THE UPCOMING GENERAL ELECTIONS (NIGERIA)

The upcoming general elections in Nigeria will be very interesting A whole lot of people both in Nigeria and across the world will be watching to see how the elections would be conducted and thereafter the outcome. Of special interest would be the outcome of the presidential election which is expected (all things being equal) to produce the next president of Nigeria or to carry on to completion the second tenure of the incumbent who is president Muhammadu Buhari. Different people have different opinions on the performance of the first term of the current president. It is a tenure which has witnessed so much crisis and violence in different parts of the country ranging from the fulani herdsmen killings in the north central states and in some parts of the south, the armed banditry in zamfara, the ethno-religous crisis in kano and kaduna and so much more. Add the recession which was one of the worst in the history of the country and the seeming selective fight on corruption and you have a government which so many people say have performed below par. All is not tales of woes however. The present government have recorded some success in infrastructure development and power generation but a lot of people think the successes are only marginal. Those who are against the president do not like his silence on the killings going on in the country, his handling of the economy amongst other issues raised. Those who are for him feel the people protesting against his policies are people who want to continue looting the way they were doing in previous times. Well the argument continues and 2019 will tell.

A lot of people say the problem of the country is the present generation of leaders who know nothing about governance except to loot and loot. And that irrespective of whatever party they join, the result would always be the same. This has given rise to a new crop of aspirants who are ready to challenge the status quo come 2019. A long list of people have founded their own parties and willing to vie for the highest office in the land.  This seems like a good thing. We need younger and well educated people to be in the reins of leadership but I am worried that Nigerians are still divided across tribal and religious lines. Will they put their differences aside and vote with one mind for a leader that will move the nation forward or will they continue with leaders who care nothing about them and only have selfish and personal interests? Of concern to me is vote-buying and voter apathy which could go a long way in determining how Nigerians speak at the next elections. There is so much poverty in the land and it is mostly in rural areas that people come out en mass to vote. Will the youths use their numbers to decide who governs them next and wave off the shyness to vote?

It's not business as usual for the usual gladiators. More people are interested in who governs them now and I expect that to come into play this time around. I only hope it would be enough to seal the deal. It is not just between APC and PDP. Now we have options and viable ones. I encourage you all to take a stand and vote with your conscience. Vote wisely !