The 2019 presidential election is knocking very seriously. Although the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has not formally declared a go-ahead for campaigns, all forms of solicitations are going on. Many politicians have also begun alignment and re-alignment of forces. Governance has since been relegated to the background. Elected office holders who intend to contest again are sharpening their implements, whereas those who for now, have not made up their minds are either seeking a divine direction (like Governor Samuel Ortom of Benue State) or searching for who to sponsor, who will in turn be their ATM (cash cows).
One thing is clear, when the proper campaign begins, there would be many promises. Aspirants would make lofty claims of their love for the downtrodden and long-suffering members of the society; they will employ sentiments and sing sweet songs in the ears of the people. But observers, who have been part of the system, warn that such sweet songs and emotional renditions are calculated to hoodwink the hapless masses.
Recall that prior to his election in 2011, former President Goodluck Jonathan regaled Nigerians with the story of his poor background; how he went to school barefooted. His “I once had no shoes” declaration was elevated to a campaign slogan. He said, although he had no shoes at that time, divine providence had given him shoes in abundance. He pledged that never again would a Nigerian child go through the level of suffering he did. The chorus to say the least was very melodious in the ears of those who heard him; he caused the song to be played as part of his campaign jingle and huge billboards were erected in that regard also.
He stated that his story was that of hope to the youth of Nigeria, he went down memory lane how he went from grass to grace today.
According to Jonathan, “I was not born rich, and in my youth, I never imagined that I would be where I am today, but not once did I ever give up. Not once did I imagine that a child from Otuoke, a small village in the Niger Delta, will one day rise to the position of President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. I was raised by my mother and father with just enough money to meet our daily needs.
“In my early days in school, I had no shoes, no school bags. I carried my books in my hands but never despaired; no car to take me to school but I never despaired. There were days I had only one meal but I never despaired. I walked miles and crossed rivers to school every day but I never despaired. Didn’t have power, didn’t have generators, studied with lanterns but I never despaired.
‘In spite of these, I finished secondary school, attended the University of Port Harcourt, and now hold a doctorate degree.”
After playing on the sentiment of Nigerians, the Bayelsa-born politician said: “My fellow Nigerians, this is what has brought me to Eagle Square today. I have come to say to all of you, that Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan is the man you need to put Nigeria right. I have come to launch a campaign of ideas, not one of calumny. I have come to preach love, not hate. I have come to break you away from divisive tendencies of the past which have slowed our drive to true nationhood. I have no enemies to fight. You are all my friends and we share a common destiny.”
Whether he achieved all that he promised is a judgment that is not difficult to make.
Prior to the 2015 presidential election, after declaring his intention to run, Muhamadu Buhari, who was seeking the office for the fourth time, painted a picture that depicted him as a poverty-stricken person. He told Nigerians that he was very poor like them and knew the pang of poverty. He claimed that he had no money to purchase his form from the APC secretariat. He also told Nigerians that he secured a loan to that effect.
Buhari had also said that the N27.5million levy for the forms was exorbitant but that he was helpless in getting it reduced.
He said: “It’s a pity I couldn’t influence this amount to be put down as in the case of ladies and the disabled that intend to participate. I always look left and right in our meetings but I could not read sympathy, so I kept my trap.
“But I felt heavily sorry for myself because I don’t want to go and ask somebody to pay for my nomination forms, because I always try to pay myself, at least for the nomination.
“N27 million is a big sum, thankfully I have personal relationship with the manager of my bank in Kaduna and I told him that very soon the forms are coming, so, whether I am on red, or green or even black please honour it otherwise I may lose the nomination.
“I was about to go to Kaduna this morning and I told the Chairman but he said in that case, you better pick your form and keep a straight face that means there is no excuse.”
In 2019 sentiment may not work
In his recent published article, Olusegun Adeniyi, a former presidential spokesman for the late President Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, recalled that Jonathan and Buhari must have ascended the power stool on the back of naivety and gullibility of many Nigerians.
Adeniyi said: “But one thing is very clear now; the 2019 Presidential election will not be fought on the basis of dubious claims by some aspirants that they wore no shoes when they were young or that they had no money to buy presidential nomination forms! Nigerians are now wiser and for good reasons too.”
Observers say that the electorate must insist that those who would aspire to lead the country from 2019 should spell out in simple terms, the plans they have for Nigeria in the next 30 years and above.
A political analyst, who spoke with BDSUNDAY on condition of anonymity, said: “Sentiments have killed us in this country. It was sentiment that left us where we are now. If a politician is telling you what he wants to do and he is not looking at the global picture, how policies of other countries may affect his country, that politician has not started. For instance, we are told that in the next 10, 15, 20 years, many countries of the world would not be powering their vehicles with petrol, which means our major source of revenue which is oil, will have no buyers; that should tell any serious leader or aspiring leader that he has to be forward-looking and pro-active. Honestly, I do not know how prepared our politicians are for this. If I know them too well, they will do nothing and will still be thinking that it is not possible that oil will not be needed again; that’s how narrow-minded we are.
“For purpose of illustration, right now our government is spending billions of naira searching for oil in the Lake Chad Basin. Despite serious of advice and counseling, and the signs that are everywhere that crude oil is no longer the in-thing, those who delight in politics rather than reality are hell-bent on carrying out a project that I can consider as dead-on-arrival.”
“So, for me I would want 2019 election to focus on those who have the capacity to think global. Not to be consumed by the allure of power, but those who would be driven by the passion to serve their fatherland. I am happy that Nigerians now have access to information and follow what is going on, on the global stage every second. I tell you, 2019 will shock you,” the analyst further said.
Speaking in tandem, an expert in the Energy sector of the nation’s economy, who expressed sadness over the seemingly lack of robust thinking in government quarters and politicians’ inability to read the handwriting on the wall, said it was a pity that political leaders in Nigeria had not begun to see the seriousness about countries declaring that in a no distant future they would cease to buy crude oil.
He said: “In the next 10 years, we would be hawking our oil on Eko Bridge in 50 litre bottles, because I am sure that at that time nobody would be asking us how much is your crude oil. That’s how serious the matter is.”
Pundits also said that the Nigerian electorate must go beyond the sentiment of “he is my kinsman; she is of same religion with me”, and other pecuniary considerations that have held Nigeria down for years.
Titus Etim, a lecturer of International Politics and Diplomacy, urged Nigerians to aim for the best in 2019 by allowing their brain to guide them in the selection of leaders.
“In Nigeria, all we talk about is road maintenance, and billions of Naira is budgeted every year for just maintenance, nor additional infrastructure in the area of new roads to open up the rural areas for development to reach the people at the grassroots; our haulage system is also very poor. We have continued for decades to play politics with developing the rail system; our educational system is as good as dead; the health sector is dead; in fact, there is no sector that is up and running, yet people are moving about, answering leaders. Look at the number of industrial actions we recorded recently (some are still ongoing) from every sector; so, you do not need to go far to know that all is not well with our country. We have receded in all areas. Where we used to get accolades, we have lost everything. So, I expect that people should not just go to the polling stations and just cast their votes to anybody without knowing what that individual is bringing to the table for Nigeria. Our ‘mumu don du. It is very, very unfortunate my brother.”
Zebulon Agomuo
