A deeply unpopular government has failed in salvaging the economy. It is a cesspool of corruption, the ruling party is in disarray, people aren't sure who is in charge often and there has been a breakdown in security in various regions of the Nation. People are desperate to get them out. Does this sound like Nigeria in 2018 in the run-up to the 2019 election , to a tee. Why does this terrify me so much? Because this was Nigeria in 2014, in the run-up to the 2015 elections, and we are in the exact same situation.
In 2014, a few months before the 2015 elections, Nigerians were stuck between a rock and a hard place. The incumbent ruling party PDP, and then president Goodluck Jonathan had been proven to be a bit of a disaster. There was massive insecurity, Boko Haram was gaining massive territory in the northern regions of Nigeria, kidnapping people, while the military were diverting and stealing funds while sending our soldiers with low supplies and poor equipment to fight the insurgents, like lambs to a slaughter. The economy had begun to severely tank and the Executive Government was rife with corruption ( billions of dollar were being embezzled). This is pretty much Nigeria in 2018. Except now there is a new threat of bandit murdering herdsmen. There is revisionist history trying to make the former President (GEJ) into a great President. Do not fall for it! He was a disaster and if he was a good President he would still be in power.
Unfortunately, in the 2015 General Elections, we elected an even bigger disaster and leadership plague in the form of our current President and former military dictator General Muhammadu Buhari. A perennial loser in the democratic process, (having lost 3 times already) but not the 4th time with a desperate nation looking for an alternative, he ran the anti-GEJ wave into presidency.
I say this as a reminder to warn us again, our answers do not lie within the current to big political parties (PDP or APC) and whichever political candidate they decide to field, and not ride an anti-Buhari wave into further oblivion. We have seen that no matter, those clogged in those parties will lead us to further ruin, and we need to start actively changing that.
1. Muhammadu Buhari - Current President, way too old and unhealthy ( spent hundreds of days out of office due to poor health) to continue leading us. Also very corrupt, seems biased along tribal lines (he called the herdsmen, mostly of Fulani descent even though they were murdering people, and destroying valuable farm property and crops "our brethren who should be accommodated " , while labeling the much more peaceful IPOB terrorists razing their base and forcing their leader into hiding , despite the IPOB not partaking in any violent acts) , incredibly inept to boot ( Nigeria is currently the poverty capital of the world with poor standard of living metrics across the board from high illiteracy rates to a low life expectancy, just 54 years, USA is 77 in comparison) , numerous abuses of power, we need and deserve better (APC).
2. PDP candidate - The strongest opposition and the reason we are in this current mess. They have a strong chance of returning to power. They however have to likely choose between, current Senate president Bukola Saraki and former Vice President Atiku Abubakar.
3. Kingsley Moghalu - Dark horse. A brilliant economist and former Deputy Governor of the Central Bank. Experienced in policy and trying to get a grassroots campaign to become president.
If you want to volunteer or have any interest in his campaign : https://tobuildanation.com/volunteer/
4. Donald Duke - A former Governor of Cross River state. He was pretty competent during his reign though he had some budgeting and unsustainable projects.
While I admit there are other candidates, these are the 4 bigger candidates (well 2 big candidates and 2 extreme dark horses) those other candidates do not matter much and have zero shot at winning.
There's a weird thing I see all over the world, where young people with the most results come out and jeopardize. They have the right to complain, but should have exercised their right to vote and influence the elections first.
So what can we do ?
1. Start Organizing - Look for candidates that align with your values on the local government , start finding out about other candidates , throw your support behind them, grow the opposition till it becomes more viable and powerful. We need to start taking elections on all levels very seriously and holding elected officials from Local Government Chairmen , House of Representatives members , Senators and Governors much more accountable.
2. Get your PVCs : the most important thing , being able to perform your civic duty and vote. Here's a link to finding registration centers near you and anywhere in Nigeria : http://www.inecnigeria.org/?page_id=3085 . I have mine already.
3. Get your visas (lol) - The country is heading in a dangerous direction so if push comes to shove , be prepared to start in another nation.
The Elections are 188 days away. There needs to be a greater sense of urgency. I am very terrified of what the future holds for Nigeria, as it stands it looks hopeless if the incumbent President secures another term. The nation might not be able to survive another 4 years, if he continues in power.
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