By Moses Olorode, CEO Matlord
Next year’s presidential election will be different from that of 2015 in many respects. Unlike the anxiety and tension that soaked the last exercise, this year’s election will be devoid of the religious and tribal acrimony that often threaten to tear the country apart.
In 2015, the country was almost on the brink of widespread violence because the two candidates came from two totally different backgrounds – Muhammadu Buhari, a northern Muslim and Goodluck Jonathan a southern Christian. The tension was so palpable that it attracted international concern such that the then American president, Barak Obama had to make a special broadcast to Nigerians to allow for a free and fair election as well as to eschew violence.
While the All Progressives Congress (APC) the party now in power threatened fire and brimstone if it did not win the 2015 election, the power of incumbency of the then ruling party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was so awesome and ready to be used by government to maul and demolish the opposition if the result of the election favoured the APC.
It is however to the eternal credit of the then incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan that the nation heaved a sigh of great relief when he conceded defeat to his rival, Muhammadu Buhari, even before the final result of the election was announced. Today, Nigerians still vividly recollect the state of anxiety in which the nation was plunged before the tension was doused by the nation’s leaders.
This year’s presidential election promises to be different in several respects. Very much unlike the tension-soaked 2015 exercise, the 2019 polls will not have the fear and anxiety that characterised the last exercise. In this year’s presidential election, the problem of North/South dichotomy has been resolved while the religious differences that often create tension among the people have also been taken care of.
The pending contest is being fought between two brothers – both of them are northern Muslims and of Hausa/Fulani extraction. These background similarities between the two contestants will, on the whole, eliminate the do-or-die syndrome that usually characterises the conduct of presidential elections. But then, no one knows for sure who between the two brothers will eventually carry the day. The two candidates have a lot of hurdles to clear before the electorate.
The incumbent holder of the coveted prize, Muhammadu Buhari rode into power through his party’s much orchestrated “Change” mantra, promising to wipe off corruption and make life worth living for all Nigerians. He also boasted putting a permanent stop to the menace of Boko Haram insurgents and restore peace to the troubled North Eastern part of the country. His party also assured Nigerians to ensure a steady supply of electricity within its second year in office and improve as well, the telecommunication system in the country. But the vast majority of Nigerians are not too happy that most of these promises have been left largely unfulfilled. The colourful balloons of anticorruption crusade with which Buhari used to regale the nation have since been deflated by critics who claim that his handling of corruption cases was highly selective. There are insinuations that a sizeable number of those working with him are more corrupt than the officials who served under Goodluck Jonathan.
Also levelled against Buhari is the allegation of nepotism where his opponents confronted him with facts and figures of the president’s penchant for appointing his kinsmen to fill key positions in the public service, especially in the national security structure. Promises to alleviate the sufferings of the masses and put smiles on the faces of Nigerians have also been largely left unfulfilled because the economy under him has been on a roller-coaster.
All these allegations and many more have greatly lowered the love and esteem which Nigerians had for Buhari at the inception of this administration, a situation that has the tendency of negatively affecting the chances of APC in this year’s presidential polls. But then, who stands to gain from the probable losses of the APC? The major opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, the PDP would readily come to mind. However, does its flag-bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar have what it takes to scale the hurdle?
Atiku, a former Vice-President for eight years (1999 to 2007) appears to be a formidable contender for the juicy position at the Presidential Villa in Abuja; but he too has his own minuses, so to say.
The first major allegation which Atiku has to contend with is that of massive corruption of which he had, until recently, been having a running battle with his former boss, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo. The allegation was so strong that it was widely rumoured that the Turakin Adamawa was a wanted man in the United States of America.
Another accusation against the PDP flagbearer is what is generally considered as his extravagant lifestyle. He gave credence to this allegation when he conveyed 400 of his party members to Dubai to “deliberate on strategies” for this year’s general elections. This action by Atiku and his co-travellers was considered rather too wasteful in a country where many can hardly afford two meals a day. His choice of running mate in Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State caused him accusation of error of judgment especially for lack of wide consultation before making that decision. The question of trust also hunts him because he was said to have promised to serve only one term but has been peddling a development agenda that stretches over a period of six years.. The people of the Southeast are obviously suggesting that Atiku as president will support and ensure the victory of someone from the geo-political zone in 2023. He may have to clear that iota of doubt with the Southeast that supported him to clinch the PDP presidential ticket during the party’s presidential primary
Now, no one can beat his chest as to which of the two main candidates will emerge as the winner in the election given the not-too-pleasant public opinion about both of them. And since neither of the two candidates can rely on his personal reputation to secure majority votes and meet the condition of scoring one third of votes in two-thirds of the States of the Federation, both may have to recourse to massive propaganda and publicity to sway electoral victory to their sides.
Hobson’s choice which means free choice when there is no real alternative is what the electorate in Nigeria will have to contend with in 2019 presidential election.
By Moses Olorode, CEO Matlord
Next year’s presidential election will be different from that of 2015 in many respects. Unlike the anxiety and tension that soaked the last exercise, this year’s election will be devoid of the religious and tribal acrimony that often threaten to tear the country apart. In 2015, the country was almost on the brink of widespread violence because the two candidates came from two totally different backgrounds – Muhammadu Buhari, a northern Muslim and Goodluck Jonathan a southern Christian. The tension was so palpable that it attracted international concern such that the then American president, Barak Obama had to make a special broadcast to Nigerians to allow for a free and fair election as well as to eschew violence. While the All Progressives Congress (APC) the party now in power threatened fire and brimstone if it did not win the 2015 election, the power of incumbency of the then ruling party, the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) was so awesome and ready to be used by government to maul and demolish the opposition if the result of the election favoured the APC. It is however to the eternal credit of the then incumbent President, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan that the nation heaved a sigh of great relief when he conceded defeat to his rival, Muhammadu Buhari, even before the final result of the election was announced. Today, Nigerians still vividly recollect the state of anxiety in which the nation was plunged before the tension was doused by the nation’s leaders. This year’s presidential election promises to be different in several respects. Very much unlike the tension-soaked 2015 exercise, the 2019 polls will not have the fear and anxiety that characterised the last exercise. In this year’s presidential election, the problem of North/South dichotomy has been resolved while the religious differences that often create tension among the people have also been taken care of. The pending contest is being fought between two brothers – both of them are northern Muslims and of Hausa/Fulani extraction. These background similarities between the two contestants will, on the whole, eliminate the do-or-die syndrome that usually characterises the conduct of presidential elections. But then, no one knows for sure who between the two brothers will eventually carry the day. The two candidates have a lot of hurdles to clear before the electorate. The incumbent holder of the coveted prize, Muhammadu Buhari rode into power through his party’s much orchestrated “Change” mantra, promising to wipe off corruption and make life worth living for all Nigerians. He also boasted putting a permanent stop to the menace of Boko Haram insurgents and restore peace to the troubled North Eastern part of the country. His party also assured Nigerians to ensure a steady supply of electricity within its second year in office and improve as well, the telecommunication system in the country. But the vast majority of Nigerians are not too happy that most of these promises have been left largely unfulfilled. The colourful balloons of anticorruption crusade with which Buhari used to regale the nation have since been deflated by critics who claim that his handling of corruption cases was highly selective. There are insinuations that a sizeable number of those working with him are more corrupt than the officials who served under Goodluck Jonathan. Also levelled against Buhari is the allegation of nepotism where his opponents confronted him with facts and figures of the president’s penchant for appointing his kinsmen to fill key positions in the public service, especially in the national security structure. Promises to alleviate the sufferings of the masses and put smiles on the faces of Nigerians have also been largely left unfulfilled because the economy under him has been on a roller-coaster. All these allegations and many more have greatly lowered the love and esteem which Nigerians had for Buhari at the inception of this administration, a situation that has the tendency of negatively affecting the chances of APC in this year’s presidential polls. But then, who stands to gain from the probable losses of the APC? The major opposition party, the People’s Democratic Party, the PDP would readily come to mind. However, does its flag-bearer, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar have what it takes to scale the hurdle? Atiku, a former Vice-President for eight years (1999 to 2007) appears to be a formidable contender for the juicy position at the Presidential Villa in Abuja; but he too has his own minuses, so to say. The first major allegation which Atiku has to contend with is that of massive corruption of which he had, until recently, been having a running battle with his former boss, ex-president Olusegun Obasanjo. The allegation was so strong that it was widely rumoured that the Turakin Adamawa was a wanted man in the United States of America. Another accusation against the PDP flagbearer is what is generally considered as his extravagant lifestyle. He gave credence to this allegation when he conveyed 400 of his party members to Dubai to “deliberate on strategies” for this year’s general elections. This action by Atiku and his co-travellers was considered rather too wasteful in a country where many can hardly afford two meals a day. His choice of running mate in Peter Obi, former Governor of Anambra State caused him accusation of error of judgment especially for lack of wide consultation before making that decision. The question of trust also hunts him because he was said to have promised to serve only one term but has been peddling a development agenda that stretches over a period of six years.. The people of the Southeast are obviously suggesting that Atiku as president will support and ensure the victory of someone from the geo-political zone in 2023. He may have to clear that iota of doubt with the Southeast that supported him to clinch the PDP presidential ticket during the party’s presidential primary Now, no one can beat his chest as to which of the two main candidates will emerge as the winner in the election given the not-too-pleasant public opinion about both of them. And since neither of the two candidates can rely on his personal reputation to secure majority votes and meet the condition of scoring one third of votes in two-thirds of the States of the Federation, both may have to recourse to massive propaganda and publicity to sway electoral victory to their sides. Hobson’s choice which means free choice when there is no real alternative is what the electorate in Nigeria will have to contend with in 2019 presidential election.