The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has announced that the 2015 presidential election will take place in February. However, Nigeria’s ruling Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the main opposition party, the All Progressives Party (APC) has yet to conduct their primaries — during which their presidential candidates will be nominated and approved to contest the election.
The PDP, it seems, will nominate President Goodluck Jonathan; while the APC will either nominate General Muhammadu Buhari or former Vice President Atiku Abubakar. However, conventional wisdom indicates Buhari will get the nod. If he does, it would be his fourth time contesting the presidential election. But what does Buhari want; and why does Jonathan think Nigerians want him?
In the case of Buhari, being a perennial candidate does not, in itself, disqualify him. His supporters and admirers believe that he has the strength, the vigor, the political sagacity and the vision to be the president of Nigeria. What’s more, history is replete with perennial candidates. For instance, Jean-Marie Le Pen, leader of the far-right National Front, has been a candidate for the French presidency five times. Ibrahim Lipumba, leader of the Civic United Front, has contested the Tanzanian presidency four times and lost. Same is true of Zambia’s Godfrey Miyanda who ran four times and lost.
Harold Stassen and Ralph Nader are the most famous perennial presidential candidates in U.S. history. Stassen, a Republican, ran twelve times between 1944 and 2000. And of course, there was the little known Norman Thomas. History show that between 1928 and 1948, he ran for president half-a-dozen times as the Socialist Party of America candidate. However, the most successful perennial candidate of all is Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
Luiz Lula da Silva ran unsuccessfully for the Brazilian presidency in 1989, 1994 and 1998 before winning in 2002 and was reelected in 2006. He is today considered a hero and one of the most successful presidents Brazil has ever had. And so, the tide could also turn for Buhari. But so far, Buhari has yet to articulate his vision. Why does he want to be the president of Nigeria? Why should the electorate ignore Jonathan and instead vote for him? What does he bring to the table? What unique leadership skills and qualities doe he possess?
That he is not corrupt – and seen and believed to be so – may not be enough to move the country forward. What are his agenda and how does he intend to actualize them? And while it is true that he made some headway as the military head-of-state (December 31, 1983 – August 27, 1985), the times are different now. Has his worldview changed? Is he now a democrat at heart, and willing and able to abide by democratic principles?
On the other end of the spectrum is President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan. He has many factors in his favor – least of which is that he is the incumbent, and has the advantages of office and the might of private and public institutions at his call and beck. But really, why should the voters reelect Jonathan? What has he done to improve the lives of the people and the deteriorating condition of the country? And while him and his supporters speak of his ‘transformational agenda,” what are his real and actual accomplishments?
How does President Jonathan’s score card read in the areas of education, health, public infrastructure and public policy, security, food, portable water and the environment? What does his score card read in terms of fighting corruption and official malfeasances? In what ways has he strengthened the nation’s governing institutions and the rule of law? He speaks of transforming the country, but has anything been transformed for good since he assumed office as the substantive president in May 2010?
Under Jonathan’s watch, the security condition of the country has worsened. And although the Boko Haram menace was already there when he took office, the security condition are now intolerable and out of control. As we said last week, his “government does not have a coherent and intelligent plan in place in fighting the group; second, it lack the political will to take on a group with moral, political and financial support in and outside of its current enclave; third; the military and the intelligence agencies – perennially underfunded and poorly trained — seems to have underrated the group; fourth, the Nigerian government seem to lack widespread international support; fifth, its approach to combating violent crimes and terrorism seems to be antiquated; and finally, the president himself seems to be equivocating and wavering in his determination and approach.” So, how then do you reelect such a president?
Why should Nigerians vote in Buhari? Why vote in a candidate who has not made his case, who has not convinced the vast majority of Nigerians that he is the man to be entrusted with the Nigerian ship of state and with all the resources and responsibilities that come with it? On the other hand, why reelect President Jonathan when nothing measurable or tangible has changed for good for the country? Perhaps the people need an alternative to Buhari and Jonathan?
THE SHAME OF A NATION….
According to several news sources, militant Islamist sect, Boko Haram, has renamed Mubi as ‘Madinatul Islam,’ meaning the city of Islam. Mubi is in Adamawa state. This and other recent incidences confirm what many have been saying for several months now: that the Nigerian government is incapable of dislodging Boko Haram. The group is getting more audacious and more violent with the passing of each week. Through it all, the government seems helpless, and her responses clearly disorganized.
Although we are dealing with a terrorist organization; but how can a rag-tag team overrun the Nigerian Armed Forces? How was the group able to dislodge properly constituted authority and then install its own governing authority? And now that Mubi has fallen, what other cities and villages will fall into the hands and control of Boko Haram? What’s the purpose of government when it cannot or is unable to provide safety and security for its citizens? This is clearly a stain on the image and integrity of the Nigerian government. If it cannot protect itself and its citizens from marauding and murderous groups, then, perhaps it is time government move aside.
