Who Will Be The Next President of Nigeria?
From all the news reports on the emerging Presidential candidates in Nigeria, the battle is going to be an all northern political leaders affair as the former military head of state, retired General Muhammad Buhari has been nominated as the flag bearer of the main opposition party, the All Nigeria People's Party (ANPP) and thus poised to challenge Alhaji Umaru Yar' Adua of the ruling People's Democratic Party (PDP). But, the most formidable Presidential aspirants would be the Vice President Atiku Abubakar and the former military head of state, retired General Ibrahim Babangida.
Professor Pat Utomi the presidential flag bearer of the new African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the ex-pop star Rev. Chris Okotie of the Fresh Democratic Party (FDP) are the new breed political leaders of the future and they don't stand any chance contesting against the political juggernauts who are well known to the majority of the Nigerian electorate.
It is unfortunate that the political leadership of Nigeria is returning to the North. Because, the past leaders from the North have only plundered Nigeria and squandered our national revenue. In fact, Onyeka Onwenu aptly documented the profligacy in A Squandering of Riches for the BBC in 1984.And the northern military heads of state only worsened the political administration of Nigeria as their corruption ruined the country.
The chicken-hearted Presidential aspirants from the South-South who surrendered to the Northern leaders have only shown us that the South-South cannot overcome the political power brokers in the leadership of Nigeria. But, for how long will the South-South continue to kiss the feet of the political oppressors in Nigeria?
As the Vice President Atiku Abubakar escapes from the criminal charges leveled against him by the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo, he is now more convinced of his legitimacy to contest for the post that Obasanjo will vacate in May 2007. And to buoy the ambition of Atiku, the Action Congress (AC) party has adopted him as their Presidential flag bearer with the support of nine other political parties in alliance. So, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has become the most popular choice of the majority of the political parties in Nigeria. Atiku Abubakar also enjoys goodwill from millions of Nigerians across the country and that is what the other Presidential candidates cannot boast of.
Professor Pat Utomi the presidential flag bearer of the new African Democratic Congress (ADC) and the ex-pop star Rev. Chris Okotie of the Fresh Democratic Party (FDP) are the new breed political leaders of the future and they don't stand any chance contesting against the political juggernauts who are well known to the majority of the Nigerian electorate.
It is unfortunate that the political leadership of Nigeria is returning to the North. Because, the past leaders from the North have only plundered Nigeria and squandered our national revenue. In fact, Onyeka Onwenu aptly documented the profligacy in A Squandering of Riches for the BBC in 1984.And the northern military heads of state only worsened the political administration of Nigeria as their corruption ruined the country.
The chicken-hearted Presidential aspirants from the South-South who surrendered to the Northern leaders have only shown us that the South-South cannot overcome the political power brokers in the leadership of Nigeria. But, for how long will the South-South continue to kiss the feet of the political oppressors in Nigeria?
As the Vice President Atiku Abubakar escapes from the criminal charges leveled against him by the government of President Olusegun Obasanjo, he is now more convinced of his legitimacy to contest for the post that Obasanjo will vacate in May 2007. And to buoy the ambition of Atiku, the Action Congress (AC) party has adopted him as their Presidential flag bearer with the support of nine other political parties in alliance. So, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has become the most popular choice of the majority of the political parties in Nigeria. Atiku Abubakar also enjoys goodwill from millions of Nigerians across the country and that is what the other Presidential candidates cannot boast of.
Comments
The truth of the matter is that it should not matter from which part of Nigeria the president hails. All that matters is that he/she be someone with integrity, intellect and vision. Politicians from the South-South are just as corrupt as those from any other part of Nigeria. Odili, Ibori and Alamieyesegha, core South-South politicians, are amongst the most corrupt Nigeria has ever known. Former OMPADEC and NDDC boses like Horsefall and Opia are certified embezzlers who pocketed funds meant to develop their own land.
Plus, remember that democracy is a game of numbers and the truth of the matter is that Northern Nigeria has more numbers, the more reason why politics should not be ethno-focused should a candidate from the Niger Delta stand a chance. What would work is fielding a candidate from the South-South who is regarded as non-threatening by other Nigerians from the other so called geopolitical zones, thereby forming a large followership. MKO Abiola was able achieve this in 1993 when he trounced Bashir Tofa. So was Obasanjo, even though he was arguably a consensus candidate fielded to pacify the various stakeholder groups in 1999.