On behalf of our admin crew, I wish to thank all of you, members of the Due Process Advocates (DPA), for the role you played in bringing about change in Nigeria since the past three months. We may not all agree on the precise meaning of the change we celebrate today. But we must look at the term, change, in its expansive context and meaning. Nigeria has suffered a long history of political apathy and disenfranchisement. For too long, the political leadership had claimed to be carrying out change without much of an input from the ordinary Nigerian citizens. They just sat there without voice or action over who should rule them.

As a result there came to be governments that did not give a damn about the average person. Steadily, the rights of the people were eroded until they were nearly eviscerated altogether. But in the course of events leading to the elections of 2015, the situation began to CHANGE. Nigerians were no longer going to sit by the curbs and be onlookers to the events that affect their destiny and their very existence. They became activists, rather than onlookers. They became players, rather than spectators. They became the agents of CHANGE, rather than victims of change. They found found their voices, their say and their roles in the course of history.

Indeed, for the first time, the ordinary Nigerian entered into action. This is the CHANGE that occurred and this is the CHANGE we celebrate today. It does not really matter much who is eventually declared the winner of the the elections and the next President of Nigeria. What matters to us is that such a person now knows he cannot rule Nigeria as was done in the past. The people of Nigeria have now awoken to their civic responsibility of monitoring the performance of their leaders and judging them effectively accordingly.

The process of citizen government started a few months ago. The impact of the people’s involvement was felt. The hitherto lethargic government woke from its slumber and began running in the streets to keep fit. The people that were formerly ignored became important to government and there was all-out effort to woo them and to gain their support. That was the CHANGE we sought, and that is the CHANGE we have begun to feel. DPA decidedly and deliberately played a key role in this process, against heavy odds. We chose not to be a group where all we do would be to share felicitators on our members’ birthdays and weddings. We chose not to be silent at a period of tension and change.

DPA chose to enter into the fray just in order to further the process of CHANGE, without necessarily taking a partisan position in the change process. Because of vested interests and old traditions, we came under attack and we faced accusations for daring to speak up. Many wanted DPA not to participate in the mood of the times. But against all that pressure, DPA stood firm and joined Nigerians in the quest for a government by consent and a government that would be responsive to the yearning of the people.

We are grateful we played that role, and that we we participated. I thank our members because it would have been impossible to do this without the support of the majority who understood that we faced a historic and defining moment and that we could not be passive at such a time. I thank our members for actively participating in the debates and discussions that have gone on in the past three months. You are wonderful people. We are also grateful that so far the elections in Nigerian have been relatively peaceful, though we regret all the isolated instances of bloodshed and loss of life in yesterday’s elections. Very soon, a new leadership will emerge in Nigeria. It could be that the President would be re-elected and he continues in office. It could also be that his challenger would be elected and a new political party would form the government.

DPA is not interested in any particular candidate winning. All that DPA wanted was for the process of change this time to be different from the past and for it to be fair and free and transparent and based on people-power.

As the next government takes over in the coming months, DPA shall continue its traditional role of promoting human rights and holding government, whoever the President may be, accountable, transparent, and responsive to the people. We shall continue to see the promotion of rule of law, the improvement of the lots of the average person, the empowerment of the people, the promotion of the cause of enlightenment and education, the elimination of poverty.

Again, we thank you for job well done and may we all continue to keep the peace and avoid violence or threats thereof. Long live DPA! Long live Nigeria!

•Being a Message of Thanks and Congratulations to all DPA Members and Nigerians at Large by Emeka Ugwuonye, lawyer and activist – whose photo appears alongside this piece – the Group Founder/Principal Administrator of Due Process Advocates (DPA) as well as President/CEO at Eculaw Group.

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