Elections: The best way to choose candidates

I would like to advise those who want to contest against President Buhari in the next election not to do so because they are going to waste their energy, money and time. Nigerians still need him. Any discerning and astute person will see so if he analyses the present situation in the country. Nigerians are now […]

I would like to advise those who want to contest against President Buhari in the next election not to do so because they are going to waste their energy, money and time. Nigerians still need him.

Any discerning and astute person will see so if he analyses the present situation in the country. Nigerians are now intuitive, sagacious and perceptive. Our people today cannot be deceived or beguiled by money or cajolery. Blandishment and blarney cannot work nowadays.

All those who desire to compete or strive with Buhari know very well that he has outweighed them in extolled and laudable qualities.

How many out of them used his monthly subvention and other financial allocations or grants in the service of their state. How many among the National Assembly members used their constituency allowances for the benefit of the electorate?

We all know they are only perfect in building stately mansions, parking aristocratic cars and elegant jeeps. One cannot see these politicians in their villages until after four years when they come to seek votes. Then you see them distributing a few cars and dishing out some monies to buy the masses, especially in the northern part of the country, because of poverty. I have no iota of doubt that in many states, my own state inclusive, that these people have not built even a hut or makeshift shelter as classroom or clinic since 1999. However on the other hand, it will not be out of place to compete with Buhari, because only by so doing will the masses retrieve and reacquire some of their looted monies.

Defection or migration from Buhari’s party can never retard him, for those who left the party took very few of their supporters along with them. We saw this happen in Kano and Sokoto states.

Someone said these are bad eggs, therefore Mr. President must get rid of them right from the beginning. They contributed nothing to the present government and to the nation apart from selfishness, causing delay of annual budgets. They are always in showdown or confrontation with the federal government.

Sometimes, I become puzzled and astonished. Why will these immigrants not start their defection until when election is approaching? Why will they defect only from APC to PDP or vice versa? We have more than 90 political parties in the country, why don’t they go to any new party so that they can show us their might and popularity.

However, we should not lose sight that some of the defectors did it honourably, for they abdicated their seats before they quit the parties e.g. Godswill Akpabio. To me, any person who gave up or abandoned his position and defected to any party, is an honourable politician. Many of failed politicians are not even sure of themselves.

They bought two nomination forms from their parties. Some bought the presidential nomination form and the senatorial one, while others purchased gubernatorial and senatorial forms so that if they fail in one, then they will move to the other. They have no any particular reason but despair and desperation.

Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshomole was right and very correct when he asked those who left his party to resign from the elective positions because they were elected based on their parties but not based on their persons, for if it were on their personality no one will go for them. That was why they attached themselves to Buhari in 2015 to sail through.

The APC National Chairman knows his right and he ought to fight for it. In fact I pity some of the defectors, because they are going to lose everything. My fellow Nigerians, this time our choice of persons should be based on integrity, patriotism and selflessness. It should be at the back of our minds that, in 2015 we voted in many unfit persons because of President Buhari’s popularity and his acceptability by Nigerians, and these were the same people who turned against him, hence sabotaging him.

This time, all contestants to all positions especially those who are wishing to contest for the upper and lower houses should be scrutinized and verified thoroughly by the electorate. We should know their backgrounds and inclination in terms of sincerity and justice. We must make sure that we have not groped around in the darkness.

The ratification of Buhari by 7000 delegates from different parts of the country on 06/10/2018 attests to his popularity and integrity. Please Nigerians, we should not make our Presidency for sell.

In conclusion, as a Nigerian, I will like to express my view concerning the bicameral system we are operating. It is very expensive, costly and extravagant for Nigeria. The disadvantage and the loss we are incurring are much more than the benefits we are harvesting. Therefore let it be unicameral and on part time basis. This will reduce the number of political traders who come to the National Assembly to enrich themselves.

Once again my compatriots, Buhari’s aim and objectives are to reposition this country and finally take us out of the woods, so let’s support him.

Prof. Muazu wrote from Nigeria Arabic Village, Ngala