Nigeria, Feb. 23 -- With all the predictions of Armageddon and doubt about whether Saturday's presidential and National Assembly polls would hold it does sound a bit silly to contemplate life after. Even those who grudgingly concede a life after fear it might be worse. Optimism is like playing the Ostrich.

Nigeria's history of electoral violence in the sixties and even in the mid-nineties might justify these concerns. But the last six election cycles in 24 years have proved that in spite of the hysteria about its viability, Africa's largest democracy defies the odds.

Saturday's election would, yet again, prove the skeptics wrong. Despite the political fire and rhetorical brimstones, not to mention the bank note misery, there will be a m...