Nigeria and the presidential poll

Once in four years, Nigerians exercise electoral franchise, choosing national leaders in pursuit of democratic norms as enshrined in the nation’s constitution. Resultantly, a new phase of the country will be determined on February 16 – presidential election. Politicians as usual are putting up diverse strategies in place and masses inundated with nice campaign promises- facts or fictions. Interestingly, the two dominant parties: All Progressives Congress (APC) and Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) have records to show for their true colors unlike other political parties that are either newly registered or merely existing on papers.

US ‘ban’ on Buhari lifted only after electoral victory ― PDP

In INEC’s final release, the list features 72 presidential candidates and their running mates. But couldn’t the electoral umpire create a guideline towards streamlining the number of political parties for presidency, maybe with a proviso for such a political party to control at least a state in the federation or have one member of the National Assembly elected on its platform and not by defection into the party? This will bring some civility in the system.

Thus, the battle for control of power for the next political dispensation will most likely, intensely be between the ruling party, APC with incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari as its candidate and PDP with Atiku Abubakar as the leading opposition’s candidate.

President Buhari’s unanimous endorsement as the champion of anti-corruption war of the African Union is convincingly indicative of Nigeria’s renaissance in the global record and cannot be taken for granted. Prior to this dispensation, the image of the country was abysmally battered that the green-and-white passport befitted eyesores outside the shores of the country. It climaxed that the global community imperceptibly blacklisted the country as “fantastically corrupt” thereby erroneously zeroed our great potentials by hasty generalization.

On economy, Buhari in nearly one term has outstandingly, relentlessly put machinery in place towards diversifying the economy, thereby changing the nation’s pitiable status of a leading consuming nation it hitherto was on his assumption of office. By this singular act alongside other economic indexes, despite the high cost of living presently evident in the society, optimistically, improvements are imminent with the fundamentals visibly taking positions.

Presently, local production of rice and other agricultural produce are encouragingly, gradually meeting local demands notwithstanding the high cost at the moment and if the momentum is sustained as prioritized by this administration, in no distant time, the market forces will drag down the high-prices from its present position accordingly. Another remarkable feat of President Buhari is the willpower to implement the TSA (Treasury Single Account) against all odds which has robotically blocked all the leakages and BVN (Bank Verification Number) thereby curtailing illicit transactions and improving the internally generated revenues for general interests.

Without mincing words, the economy at the moment requires consolidation of the laudable policies in place by this administration. The willpower in motion that has effectively improved the nation’s internal revenue generation since this administration came on board shouldn’t be toiled with. With such positive development alongside accountability as can be attested in President Buhari, Nigeria is irrefutably on its way to greatness.

Carl Umegboro,

United-Kingdom.