By Maxwell Oshodin
Speaking of 2023 presidential election, don’t allow anyone buy or bully you into voting anyone you know isn’t the right candidate – those who lack the requisite qualifications to govern and rescue Nigeria from its present socio-political and economic quagmire.
As the countdown to the presidential election continues in our dear country, it has become necessary to x-ray the following candidates for Nigerians to make their choice:
- Bola Ahmed Tinubu: Yes, he’s done a good job in Lagos, empowered people but, age is not on his side and considering his health, he needs to rest. At this point, Nigeria needs someone who’s mentally and physically stable because it will take more than just past records to preside over the country.
His Muslim-Muslim ticket is also a major factor he can’t be president because he said it himself, he was supposed to be President Buhari’s running mate but due to their religion, he had to bring in Vice President Yemi Osibanjo who is a Christian to balance the equation, but I wonder what changed at this time that he is a principal in the presidential race.
I don’t wish anyone bad but, if he eventually becomes the president and something happens to him along the line, his running mate Senator Shettima will become the President who has been linked to Boko Haram in the past.
Also there is no doubt that Presidency will automatically go back to the North and will make Emilokan (it is my turn) meaningless because the South is supposed to produce a President at this time which in turn will bring us back to where we are today.
- Atiku Abubakar: On the other hand has no business running for presidency because, he claims to be a unifier which means the country belongs to each and every one of us and he’s supposed to bring everyone together.
But if a Fulani man is the current president, one wonders how he intends to unify the country when he, another Fulani man becomes president in a country that supposedly belong to each and every one of us respectively.
Atiku Abubakar was Nigeria’s Vice President for 8 years during the Olusegun Obasanjo’s regime of between 1999 and 2007. After the expiration of their tenures, Atiku Abubakar has been running for presidency till date.
One wonders what exactly he wants to achieve. Finally, Presidency is supposed to be from the south at this time after North 8 years of Buhari. And he said in an interview that if he becomes the President, he will enrich all his friends.
This Means it’s going to be business as usual where contract will be awarded to friends and payment made 100% without execution of the project and money shared and no accountability. Atiku is Dubai based. He may be ruling Nigeria from Dubai.
Atiku is also not looking too strong now as his age doesn’t have the prerequisites for the Nigeria of our dream.
When he was Vice President, he presided over the sales of most of government properties to his cronies at giveaway prices. We need vibrant, articulate, capacity building, competent, stable and smart person as our next President.
- Peter Obi: Finally, the Igbos are part of Nigeria and there have never been an Igbo President. For fairness, equity and justice the South East should give us the next President because they have never produce any since 1960.
Even apart from that, Peter Obi appears to be the most qualified amongst other presidential candidates because, most people have confirmed his good deeds as a Governor of Anambra state and success in his private business but same can’t be said about others.
Age is on his side and listening to him talk, I believe he can make a difference. I don’t expect him to change Nigeria for the better overnight, but he can set the pathway because the problem of Nigeria requires years of collective efforts, and we should not expect him to work magic.
Each one of us has a major role to play in this because at the end of the day, this is our only country, and this can still be better.
It is sad that at this time and age, all our presidential candidates campaign about are, stable electricity, good roads security and good education in 2022 when other countries are going to the moon and other planets.
2023 is another opportunity for us to right the wrong from 2015 and if we miss it this time, it will be another 8 years and we might not have this opportunity.
Most of us are already fathers now and by then some of us would be grand and great grandparents, getting ready to meet our maker, the God Almighty.
Please vote wisely and encourage your family, friends and acquaintances my brothers and sisters to Vote wisely.
Maxwell Oshodin Writes from USA.
