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Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, the Vice Presidential Candidate of Nigerian Democratic Congress, NDC, spoke the mind of many Nigerians when he said on Sunday that his party’s Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi and himself will not step down for the African Democratic Congress, ADC Candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and his running mate, Rotimi Amaechi, or for any other party in the forthcoming Presidential Election.
In my humble opinion, this stance enjoys popular support because Nigerians are tired of ‘arrangee’ elections where the vote of ordinary electorates do not count after all.
Instead of looking for who should step down for another (after holding secret meetings and settlements,) candiadates at this stage of preparation for 2027 Elections should pay more attention to the primary task of convincing the electorates to vote for them on merit not by any form of entitlement.
Yes, in a decractic system, there is room for negotiations and alliances. But, if you ask me and many other Nigerians like me, we will say ploys to force rivals to step down are not what we need at this point.
Nigeria, the way it is today, ideally operates a multi-party system of government. This system is anchored on freedom of choice.
So, anti-democratic moves to make a mockery of democracy once again in Nigeria, by selecting a few elites to reach some agreements behind closed doors only to come out to announce results that have no reflection of the aspirations of the common Nigerians, must not be allowed to germinate and grow again.
I am of the opinion that whenever common Nigerians notice this tendency, no matter how beautifully packaged, it is expected that they should oppose it vehemently and ensure it does not take roots.
Yes, smart politicians will always create fancy words to clothe their anti-democratic ploys aimed at getting to power unchallenged at the polls in a free and fair election.
They can call it alliances or whatever but if we look closely at it, we can always identify it by its characteristics of promoting behind the scene negotiations and trade offs by a few leaders on behalf of the majority of the people, instead of relying on the votes of the poor masses.
This is why it has become necessary that the common people, who ultimately suffer from bad governance much more than others, be extremely watchful and to always demand only the right things are done in order to install true democracy in our country.
Aside helping to unravel the intricate puzzles so far created by conflicting media reports, political propaganda and unsubstantiated utterances heating up the polity, Kwankwaso’s declaration has offered new hints that some myths being created by some of these reports about alleged ongoing “opposition manoeuvres ahead of the election,” may indeed be far from the truth.
What is undeniable however is that there are also numerous actions, unsubstantiated claims and personal verbal attacks that have been thrown into Nigerian political platform, ahead of the 2027 Elections, that have further complicated the existing confusion.
Take for example, the composition of All Progressives Congress, APC’s Presidential Campaign Council, which gave very important roles to prominent leaders of the opposition political parties.
While average Nigerians are still trying to agree on the confusion arising from Nyesom Wike and other prominent members of some opposition political parties openly working for the ruling political party, APC and still retaining membership of their political parties, even as such political parties are not in a formal alliance with. APC, some reports alleged that NDC’s Presidential Candidate, Peter Obi and his OK ticket are working for the ruling All Progressives Congress, APC, and for President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s re-election.
These controversial actions and claims have indeed made clear understanding of our current polity a great mystery.
One of the latest claims that has made the reading of our political journey more difficult is ADC Presidential Campaign Council, PCC’s alleged acceptance or promotion of the claims that Peter Obi iand his running mate, Kwankwaso of NDC are working for the APC or may step down for the ADC candidate at the last minute.
Reacting to these claims in a statement on Sunday, Kwankwaso accused the ADC campaign team of directing unnecessary attacks at him, Obi and the NDC instead of selling its own candidate to Nigerians.
“We will not withdraw our candidature for the ADC or any other party,” he declared.
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Kwankwaso also denied suggestions that the NDC ticket was acting on behalf of the ruling party. He said Obi+Kwankwaso (OK) ticket on the platform of NDC remains committed to contesting the election.
“The OK ticket is neither working for nor acting on behalf of the APC or any of its candidates. We see no possibility or reason to withdraw from the presidential race in favour of the ADC candidate or any other,” he said.
Turning his attention to the ADC campaign council, Kwankwaso urged it to address allegations levelled against its presidential candidate by Vice-President Kashim Shettima rather than attack the NDC ticket.
“The APC-led government has failed Nigerians. The ADC offers no better alternative,” Kwankwaso declared.
Presenting the NDC as a stronger opposition platform, he said his ticket with Obi had the credibility, capacity and nationwide support to unite the country and tackle insecurity, education, agriculture, infrastructure, healthcare and economic challenges.
Kwankwaso urged supporters and well-meaning Nigerians to remain committed to the party’s electoral victory, describing the NDC as the country’s most formidable opposition party.
“I therefore urge all our supporters and well-meaning Nigerians to continue working toward the victory of our great party, NDC,” he said.
Looking at the issues raised here by Kwankwaso and the NDC, one cannot deny the fact that the opposition had a better opportunity of negotiating, uniting and bringing out their best but they missed that opportunity as various interest groups and political principalities amongst them held on to their usual selfish schemes.
In my view, this selfishness has taken so much steam off Nigerian opposition as a group ahead of 2027 Elections
What is remaining, perhaps, which I believe will determine who the people will cast their votes for, include individual opposition candidate’s credibility, discipline and capacity as against that of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu of APC, who is contesting for re-election.
We must not lose sight of the fact that the ruling party, even by winning the official support of almost all the state governors and other big men, is not likely to fare better than the opposition.
President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and his ruling party’s challenge is their inability or failure to tackle the hunger and suffering in the land in spite of the oil windfall and extra funds that must have accrued from removal of oil subsidy since the beginning of their tenure.
As Nigerian voters prepare to cast their votes in the forthcoming 2027 Elections, majority of them are hungry and angry.
Their belief is that more resources from oil and taxes have been harvested by the present Government than any other democratically elected Nigerian government, yet they are neglected, ignored to grapple with the worst form of hunger they can ever recall.
So, President Tinubu and the ruling APC may you please pay more attention towards explanation of why common Nigerians have to suffer so much under your watch. This is the major thing that will win votes for you.
If Mr President ignores this advise, it would only mean he is not depending on the people’s votes cast during the official Presidential Election.
As for the opposition, the major task is to prove to the electorates that you are noble enough to manage the country’s earnings more responsibly, more prudently and more transparently for these are the qualities that can deliver hungry Nigerians from their current misery in this land flowing with milk and honey.
• Samuel Hezekiah Egburonu Esq, is a lawyer, veteran journalist, literary scholar and current affairs analyst
