2019: Some light at the end of the tunnel

While I might be or might not be talking about my preferred candidate, as that’s urely my business, I would like to talk about the shape that the political landscape is taking as we head into 2018, in prep for 2019. To be honest, I voted for President Muhammadu Buhar, probably for most of the […]

While I might be or might not be talking about my preferred candidate, as that’s urely my business, I would like to talk about the shape that the political landscape is taking as we head into 2018, in prep for 2019. To be honest, I voted for President Muhammadu Buhar, probably for most of the reasons that a chunk of us did: He would fight corruption, make sure the right things are done, uphold the rule of law, fix the economy, and a few more basics. I wasn’t expecting Superman, of course, but over two years in, the current administration is still staggering in some vital areas.

I have decided not to vote for Buhari come 2019, for a number of reasons, many of which are not the man’s fault, directly anyway. I have decided to look out of the box this time, and of course this being Nigeria, I faced disappointment. But a little while after, I read somewhere online that one-time Senator, Datti Baba-Ahmed, was nursing a presidential ambition, I asked myself ‘Why not?’ I mean, here’s an articulate fellow, with a thriving private university, who’s proven himself as an entrepreneur (and even as a politician who gave Senator Makarfi a good run for his money, but that’s another story) and so much more. 

Honestly, I have in a way felt Datti (the media seems to prefer to call him by his first name, so pardon me) was above the type of politics practiced in Nigeria, being an honest, transparent guy. But I have since realised that it is that attitude that makes us miss out on bright leaders. I’m not saying that Datti is my candidate come 2019, and I’m not saying that he isn’t; I’m just saying that we should all do our collective best to ensure that we have quality candidates for all important elective positions when the time comes.

When I read something Datti said online about President Buhari, I confess that I cringed and felt a little bad. But after some thought, I realised that he said it out of frustration, that a lot of things that need to be done aren’t being done the right way, or not even done at all! He was simply airing his views, and they were incredibly valid. Now, nothing will ever see me resort to Buhari-bashing, but no-one can accuse Datti of that either. He was simply stating facts. And isn’t that what we need today, in this fact-starved nation of ours?

Prior to reading about Baba-Ahmed’s interest in the No.1 seat in the nation, I was in a deep despair. But now that the possibility of a vibrant, young, determined leader is actually possible, I feel a sense of hope that more like him will rise, and hopefully take the reins from those who have steered us for so long and for so little visible positivity. Frankly, I and no doubt many other Nigerians, have had it up to here with what have so far been our leaders. So, thanks to Datti, the light at the end of our political tunnel is finally showing, no matter how small. And who knows, maybe as 2019 approaches, I might reveal who my preferred candidate is, Baba-Ahmed or not.

Olawale wrote in from Ikeja, Lagos.