Presidential candidate options before the APC for 2015

Change is essential and desperately needed especially for a country like ours, having had a chequered history of leaders with ‘below-average’ performance. Forgetting the military years, I choose to start from the democratic dispensation in which we have seen the leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) for 14 years running. Is the country stagnant, making progress or retrogressing? For an answer to this, your guess is as good as mine.

However, when you passionately need a change, you are tempted to accept anything (whether a better offer or not). As another election year approaches, there already are strong political manipulations,
associations, mergers and wars of wits that would ultimately lead to ascension unto various offices (presidential, governorship etc).

The All Progressives Congress (APC) is a formidable merger plan because it has in its fold, some of the few who actually bark and bite. They enjoy massive followership and they intend wrestling power from the ruling PDP -bold I must say. They are making loud sounds that is evidently sending
shudders down the spines of the PDP and our (im)partial electoral umpire. Nevertheless, when the chips are down, the crux of the matter becomes ‘who is their presidential candidate’?

And this is the most challenging task (in my thinking) for the APC. Whoever it is, must appeal to millions cutting across ethnic, religious and gender differences. S/he must enjoy the massive support of the youths (Hard; I shall tell you why in a bit).

I have heard of some possible candidates speculated to fly the flag come 2015 and this is my personal assertion on a few.

MUHAMMADU BUHARI:
I was not born yet during his short stint in government but if my knowledge of him is anything to go by, then he is a good man and less corrupt.

But some issues are against him: Many existing politicians who evidently command a significant influence on the electorate do not want him back in that office. Also, many youths do not want him, they need a change (young/new blood in the bloc) and you are really in a fix should you want to wrestle the youths’ support from Jonathan who has won (bought) the role models of the youths-the artists to himself and the youths will naturally/subconsciously follow whoever their role models are following. Over 30 million youths ain’t a negligible figure.

BOLA TINUBU:
Strong, courageous, wise but it suffices to say that the North will not support anyone outside the region – this is a fact.

NUHU RIBADU:
Mallam Nuhu Ribadu is a courageous man. His courage to probe corrupt notable Nigerian leaders has left an indelible mark in the fight against corruption. He was the presidential candidate of the Action Congress f Nigeria in the 2011 general election. He is young, versatile and hungry for a better Nigeria.

NASIR EL-RUFAI:
He is quite a good man and there are not many odds against him. I am not certain if he enjoys support of the larger populace in real terms.

BABATUNDE FASHOLA:
He would really have brought some changes but he is not a Northerner (I am not actually rooting for a Northern president but that is what they want and APC is surely bent on satisfying that).

Other names such as Aminu Tambuwal, Adams Oshiomhole, Rochas Okorocha are also filtering in but time shall tell. Let leaders take over government so Nigerians can enjoy what they deserve.

It would bring to an end, unproductive committees, brazen corruption and
other features of ‘below-average’ performing governments.

Most importantly, APC should bear in mind that 2015 will make or mar them.
In Bishop Oyedepo’s words, “Caution is the word.”