident. Nigerian's say they can't imagine a President that would be forgiven for not showing as much concern over the girls as a father would to his own children.
The decisive win, across much of Nigeria's 36 states, plus the Federal Capital Territory Abuja, show how determined the generality of Nigerians were at making sure they effected a change at the Aso Rock.
Even as it became clear he had coasted to victory, Muhammadu Buhari remained calm, as some people around him rejoiced.
30 years ago, as Military Head of State, General Muhammadu Buhari introduced the War Against Indiscipline that saw Nigerians begin to learn about order and patience in their daily lives in public. There were queues at banks, petrol stations, bus-stops and indeed anywhere that, for some reason a delay may be necessary to serve everyone.
That popular war was truncated when he too was overthrown in another military coup that Brought former President Ibrahim Babangida to power.
In an exemplary speech from a newly elected president of a country that is home to the World's most populated black nation, Buhari showed the kind of leadership he brings when he advised his supported to celebrate without violence and to not disrespect the PDP. How very mature.
Now that he is back in power through popular will of the people, will the truncated war now be completed?
