Candidates Should Not Promise Much -By Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua

The 2023 campaign season has begun in earnest after the electorate umpire INEC, in line with its time table,gave political parties green light. Our politicians who neither visit their constituencies nor meet up with the promises have turned to or become regular visitors to communities with another brand of concocted lies and pipe dream’ promises. It is sad to note, our two decades of democracy has failed to translate the lives of nigerians in appreciable ways.

Our politicians have failed to provide even the basic infrastructures development such as: feeder roads,schools and hospitals to the electorates. As our democracy ripes,so also the bar of leadership recruitment becomes low. In the advert of democracy in 1999,those who held sway, tried for the country. For instance,the Obasanjo administration had delivered dividends of democracy to nigerians. To his credit, Obasanjo carried out reforms in telecommunication sector which birthed the GSM. There is no gainsaying the facts,GSM has created millions jobs to nigerians. It is also on record, through his efforts, Obasanjo secured Paris’s club debt relief. At the end of his tenure, he left a debt free country with resilient economy.

However, the qualities of nigerian democracy started to drop or depreciate after former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, handed over power to Late Umaru Musa Yaradua in 2007. Though, Yar’Adua came with his seven points agenda which will put the country in the pedestal of growth and development. Unfortunately, he was unable to implement them due to terminal illness resulted to his death. His successor, Good luck Ebele Jonathan, allowed corruption to fester and flourish under his watch. The Diezani and Dasuki gate are sad reminder of the high cases of corruption dogged the government. With corruption and insecurity deteriorating or getting worse under Jonathan administration, in 2015, Nigerians voted Muhammadu Buhari of APC. President Buhari administration promised to address corruption, insecurity and fix the country’s battered economy.

The high expectations or hope that greeted the Buhari administration when it came on board suddenly evaporated. With less than five months to go, many nigerians have expressed dissatisfaction with the administration performance. They felt it has performed below expectations. With allegations of corruption in the management of subsidy, poverty, kidnapping, banditry, inflation and mountain of public debts, the government has indeed failed woefully.

During the recent kadinvest business summit organized by Kaduna state ministry of commerce and industry, former CBN governor, Sunusi Lamido Sunusi, warned Nigerians to be warry of any presidential candidates who say Nigeria will be easy for him to rule in 2023. The former Kano emir’s statements could not be unconnected with country’s worsening economy. The massive oil theft has robbed the country billions of naira daily. Now, government has to borrow to fund infrastructural development and even pay salaries. Instead of promising heaven and earth,those who want to lead us in 2023, and need our votes,should tell us how are they going to address, insecurity, poverty, inflation and unhealthy economy. Nigerians are wise and more political consciousness than before. Nigerians will not entertain or tolerate any excuses or blame games by incoming government. What they need is democracy dividends.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna state. 08169056963.