By Afolabi Aribigbola
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Scrutiny of arguments and debates as to the desirability or acceptability or fitness of candidates that emerged as presidential candidates of the major political parties in the country indicates resolutions around issues which I considered less important. Issues such as educational qualifications, age, schools attended class of degree and others.
The social media has been particularly inundated with these issues that one wonders whether these individuals are doing any other things beside politicking. This has become worrisome to many Nigerians.
This is because of the simple fact that clearly more fundamental issues that drive societal growth, development and stability seem to be relegated for mundane bread and butter issues. Of course, some might argue that the actual campaign has not started and that one will need to wait till then before scrutinizing the agenda of the candidates.
The truth, however, is that they have all unveiled their plans and programmes during the primaries and that is enough basis of their assessment and preferment. With the conclusion of parties’ primaries, we already have their manifestoes and surprising many of the people that presented themselves as candidates during the primaries did not have well thought manifestoes or agenda neither there were evidence that they actually prepared for the primary elections.
No wonder, observations, and comments on the suitability or otherwise of the frontline candidates have centred on issues which I will consider as less important. It is common to see people dissipating energy on less important issues such as education, age, where the person comes from, religion and which school the candidates attended and certificates they have garnered to their kitty.
Indeed, these issues can be brought to the front burner of discuss as part of factors to be considered to determine the suitability or otherwise of candidates particularly to the all-important position of the executive President of Nigeria. Afterall no one wish for a stark illiterate to become the number one citizen of the country. Of course, people with questionable character or one that lacks integrity should not be permitted to move near the presidency of the country. However, beyond all these, there are more germane and more far-reaching developmental issues that have been neglected for the peripheral issues. More fundamental issues on the antecedents of the candidates, their manifestoes outlining and depicting their programmes of actions and means of achieving them to promote the development of the country especially now that the country is challenged in all facets of life. Afterall what is the use of a President that can speak Queen’s English when the citizens are dying of hunger or the nation is being decimated by Boko Haram and other dangerous iridescent groups. The issue of ability and commitment to delivery on promises is also very key. Perhaps, because this has not been emphasised in the past many are no longer encouraged to ask questions and move on public office holders of their performance. This attitude or tendency will not move the Nigerian society forward. At best we will be rotating on the same spot like the “Baber’s chair”. Also of great importance is their programmes designed to take the country out of the present crises, resulting from the widespread insecurity, inflation, drastic decline in the value of the Naira, unemployment and the fact that the country have been made very poor through poor management and corruption in all sectors of the country. How do we reverse the bad situation in the country? To me, these are the crucial and germane issues that should dominate debates and who is competent to solve them and occupy the high office of the President. Unfortunately, those occupying the position in recent are worshiped like god. Therefore, people are not permitted to take them up on issues affecting the society. The office of President in Nigeria is completely insulated from the people who elected him to serve.
Unfortunately, these germane issues that impinge on the socio-economic development of the country are being wholly neglected or relegated for other less important issues that don’t really add to societal development.
Of course, it must be stressed that the issue of integrity and past records are essential since one will not be happy to have as the leader of the country a crook and someone with questionable background and morally bankrupt lacking in integrity to emerge as the President, they should not be the only yardsticks.
Afterall, many individuals excelled in the first and second republic in Nigeria without attaining tertiary education. Wisdom and knowledge has been argued not to always be synonymous with education. Integrity and past good records of service are also very relevant.
Many especially, the youths are more concerned with the issue of lack of structure to midwife their aspirations, loss of certificates, Attendance or non-attendance of higher institutions, whether they made a first class honours or a pass.
Concern should be who can correct and reverse the downward trend of the Nigerian economy. I remember that in 1976 in United States of America, Jimmy Carter defeated the incumbent because he came with profound new ideas to solve economic problem of his country. Generally, in more prosperous countries of Europe and America, it is individuals that are able to understand and proffer plausible solutions to the issue of economy that are elected. If one look at all the political gladiators for the office of the President in Nigeria in 2023, nobody have asked them how they seek to solve the intractable economic problem of the country.
In education, people have not been able to take them up on the current ASUU strike. One of the Presidential candidates listed the transfer of all schools to the state governments in his manifestos. This has not attracted attention and debates and several other issues. This is despite the fact that all governments in the world are involved in the education of their citizenry.
Perhaps, things are the way they are in Nigeria because the two dominant political parties lack ideology and are in fact the same. Therefore, it is time to begin to take up political leaders on their ideological leaning for governance of the country. So far, discussions on the suitability of the Presidential candidates for 2023 general elections have been on their demographic information. Yes, as argued above, they are relevant and useful, henceforth efforts and discussion should be on their ability to find solution to the economic crisis confronting the country, forge unity amidst the high level of discord and their ability to create a future for the country and her people in the face of despondency and desire of majority to relocate from Nigeria. Anything short of this is begging the issue and mere leaving substance to chase the shadow.
