Not Just Desiring To Be President, What Are You Really Bringing To The Office ?
The Oasis Reporters
July 3, 2018
It has been a recurring theme in Nigeria’s political history since independence for characters desiring to occupy the highest office in the land to throw themselves up without adequate preparation for this office. Let us excuse those forebears of ours who put in whatever energies they could muster into securing our freedom from the colonial enterprise but even at that though they had largely a vision focused on the regions yet the montage clearly showed a bigger Nigeria. With their demise, the political space was suffused and punctuated by military adventurists hardly cut out for political leadership.
Deliberate measures were put in place to frustrate a return to democratic governance or some arrangement resembling it. In the process many genuine political players were frustrated out and the stage set for the mediocrity playing out before us and the world. The worst undoing of the internal military
colonialists is that they or their agents foisted on this nation, a plagiarized American Constitution without the underpinnings which makes the original version work for the Americans.
Let us undertake a short journey into our political past to discover instances in which characters barely prepared for leadership ended up deliberately manipulated into prominent positions of leadership. I did mention earlier that we should excuse our political forebears but mention must be made of the late Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello who was certain to be Prime minister by the political arrangement of that period but he surrendered that position to Abubakar Tafawa Balewa. The fact remains that the late Sardaunan Sokoto was not interested in leaving the Northern region of that period to lead a larger more complex Nigeria. This is how true the Sardauna could be and it marked the end of decency in our politics. Perhaps more prepared minds were amongst those who lost out essentially as a result of the manipulating influence of the colonialists who it was obvious were reluctant to depart our shores.
Former President Shehu Shagari confessed he merely wanted to be Senator when fortune opened her arms and he became president. I should think that this man was aware of his limitations and lack of capacity to lead this complex nation which was why he only wanted to be a Senator.
Before President Shehu Shagari was hardly done with his presidency, the internal military colonialists came marching in, in their huge jackboots into political offices. The military, no matter how well trained or their intentions are not cut out for the role of political governance which is why that institution ended up muddying up and thoroughly corrupting the political space. At the end of the expiration of the military adventure they did not go too far and so they kept a watch over what was playing out interfering if they found that to be expedient.
Such interfering influence led to dredging up yet another dinosaur from some correctional/detention facility somewhere in the North East of this nation managing him across the political finishing line in a dubious electoral process. While in detention, this character must have come to terms with the realities of life but as soon as he became president, he quickly forgot how transient life could be. If Nigerians expected a quick transition from military dictatorship to a democratic culture they were largely disappointed. This man went on through 2 terms to inflict the worst form of corruption and arbitrariness on the nation. He soon expired too after dubiously trying unsuccessfully to secure a third term. Down the line, our democracy has trudged on and because we were hardly making any progress, like-minded political parties ( or at least so we thought ) came together to form the All Progressive Congress which as it stands are only holding on.
It is beyond a shadow of doubt that the leadership which evolved from the APC itself requires to take courses in leadership. Particularly shocking is the quality of leadership at the strategic level of governance. The nation is gliding towards yet another election year in 2019 yet there is nothing to cheer about. The nation is very much in an incendiary and combustible state with angels of death and destruction roaming free inflicting death and destruction wherever they go. It is shocking well beyond measure that after 3 trials previously for the position of president many of our country men/women are not convinced that there was a template for guiding the governance process.
All we have been treated to is a cocktail of promises unfulfilled and excuses. We have learned our lessons enough to demand quality in those aspiring to lead us at all levels. The selection processes must insists on the quality of candidature including antecedents and pedigree. The system must have the courage to grill the aspirants to ensure that only the best emerge. Never again will mediocre candidates be forced on us. Their programmes must be clear enough to the understanding to the voting people. To assume that a candidate after winning an election will perform well in office is to miss the point.
The evil that bestrides the political space in Nigeria like a colossus is corruption starting from the delegate selection ( not election ) system. The more of these characters a potential candidates can manipulate in the process can be assurance of success at the party conventions. It is the delegate system in a largely uninformed and in a society in want that has constituted an albatross to clean politics in climes as ours. The ominous clouds are already gathering as 2019 approaches compounded by a climate of insecurity. It has never been this bad in the life of this nation given the number of people our nation failed to provide security to and who have been returned to the bowels of mother earth. MAY THEIR SOULS REST IN THE BOSOM OF THE LORD.
As an individual, I have difficulties coming to terms with the essence of an election in a climate where the security of life and property remains a mirage. Our focus therefore as electorate must be to go with candidates who have passion for a greater nation and not religious bigots or ethnic jingoists. Going this way, we may yet together salvage this country.
To God Be The Glory.
Written by Col. Gora Dauda (rtd)
