It is no
longer news we are in 2015, a very normal year likes every other past years and
likely others to come, but one thing set this year aside in Nigeria – Election.
Nigeria
operates a Federal System of Government, four years a term and the constitution
stipulates two tenures for any individual as
President. Before now, the country
got her independence from Britain in 1960; 1st October precisely and
in 1963 Nigeria became a Republic, practising a Parliamentary System of
Government.
As a new
born nation in 1960 experiencing self-governance, the campaign from politicians
was coated with ‘’Vote me in and I will do these and that’’. It is not clear if
politicians of those good old days stated clearly how they will achieve these
promises but it was evident that the people favoured any candidate that
delivered the most promising promises.
That was in
the sixties, 20th century and now in 2015, 21st century,
Nigeria’s politicians are campaigning the sixties format.
As a citizen
of this country, I see confused politicians, who have no oratory skills
matching that of our first and second republic politicians. Secondly, confused
politicians who have no idea of the country’s problems. It is a common sense
that you can’t give what you don’t have and you can only achieved fifty per
cent solution to the problem or challenge only if you can identify or
recognized the problem. None of them is in the know, the incumbent President
included.
Presidential
election comes up on 14th February, all political parties are
touring major towns and cities across the federation campaigning and soliciting
for votes with no clear-cut road-map or blueprint to Nigeria’s economic and
social problems.
The
country’s all time challenge is CORRUPTION – the virus that paralyzed the power
sector, the virus that brought about class and segregation, the blow that
brought moral decadence. Since independence, it seems that is one thing we are
good at. The present administration encouraged it and yet the Jonathan
administration wants Nigerians to vote him for second term and promises to
fight corruption with modern technology. The joke in the hall is, he wants
another four years to do this, while the cancer is at advance stage.
Though, the
Jonathan administration made little progress, the progress itself birthed in
continuity from Obasanjo’s and Yaradua’s administration. That should be it,
Jonathan need no another term to prove a point.
G. M. B –
General Mohammed Buhari(rtd), one time Military Head of State, served in
different capacities before he came to power and after he was toppled in a
coup. He faced corruption squarely, jailed many corrupt civil servants and
execute many by firing squad… joke in the hall is, he thinks he can do that in
a way this time, the democracy style.
The thing
is, he surrounds himself with technocrats and it is clear that if elected as
President comes February 14th, he will rule with the entire
politicians in All Progressive Congress (APC) the opposition party. His
campaign is based on fighting corruption, good one though.
Like
Jonathan(and Peoples Democratic Party, PDP), Buhari won’t give us any clear cut
plan to fight corruption, enrich the economy, to end the insurgency up north,
quality education, world class infrastructure, e. t. c. I mean, I watched
Clinton, George Bush, Jaque Chirac, Zarkosy
Tony Blair, David Cameroun and Obama campaigned and they do give their
plans during campaign, why can’t we practice democracy in total like the people
we claim to pattern ours after since we deem it fit not to fashioned out our
own democracy.
February 14th,
the populace will vote in another clueless man to steer the country’s affairs
for four years, another four years of stagnation, uncertainties, depression,
side lining the youth, continue insurgency, another four years for new face of
corruption.
Kudos, to
one man, faithful politician, technocrat and Governor of Lagos State, Mr
Fashola (APC, 2007-2015), during his campaign in 2006 and 2007, he laid out his
plan if voted in and in 2010 and 2011 due to popular demands, he contested for
second term, with his glaring achievements he presented another solid plan to
move on to the next stage. Lagos state is just the state to visit in Nigeria,
other Governors are keeping up the stride, Delta state, Oyo state, Cross River,
Rivers, Kano state, and more can still be done to surpass Lagos, if the Federals
can’t do it for us, then let the positive change we so much desire be seen at
the state and local government level.
My opinion
though, since the majority of our politicians are clueless on how to administer
the country, a revolution is needed, not the Arab Spring revolution. I love the
French revolution and that can be done with no blood shed in this present time.
I guess,
this will do for now, I will vote for my candidate on February 14th,
with my PVC(Permanent Voters’ Card) among the two candidates( Jonathan, GEJ,
Christian and southerner, ruling party and Buhari, GMB, muslim and northerner,
opposition party), I have weighed the odds.
-Temi
-Temi
