2023 Presidential Election And The Future Of Nigeria -By Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

Nigerians, we are the verge of making another crucial electoral decision that may make or mar the country. The forthcoming presidential election provides us the unique opportunity to decide whether to reverse what is generally regarded as the mistake of 2015 or continue to wallow in misery and uncertainty brought on us by the present administration.

Before you make the decision to cast your vote, first, reflect on the challenges facing the country at present and then think about the candidate that has the wherewithal to tackle these challenges. One of the greatest problems of the country today is lack of unity which is brought about by the negligence and the obnoxious policies of the All Progressives Congress (APC) regime. Infighting, mutual suspicion and recrimination and xenophobic tendencies are on the upward swing because of the policies of exclusion by the current regime that has accentuated our fault lines. Without unity, there will not peace and there will be no progress. So, Nigeria needs a unifier, a bridge-builder, a true patriot and a statesman that will work to unify the country. Nigeria will need that leader who is willing to form an inclusive government that will give every segment of the country and our population a sense of belonging.

Secondly, you must think of the economy which is now in a very bad shape as a result of mismanagement and underutilization of our God-given resources. So, Nigeria would need an astute business man, a manager of men and resources who has managed successful business to pull the economy out of the doldrums. The one who has managed successful business will provide the enabling environment, needed infrastructure and incentives that will make business thrive.

Thirdly, we must think of the education and the future of our youths. The current regime has bastardized our educational system with over 20 million out of school children while the government waste billions on bogus school feeding program and our universities shut for over eight months following government/varsity teachers’ dispute. The children and the youths are the future of the country and the largest segment of the population; their education should be top priority for any responsible government. Therefore before you cast your vote you should consider among the political gladiators jostling for the position of president of the country, which is of them has greater plan for our educational system. You should find out which has invested his personal resources in education in the past. You should also try to find out of them has developed and employed our youths in his business.

Furthermore, we must consider antecedents and personal attributes of those campaigning to superintend over the affairs of the country. What is their track record? Where and at what level have they worked? Nigeria needs one with leadership skills to know that governance is about people, about shared goals and general interest. Nigeria does not need and emperor that feels he is entitled to lord it over us. Nigeria does not need a do-or-die politicians who is ready to fight dirty to get to Aso rock. Nigeria does not need a desperado president. We need a leader with charisma that will see the whole country as his constituency.

Thus, if Nigeria wants to come of the present socio-economic quagmire, the people must make a conscious decision to vote right. We must forget our petty differences and political affiliations and exercise our franchise for the overall interest of the nation. We must vote for competence and capacity. We must vote for national unity. We must vote for national security, peace and economic progress. Therefore, we must vote for one who is prepared for the job; for one who is reliable and who will not rescind his campaign promises. We must vote for the one who is tested and trusted.

I have taken time to study the major presidential candidates, monitored their campaigns and examined the contents of their manifestoes and truly none is as qualified and prepared as Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) presidential candidate. The contents of his manifesto are a clear indication that he is acquainted with the problems of the country. He is obviously the most prepared of the major candidate contesting for the office of the president. Nigeria will need a president who will hit the ground running not one who will waste trying to grapple with the situation when he is sworn in as Buhari did in 2015. Atiku, the Wazirin Adamawa is mature, he has the clout and the charisma. Throughout his campaign, he exhibited a high sense of maturity by dwelling on issues and the contents of his “Covenant with Nigerians”.

Atiku knows that another major problem of the country today is the concentration of power at the center and that is why he has resolved to devolve more power and resources to the states and local governments when elected in order to bring governance closer to the people and reduce the debilitating incidences of youth restiveness and agitations. On the issue of insecurity, he believes that it can be tackle through proactive measure and the use of technology, intelligence gathering, giving incentives to security agencies and the engagement of the people.

Hajia Hadiza Mohammed

hajiahadizamohammed@gmail.com

An actress, social activist, politician

London, UK