Is the 2023 Election in Nigeria Business as Usual? -By Olugbenga Ebenezer Oloidi

With every passing day, the closeness to the 2023 general election slated by INEC to hold in Nigeria draws close. Every ticking second is a testimony to the fact that we have a serious business that might likely turn our destiny of political maladjustment around or sink us deeper into economic quagmire and terroristic backwardness. There are obvious signs and tensions acting as the herald of another opportunity of opening a new chapter in the Nigerian political, social and economic history. The atmosphere is greeted with anxieties and the people are apparently bracing up for the big show ahead. Before the general campaigns kick off officially, we have been experiencing incessant social media paraphernalia, testing the popularity of the three most pronounced of the presidential candidates. Consciously or unconsciously, so many slogans have arisen to influence the individuals on where to pitch their political tents with the candidate of their choices.

As it were, anew definition has been given to the conventional usage of the word obedient. In our present dispensation, the mention of the word obedient necessarily takes one’s mind to the disciples of the Labour Party presidential candidate, Mr Peter Obi who was the former Anambra State Governor. Emi lokan(it is my turn) is the echo that is making waves to the point of reaching crescendo for the former Lagos State Governor, Ashiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (BAT), who runs under the flag bearer of All Progressive Congress. In terms of political slogan, Atiku, the presidential candidate of Peoples Democratic Party makes his rebaptism from his name just like his political counterparts. The concept Atikulated easily resounds on the lips of an average Nigerian probably due to his political exploits as the former Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Obident, BatifiedandAtikulated are the three neologisms that would easily send every tongue wagging, and their followers bantering words in defence of their political choices. The social media propaganda enjoyed by these three candidates makes us to label them as the most pronounced presidential candidates.

The different episodes unravelling around us are pointers to the fact that we have not learnt our lessons from the past experiences. This attitude is epitomized in the words of George Santayana that “those who do not learn from history are doomed to repeat it.” It becomes obvious that we have refused to dissociate ourselves from our individual political affiliations, ethnic prejudice and religious chauvinism. No one can stand bold to say that he hasn’t been struck by the present economic destitution, social brouhaha and insecurity. As a matter of fact, some social media influencers have made light of the whole hardship being witnessed by jokingly saying that “anyone who could conveniently afford the 3 square meals should be visited by the EFCC.”

There is no gain-saying the fact that the obvious economic reality is biting deeply on the masses and everyone now desires an alternative option to survive. Be that as it may, there is the need to use our reasons rather than the emotion that is tainted with ephemeral benefit in the next election. Any wrong decision could permanently sink the ship of the nation. There is the need to make a critical reflection as we gradually approach the next election. Before you choose your next leader(s), you need to thoughtfully ask yourself the following salient questions:

Does your candidate have the technocratic wisdom to make us sing a new song of hope? Does he have the wherewithal to make some positive drastic decisions about the institutionalized terrorism? Will he continue to promote the Fulani race as the sacred cows? Is he ethnically biased to only promote the interest of his tribe and breaking loose the bond of one Nigeria? Does he have the physical and mental abilities to withstand the hassles of a heterogeneous nation like Nigeria? Do you think he is the lesser evil among the contestants? Do you think he would not sacrifice the national interest on the altar of personal aggrandisement? Do you think he would sheath the sword of individual differences and embrace the promotion of common good? Is your choice of your candidate influenced by the greasing of your palm with few wands of naira notes? Does your candidate have the listening ears or rather considers every constructive criticism as hate speech? Is the choice of your candidate based on the fact that those who have been in the vicious political cycles should continue to dominate? These questions among others are the clarion calls to wake us up from our slumber of not seeing every election as business as usual.

OLOIDI, Olugbenga Ebenezer