INEC flagged of campaigns for the 2023 elections on September 28, 2022. To the relief of citizens, it is an opportunity to read the ‘how’ manifesto of presidential candidates to address the myriads of problems confronting Nigeria and her people.
That the campaigns should be issue-based, is not debatable, that should be sacrosanct, especially on: economy, refineries, unemployment, inflation, insecurity, corruption, rising debt crisis, stealing of oil, etcetera.
Presidential candidates are expected to tell Nigerians the ‘how’ they want to solve the problems listed above and why they want to assume leadership of the nation at this critical time. Nigerians are not interested in bland, vague and simplistic statements on key issues. They must provide concrete plans and solutions to solve problems.
The days of glorified spokespersons should be over; spokespersons must rise above being choristers and cheerleaders, mouthing the praises and past ‘achievements’ of their presidential candidates and parties.
Across political parties, presidential candidates must spare Nigerians the propaganda of 2015 elections, which were in the main, deliberate lies, laced with the tinge of ethno-religious sentiments which further polarised and divided Nigerians till now.
While we cannot deny the importance to scrutinize persons aspiring to political office, such scrutiny should not be converted to an opportunity to use their health or age as a factor to mock them.
Nigerian citizens, nay the electorate, must interrogate presidential candidates on ‘how’ they intend to fix the economy and 3000 MW supply of electricity to a population of 200 million people.
Each candidate must share with Nigerians their plans on how they intend to improve power generation to make small and medium scale industries operate more productively with less expenses. The cost of diesel have forced many industries to either shut down or migrate to ECOWAS States; this had directly led to workers being laid off and the sad consequences of unemployment. Locally, banks have reduced operating hours, no thanks to the high cost of diesel. For other investors, they have introduced less days at the office for staff – most companies have their staff working from home, thanks to ICT and internet connection.
Somehow, no one is talking about the black market, Forex ‘wuruwuru’ and its direct consequences on the nation’s economy. That is a killing field for ‘portfolio banks’. Formal banking institutions have ‘mini portfolio banks’ that trade Forex and have constituted themselves as glorified middlemen, daily influencing the rapid rise of Dollar to Naira exchange rate. Will any candidate kindly share their plans to sanitize the banking sector to stop this sleaze?
Also, no mention is made on the regular flight of professionals, medical doctors, etcetera, out of the nation. Metaphorically, this is alluded to ‘brain drain’. Not one candidate has shared his plans to revamp the health sector’s dilapidated infrastructure.
The 1999 constitution with all its flaws guarantees that security and welfare of the people is the primary purpose of government. Presidential candidates must share their plans on security with citizens, not just mouth it on television and through statements.
What are the plans of each candidate on devolution of powers to local governments and on the much touted calls for Restructuring? Nigerians want clear plans and not the usual rhetoric statements.
The vexatious matter of importation of petroleum products must be addressed. Interestingly, not one candidate has boldly stated/shared his plans on how to fix local refineries or stop fuel importation. The vexed question of dubious fuel subsidy payment is also cleverly dodged by presidential candidates!
Nigeria is literally in debt, no thanks to the huge appetite of the present government for foreign loans whenever the economy sneezes.
As at March 2022, the nation’s external debts rose to $39.69 billion, this is about 20.6% of GDP.
Presidential candidates must boldly come out show us their plans on borrowing, debt and how to stop oil theft. What time frame will they allot to fix these problems?
Finally, citizens must resist the urge to sell their votes for a loaf of bread, cup of rice, or for a few hundreds of Naira to any party. To enthrone a popular government and to shut out riggers of election albeit INEC’s introduction of BVAS, citizens across the nation must come out in their large numbers to cast their votes in the 2023 general elections.
Let’s us demand to see the ‘how’ plans of presidential candidates, as we move closer to the 2023 elections.