Abraham Lincoln, the sixteen (16th) President of America defines democracy as the government of the people by the people and for the people. Over half of the world’s population practice democracy as a legitimate source of governance. Democracy, like other political movement (concept) is premised on some parameters like: rule of law, free and fair elections, equity and justice. Since the beginning of the unbroken fourth republic (1999), Nigeria have had six consistent general elections. The evolution of our democracy can be seen with different levels of preparedness of the electoral umpire: Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC). No democracy can strive without a requite free and fair elections. We know no human operated system is free from errors but it must be fair to all stakeholders about it outcome(s). Fortunately, Nigeria is a mixed “salad” of different ethnic, cultural and religious groups. Hence her electioneering periods (season) are always filled with tensions and uncertainties.
Hitherto, since we practice a participatory form of democracy, Nigerians of all ages above 18 troop out and vote for the candidates of their choice. INEC in its wisdom have disseminated news and information to the public through various religious and cultural avenue to reach the teaming populace. Moreover, the electoral umpire has slated and started continued voter’s education and registration thoughout the 774 Local Government in Nigeria. Like Abraham Lincoln said, “election belong to the people it is their decision if they decide to turn their back on the fire and burn their behinds, then they will just have to sit on their blisters”.
2023 CAMPAIGNS SHOULD BE ISSUE BASED
As we move towards the campaign seasons and jamboree, politicians should play by the rules. We all know that politicians all over the world care about winning elections, they should do so with high decorum and decency. The political class over the years have used sentiments and diatribe as a ploy of swinging and swirling votes to themselves. 2023 campaigns should be all about that affect the ordinary over 200 million Nigerians. Unfortunately, Nigeria is sitting on a dire critical situation cutting across various sectors of the nation’s life. This campaign should definitely deal with what the next President will face: high debt profile and mounting insecurity challenges. According to the latest International Monetary Fund (IMF) report, due to Nigeria’s low revenue, the country need to mobilize more revenue to able to have macro-economic stability. The report further warned that debt servicing many take all (100%) of Nigeria’s revenue by 2026. Also, it stated that Nigeria’s debt to hit 44.7% of GDP in 5years. The mounting security challenges can’t be left out as mass killings and kidnapping are going unbatted and unchecked. This can demarket the country’s foreign investment and earnings, there by weakening the value of the naira. Sustaining the various successes of Buhari’s administration in agriculture like the CBN disbursement programmes to farmers under the Anchor borrowers’ programme which hit N1.01 trillion in May 2022 to over 4.2 million small holder farmers farming 21 commodities across the country as of May 2022 is worth noting.
MY ISSUES
The Presidential campaigns should be issues-based: putting strategies on regaining the failures of the past and sustaining the success of the day. Addressing the issue of poverty and lack of trust of the citizenry on the government should be a veritable tools for presidential campaigns. In a survey of youths in 15 African countries and in which youths were asked if they though their country was headed in the wrong direction, Nigeria comes the very bottom with a whooping 95% of youth (age 18-24) as compare to 41% to 58% of youths in Ghana and Uganda respectively.
To me, campaign should be all about fighting for “true federalism” and devolution of powers to the local and state government. This will help our nascent democracy grow. To the voters, stick on issues that matter to you. Like former American President Theodore Rooseveit would say, “A vote is like a riffle: it usefulness depends upon the character of the user”. 2023 election should be more issues based. God bless the federal republic of Nigeria.
- Ademola Oladosu is a Freelance Journalist and political activist, writes from Abuja.