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2023: In search of capable President

Aribigbola Afolabi

T   he entire landscape of Nigeria is now dominated with activities geared towards electing new political leaders for both the 36 states and federal government of Nigeria come early 2023. Thus, with the political parties’ forthcoming primaries and general elections looming, there will be pundits, analysts and writers discussing and debating the qualities of candidates that should emerge especially for office of the President. They will be preoccupied considering which candidate will be best and will likely offer suitable leadership especially for the post of the President of Nigeria, the most populous black nation in the world.

From the outset, it should be emphasized that Nigeria at this point in her national life deserves a credible, passionate person as President. Such an individual must be imbued with sufficient capacity beyond what is in existence at present because of the crisis pervading all sectors and sections of the country. Consequently, Nigerians should be more concerned with the choice of a president that will make for good leadership rather than primordial sentiments that have been the bane of electing leaders in the past. Of course, the consequences have not been palatable with poor outcomes in their performance.  Therefore, it becomes necessary to begin to fashion out how to choose credible, capable and visionary leader. This is essential because the office of the President is imbued with a lot of powers and influence that invariably determine the direction and quality of governance.

In the present dispensation, whoever occupies the position of President of Nigeria will determine the level of success of the country. Of course, it must be recognized that the country deserves a passionate, credible, sincere, sound and hardworking President to remove the mess into which the country has been thrown in recent times. To take Nigeria out of the present decadence and doldrums, we need someone that has what it takes to properly lead the country in the face of hydra headed problems confronting the country.

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In a presidential democracy we operate in the country, the office of the President towers far above the others. In actual sense, most activities of the government revolve around the office of the President. Suffice it to say that the President has enormous powers, influence and responsibilities that require sound knowledge and understanding of socio-economic issues as well as the workings of government. Some of the common functions of the President among others include implementation and enforcement of the constitution of Nigeria and appointments of heads of the federal agencies including cabinet. These enormous powers presuppose that whoever will occupy the exalted position must possess sound leadership qualities to be able to shoulder the responsibility of that office.

In the United States of America, where presidential system was copied, studies have shown that some of the most successful Presidents in that country exhibited certain common leadership qualities. Some of the most important ones include a strong vision for their country, effective communication, courage to make unpopular decisions, good crisis management skills, wise appointments, character and integrity among others.  In Nigerian context, can one safely submit that our past Presidents including the current President have these leadership qualities? If the answer is in the affirmative then Nigeria is on the right path. However, the reality in contemporary times is that these essential ingredients or attributes of good leadership are largely not found in Nigerian leaders. It does become incumbent to begin to examine those seeking to lead the country whether they have the leadership qualities that will cause to succeed in the onerous assignment of taking Nigeria forward. This is very important in present day Nigeria where nothing seems to be working and problems are mounting every day.

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It is no more news that insecurity is widespread, and the population of the country is being decimated daily. The economy is in shambles as hyperinflation is ravaging the country.  There are ethno-religious crises leading to polarization of the country into different sections and to various sectional agitations. In fact, several well-meaning Nigerians have submitted that Nigeria has never been divided like this and socio-economic crisis of the present dimension has not been experienced in the country

Indeed, it is not enough to continue to bemoan the present conundrum into which the country has been thrown in recent times, but to seek ways to address the difficult challenges facing the country. The core issue is how do we get out of the disquietedness pervading the country? The best way is to begin to see how to bring on board persons with high moral character and integrity that can reverse the negative narratives associated with development in Nigeria. The best time is now.

Beyond the rhetoric of “I will do this or that” that has been used to deceive and mesmerize Nigerians since the Second Republic, we now require a President who will be a leader in the real sense that will take Nigeria and Nigerians out of the present doldrums. We need a forthright President that will be totally dispassionate in treating people from all sections of Nigeria without discrimination and not one that will be comfortable in appointing political jobbers by concentrating resources of socio-economic development in his home state as we are witnessing in the present dispensation. Rather, we need a visionary leader that will chart a new course of action that will propel and instigate the development of the country; one that will motivate and take the lead in wealth creation for the citizenry and not turn us to consumers as well as borrowers.

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In a nutshell, the country requires a President that will unite the entire people of Nigeria because it is evident that the country is more divided than ever before and widespread crisis is on regional dimension. We need not a President that will approve, favour and promote a section or group above others by concentrating resources and positions in that favoured section.

Social movements and the press have critical roles in the search for a capable President for Nigeria in 2023. The social groups and movements need to engage more vigorously with the citizens by educating and mobilizing as to the need by political parties to do away with primordial and other sentiments in their choice of candidates. The focus should be on who can deliver and rescue the country from the present crisis and to work on the electorate to elect people with integrity and vision. In a similar vein, the press should do more in revealing the antecedents and character of candidates that can deliver and those that cannot deliver or in determining their suitability and or otherwise for the very important office of the President of Nigeria. The present practice where the press eulogizes and presents bad candidates as good based on corruption of exchange of cash cannot help in the search for a good president for the country.

In the present dispensation and crisis situation prevalent in Nigeria, it becomes incumbent to search for a President qualified to be called a leader. A president imbued with vision and courage, strength of character, one with ability to chart a new path and break new grounds for the country. The next President of Nigeria should be one that possesses leadership ability to elicit and command performance in all sectors. Anything short of this will further push the country into becoming a failed state.

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