Now that 2019 is here

The much anticipated year 2019 has finally come; it means different things to Nigerians. In few weeks, Nigerians will go to poll, the country will witness general election where new leaders are expected to emerge. In the previous year, Nigerians had faced myriad problems ranging from insecurity, economic hardship and poor standard of living. It will be recalled that in 2018, 87 million Nigerians were said to be living below the poverty line.

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Will these negative trends change in 2019? The year will likely inherit 2018’s general insecurity, the unfinished war against Boko Haram, banditry, killings and kidnappings in Katsina and Zamfara State among others.

What about the inflation and high rate of unemployment in the country? Also, 2019 will face the unresolved national minimum wage, the petroleum marketers’ subsidy claim and the ASUU strike. In fact, 2019 is a challenging year. Amidst these multi-dimensional problems, it is an election year, our politicians have been busy campaigning or promising what they cannot fulfill; neither the APC “next level” slogan or the PDP “make Nigeria work again.” It is all hoaxes. The programmes are good on paper and could hardly become reality after election. These politicians are birds of a feather. They don’t have the country and the people at heart. If you don’t believe it, reflect the gale of defections that rocked the two major political parties last year and are still going on. These politicians are united by one common goal; how to be in power and amass wealth for themselves, families and cronies.

Sadly, Nigerians who are the victims of these manipulations by the elite manipulation have failed to realise the gimmicks being employed by these power mongers. The last 20 years of uninterrupted democracy has failed to transform Nigeria to a choice country; it has only bred corruption, wastage and political hooliganism. Nigerian democracy, in the last two decades, has been deepening and widening the gap of inequality between the haves and have nots. No wonder the country recently became the poverty headquarters of Africa. Will 2019 change this narration?

2019 will be a promising year if Nigerians can only vote credible candidates. The Independent National Electoral Commission has registered many political parties and it seems they have all fielded candidates for the elective posts. It is left for Nigerians to elect candidates with impeccable integrity. Until Nigerians do away with party politics and opt for politics of personalities, 2019, which signifies a promising year, will become the most disappointing one.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua, Kaduna