(cnn)the last time muhammadu buhari came to power in nigeria, it was by force this time it was by the ballot box here are five reasons why one of the most fiercely contested elections in the country's history is so important for the first time in nigeria's history, the opposition defeated the ruling party in democratic elections muhammadu buhari, 72, won nigeria's presidential election, defeating incumbent goodluck jonathan by about two million votes nigeria is significant because it is the biggest economy and most populous country in africa; it is also one of africa's largest oil producers and is a major supplier of crude oil to the united states this isn't buhari's first time leading nigeriabut it's his first time in nearly 30 years the reformed dictator is a sunni muslim from nigeria's poorer north, while jonathan comes from a christian and animist south that is rich with oil buhari's win comes after a long history of military rule, coups and botched attempts at democracy in the country many nigerians told cnn that they saw president jonathan as an ineffectual leader who was indecisive in dealing with the terror group boko haramand weak on corruption buhari, who was campaigning for the fourth time, capitalized on these weaknesses and some analysts believe that his military background was an advantage for him nigerians wanted a strong leader who could keep them safe from boko haram's murderous raidsand buhari also campaigned as a born again democrat to allay fears about his strict military regime the last time around he stressed that nigeria's security needs to be the next government's focus his campaign was also fiercely anti corruptionhe ran under the slogan of 'new broom,' and his supporters were often pictured holding brooms in the lead up to the vote the elections were largely predicted to be violent and everyone, nigerians included, expected the worst some families moved abroad and there was sporadic violence across the country in the lead up to the election but those fears turned out to be mostly unfounded, and the elections held relatively peacefullywith the exception of attacks in the north of the country, where around 11 people died many also praised president jonathan's gracious and quick concession of defeat as it almost certainly prevented post election violence president elect buhari said wednesday in a speech to the nation: 'the eyes of the world were focused on us to see if we can vote in a peaceful way and carry out elections in an orderly manner 'we have proven to the world that we are a people who have embraced democracy and a people who seek a government by, for and for the people' on election day, nigerians queued for hours in hot weather to cast their vote some of the biometric reader machines malfunctionedincluding the one at president jonathan's polling stationand voting had to be extended into the following day but the technical issues didn't keep people from votingand in lagos, some voters cast their ballots with the aid of the light from their mobile phones and even though some card readers didn't work in some places, many say they helped to cut down on vote rigging boko haram isn't the only obstacle facing the new president the economy, crime and generating enough power to light up the country are other major issues the pressure will soon be on buhari to deliver and there will be no excuses if he fails, nigerians will be waiting for him at the polls just four short years from now
muhammadu buhari's first africa nigeria
muhammadu buhari's win marks the first democratic transition of power from a ruling party to the opposition  nigeria, the most populous country in africa, is grappling with violent boko haram extremists 