The natural disasters, pandemics, or wars that confront an administration do not matter to citizens. What people want is a leader that would wipe out the tears brought about by the disasters. Failure to do this should lead to consequent management and sanctions. For example, George Bush, a Republican, was confronted by the worse terrorist attack against the United States- the twin tower bombing. He waged costly wars in Afghanistan and Iraq. In the end, the Republican party left America with a $5.5 trillion deficit, a nose-dived economy, and a country in depression. Americans didn’t clap for him. Boom! They spoke after his tenure, and Barack Obama was elected President to lead the United States out of the depression. That was a war, and the Commander-In-Chief was expected to lead America and win the war.
Leaders are elected to cure socio-economic ailments and take the people out of poverty. Obama inherited one of the worst economies in the history of America since the great depression of the 1920s and the 1930s. Instead of Obama lamenting the mess he inherited from the Republicans, he set to work.
At the end of the eight years of democrats, Obama added 11,572,000 jobs, unemployment rate fell to 4.7% from about the 8% of Republicans under George W. Bush
Under Obama, energy from coal was drastically reduced. The administration increased the use fossil fuel, wind, and solar energies (FactCheck.org). We can go on and on. That is how to lead. That is how to be a President. It would have been stupid for Obama to keep reminding Americans that he couldn’t perform because the Republican Party left him with a collapsed economy.
So, I do not want Nigeria’s presidential candidates that are storytellers. I want a presidential candidate to take responsibility and be accountable for actions and inactions. I am tired of hearing people tell us that former and present presidents did not know how broke Nigeria was or how bad the economy was and that the 16 years of the PDP and the seven years of APC did not do well. Our presidential candidates have enough time to research and develop blueprints to solve our economic and security challenges. Leaders are elected to correct and not to lament.
I want to see detribalized actions from our presidential aspirants. I want to hear how our universities will go on without strikes for the next eight years of the aspirants’ two terms in office. I want to see my presidential candidates tell me how they will turn our current misfortunes into fortunes and flush terrorists and bandits out of all the places they have seized from our people. I want reassurances that my grandchildren can be safe to walk the streets after one year of taking over, and if unable, they shall sign a social contract with the Nigerian people that they would resign or be impeached.
2023 should not be a year of excuses, lamentations, and brooding. The president of my choice must put his cabinet together and start work from day one in office. Anything short of that shall be acceptable and that is why I shall cast my vote for the one I believe truly love Nigeria and Nigerians with equal measure.
Grace and peace.
