THE rapidity of the increasing open verbal exchanges between officials of the departing government of President Goodluck Jonathan and the President-elect, Maj-Gen Muhammadu Buhari should worry anyone interested in appropriate decorum for the office of the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria – a creation of the Constitution – and distinction between the office and its occupant.

Both sides set up teams for a successful transition from a government run by one party to another party, just like the election that produced the new government. The meetings hardly began before the teams started accusing each other openly. Jonathan’s team alleged that Buhari’s group was behaving like “a parallel government”. Jonathan’s people must realise they are on their way out, the in-coming government retorted. The grounds for the confrontations were set well before the elections, when the All Progressives Congress, APC, raised an alarm that the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, government was looting the treasury in its final days. They provided no scintilla of evidence to justify such grave allegation.

It is understandable that this being the first time that we are witnessing a transfer of power from a ruling party to a victorious opposition, friction could exist. Even in more advanced democracies, it sometimes happens. Maturity and patriotism are needed to handle the issues. Each side must accord utmost respect and courtesy to the other. The insults should cease with the campaigns.

President Jonathan’s gamely concession of the election, we believe, has set the tone for the new attitude to politics in Nigeria. It is possible that some are inclined to ignore the significance, even importance, of Jonathan’s action. He should not be reminded, at every turn, that he was defeated. Many politicians fear the humiliation from defeat, which may explain their temptation to cling to power at all costs. Some African conflicts result from such undemocratic conducts.

In a democracy, positions change with voters’ decisions. Those who gloat in the euphoria of victory may next suffer the bruise of defeat. It is only when our politicians learn to be magnanimous in victory and gracious in defeat that lessons of the 2015 elections could have fuller meanings.

With Jonathan’s tenure expiring on 29 May, the in-coming APC presidency should focus on the enormity of the tasks ahead of it, particularly, fulfilling its campaign promises of changing Nigeria for the benefit of its peoples.

There is no point dissipating energy on empty squabbles and creating unnecessary distractions from the tasks ahead. Nigerians expect both sides to part ways nicely, always bearing in mind the need to continue to accord the highest office in the land the dignity it deserves, and extending same to its legitimate occupant.