Flag of Nigeria. Vector illustration
Julius Oweh
In less than sixty days, the fate, destiny and future of Nigeria shall be decided in a presidential election billed for February 14, 2015. This election shall be the all and end all of our collective dreams and those of unborn Nigerians. It is coming against the grim prediction of an American think-tank of the implosion and balkanization of the country. The situation in the country is not even cheerful against the upsurge of Boko Haram insurgency and the tumbling fortunes of the economy.
Since independence, the country had not seen such worse times and we are on the edge of abyss imagining what will come out of that important election. The behaviour of the political class and their desperation for domestication of power and attendant capture of the economic purse are grim reminders that ours is indeed a very bad case. The two major political parties, the ruling PDP and the APC have concluded their presidential primaries with various promises ranging from the mundane to the ridiculous and it is a matter of conjecture whether they would allow the electorate to exercise their mandate, and the inefficiency of INEC and the very partisan nature of the security forces.
President Goodluck Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari in their acceptance speeches of their partiestickets have spoken about securing and preserving the nations future. Speaking in Abuja, the PDP flag bearer assured Nigerians of a brighter future, promising to do things better than the present. This is how Jonathan assured Nigerians of a brighter future: `Our political opponents shall assail us with the fury of their desperation to win power.
They will use every means – intimidation, false accusations, hostile media and more. Do not descend to their level. We must stay focussed on the mission at hand- to secure Nigerias future. It is only hoped that these words would be matched with deeds so that the sovereign will of the people as exercised in elections shall be allowed to hold sway. On his part, Buhari of the APC placed his hope on the ability of his team to preserve the nations future and do things differently from what the PDP is afflicting the nation with. Listen to Buharis sermon on a new Nigeria: ‘Preserving the nation`s future is a great obligation to all of us.
This is what the government in power should be saddled with; otherwise they have no reason being in government….. I see it as a tribute and mark of confidence to carry the torch as we all join hands to rescue our country, Nigeria from those who have led us into the current state of insecurity, poverty, sectarian divide and hopelessness among our people`. Thus like Jonathan, Buhari is also on a rescue mission and no obstacles should be placed in his path to defeat this noble dream of turning around the fortunes of Nigerians. Times are tough and hard and Nigerians are passing through the most excruciating times in their history.
Violence had enveloped the nation as the Boko Haram terrorists roam parts of the nation unchallenged. Armed robbery and kidnapping are becoming part of the unfortunate signature tunes of the nation. The Naira is on a free fall and corruption stalks our nation making vast majority of Nigerians to be walking corpses whereas the few in the corridors of power are pregnant with our money and making a mockery of our common inheritance.
It staggers the imagination that Nigeria has the unique but dubious distinction as the only oil producing nation in the entire universe that imports petroleum products. Our refineries, against all economic calculations, cannot work because the fat toads of exploitation are happy with the outlandish importation of petroleum products. Yet there is a government in power.
This is not a critique of the Jonathan administration but if the truth must be told, the nearly sixteen years of PDP in power in the nation is a pure let down. The billions of petro dollars have not manifested in the people’s standard of living rather rot in infrastructures, penury and agonizing unemployment assault Nigerians and the blessing of black gold is now a curse. Therefore’ 2015 is another opportunity for Nigerians to chart a better course and in the political formulations of the two candidates, truly rescue the future of the nation.
Even the INEC chairman, Professor Attahiru Jega had spoken of his fears of that poll, saying poor funding, insecurity, attitude of the political class and inactive citizenry are the major obstacles to free and fair elections. The desperation of our politicians whether of the PDP hue or APC stripe, to win elections is giving patriotic Nigerians a lot of concern. Add the partisan nature of the police and other security agencies in the conduct of elections; you have disaster waiting to explode. The conduct of 2015 polls is beyond the sermons of the two major presidential candidates and their plastic smiles at various campaign rallies.
What is facing the nation is beyond personal ambition. It is beyond North and South divide. It has nothing to do with religious persuasions of the candidates. In fact, the poll is about survival of the nation and how to secure a better future for all Nigerians. Poverty and despondence have no tribal or religious coloration. It is also beyond partisan level and it is unfortunate that one cannot really distinguish between the PDP and APC as they are two sides of the same bad coin. However, hope is not lost and that INEC should try as much as possible to be above board and that the integrity of the polls should not be compromised.
The history of this nation is littered with the carcases of failed elections and the transfer from one political party to another. The Balewa and Shagari regimes` failed attempts at power transfer continue to mock our claim to democratic credentials. Similarly, since 1999 we have been saddled with one party in power at the national level. That is why INEC must make sure that the 2015 polls are free and fair and that the Jonathan administration should not militarize the political space under the veneer of conducting elections.
The police and other security agencies should not descend to the abysmal level of partisanship to please the government of the day. They should instead show their loyalty to the Nigerian people. Campaigns must be issues based as both men are eminently qualified to govern the nation. Name calling or propaganda cum political sophistry are not substitutes for programmes that will address the security and welfare of the citizens. The appeal here is that the wishes of the electorate should be allowed to prevail.
December 25, 2014
Opinion Nigeria
