Opinion: Presidential candidate options before the APC for 2015

by Makua Eyisi

APC-Governors-in-Maiduguri
The All Progressives Congress (APC) is a formidable merger plan because it has in its fold, some of the few who actually bark and bite. They enjoy massive followership and they intend wrestling power from the ruling PDP…

Change is essential and desperately needed especially for a country like
ours, having had a chequered history of leaders with ‘below-average’
performance. Forgetting the military years, I choose to start from the
democratic dispensation in which we have seen the leadership of the
Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for 14 years running. Is the country
stagnant, making progress or retrogressing? For an answer to this, your
guess is as good as mine.

However, when you passionately need a change, you are tempted to accept
anything (whether a better offer or not). As another election year
approaches, there already are strong political manipulations,
associations, mergers and wars of wits that would ultimately lead to
ascension unto various offices (presidential, governorship etc).

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is a formidable merger plan because it
has in its fold, some of the few who actually bark and bite. They enjoy
massive followership and they intend wrestling power from the ruling PDP –
bold I must say. They are making loud sounds that is evidently sending
shudders down the spines of the PDP and our (im)partial electoral umpire.
Nevertheless, when the chips are down, the
crux of the matter becomes ‘who is their presidential candidate’?

And this is the most challenging task (in my thinking) for the APC.
Whoever it is, must appeal to millions cutting across ethnic, religious
and gender differences. S/he must enjoy the massive support of the youths
(Hard; I shall tell you why in a bit).

I have heard of some possible candidates speculated to fly the flag come
2015 and this is my personal assertion on a few.

MUHAMMADU BUHARI: I was not born yet during his short stint in government but if my knowledge of him is anything to go by, then he is a good man and less corrupt.

But some issues are against him: Many existing politicians who evidently command a significant influence on the electorate do not want him back in that office. Also, many youths do not want him, they need a change (young/new blood in the bloc) and you are really in a fix should you want to wrestle the youths’ support from Jonathan who has won (bought) the role models of the youths-the artists to himself and the youths will naturally/subconsciously follow whoever their role models are following. Over 30 million youths ain’t a negligible figure.

BOLA TINUBU: Strong, courageous, wise but it suffices to say that the North
will not support anyone outside the region – this is a fact.

NUHU RIBADU: He has no track record of impactful/beneficial achievements. Having been used by former President Olusegun Obasanjo to fight corruption is no achievement to my thinking. It would surely go against APC should he be adopted as their presidential candidate. Sorry for being too direct but what’s his leadership achievement?

NASIR EL-RUFAI: He is quite a good man and there are not many odds against him. I am not certain if he enjoys support of the larger populace in real terms.

BABATUNDE FASHOLA: He would really have brought some changes but he is not a Northerner (I am not actually rooting for a Northern president but that is what they want and APC is surely bent on satisfying that).

Other names such as Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Rochas Okorocha are also filtering in but time shall tell. Let leaders take over government so Nigerians can enjoy what they deserve.

It would bring to an end, unproductive committees, brazen corruption and
other features of ‘below-average’ performing governments.

Most importantly, APC should bear in mind that 2015 will make or mar them.
In Bishop Oyedepo’s words, “Caution is the word.”

Hope I got you thinking?

————————-

 

Op-ed pieces and contributions are the opinions of the writers only and do not represent the opinions of Y!/YNaija.

Comments (10)

  1. We def do not want a northerner but nevertheleSs knowing how things are done in this country of ours,let’s nt delude ourselves…a lot of times,it doesn’t matter who we vote..a northerner mgt stil win evn witout votes.what nigeria needs is God..I pray 2015 turns out better than the former years..I’m rootin for el rufai anyway…

  2. Farward ever backward necer! Never again wll I vote 4 the region that wll take me back 2 no light no road, no train inshort no any infratructure 4 almot 52yrs one region has really bastardise nigeria pple! GEJ has bn working under critical security distraction by this no do good region n we can see one or two things he’s doing, anybody frm south that vote 4 any Boko haram children of EViL frm north is either their agent or STUPI!!!

  3. The writer has already zoned the position to the North. What a pity. What we need is a credible candidate who has a great precedence and Nigeria shall find herself in the league of great nation. As for me and my home all we want is a credibly astute leader who will not toll the line of favoritism and nepotism.

    Nigeria has a great future and we hold it in our thumbs by 2015…

  4. Is Amadi one of this generation or the old? cos ethnicity & religious sentiments that was used to hoodwink the nigerian youths in 2011 will not work again in 2015. Nigerians are wiser now. We simply need a person who has shown true capacity & capability to lead but we are mindful of equity & fairness & true democracy. That's what majority wants tribalists like you are only a small minority. So change your thinking now. Thanks

  5. Stupid write up. Not worth wasting time reading it.

  6. Err…Makua, why r u writing like anyone not fron the north can’t win?

  7. Am highly disapointed wit d writa! So only nothern can win abi? They dnt nid southern vote abi? I pity u! If they did nt provide a good candidate they shuld 4get 2015, infact who wil even vote 4 northerner!

  8. It is a pitty that APC is a party full of noicy frustrated politicians, who want power to go back to north.It is either Igbo president 2015 or GEJ back to office.God will not let boko haram sponsors to grab power.

    1. bury your head in shame you ethnic bigot.

Leave a reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

cool good eh love2 cute confused notgood numb disgusting fail