Before I digress too much, let's revert to the criteria given by our holy grail, though quite simplistic, which will suffice for the current situation we find ourselves in today. So what are these criteria?. Someone who understands the economy, he/she must be in their 60s, with friends/ reach across the nook and cranny of the country. Quite straightforward, nothing complicated. With this, the two usual suspects have been automatically screened out and a list of potential candidates was drawn up by Thisday newspapers, they came up with quite an interesting list I must say, although some characters claimed they should have made the cut, perhaps I should even make the list as well since is now an all comers affair, but I will be falling short on the age criteria, I will need to plead with the holy grail for an amendment, at least he became our president in his 40s, not sure why he now wants to raise the bar that high, well, Maradona will always be Maradona.
My focus today will be on five of the potential candidates who made the list, whom I think may be suitable for the task at hand.
Kingsley Moghalu
Prof Moghalu a former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, taught at Tufts University as Professor of Practice in International Business and Public Policy at The Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy from 2015 to 2017. He comes across as a man of bold ideas and great intellect, I followed his campaign in the last election, his ideas resonated well with me, he is a man of vision, who is in tune with 21st-century thinking and governance, however not surprisingly he did poorly at the polls. Elections in Nigeria are not won via ideas, TV and Newspaper appearances but the ability to mobilize the grassroots who have been so impoverished, who do not understand or are interested in understanding whatever bold or nebulous ideas you may have. Mobilizing these people, who unfortunately make up a large chunk of our current voters, requires deep pockets and building a formidable structure across every ward in the country or leveraging on a big party that already does. Fortunately, he has started early this time and with glamour for an Igbo presidency. which in all fairness is the right thing to do, to foster equity and justice in the country. The sentiments are in his favour but he falls very short in the politics of Nigeria today. I wish him well.
Bukola Saraki
The last senate president, became an opposition within his party before he finally went to the PDP. Bukola Saraki learned politics both at the feet of his father Olusola Saraki, a man who controlled the politics of Kwara state for close to 40 years, and the former president Olusegun Obasanjo. Saraki thoroughly understands Nigerian politics, he is a grand master in the Nigerian political chess game, and only a few politicians in Nigeria today can out-scheme him. As a candidate from the North-central geopolitical region, he can leverage that as the soothing balm to help assuage the near-total breakdown of trust between southern and northern Nigeria that we see today. He comes across as cosmopolitan with the ability to understand 21st-century governance that resonates with the youths and the ability to relate effectively as well with the old guards. With his wide network within the private sector, he can mobilize the needed resources for a presidential election. However, the issue of corruption has been a recurrent decimal in his political career from his time as the MD of the defunct SG bank to his time as governor, has been marred with allegations of corruption. This may be a major drawback for a presidential campaign bid
Prof Yemi Osibanjo
Our current beleaguered Vice President is a man with great intellect, who understands 21st-century governance thoroughly. We get to see flashes of that competence/brilliance only when his boss goes on medical tourism. Until he was finally outmaneuvered of that Acting role and confined to the backwaters of the presidency. A fiercely loyal man both to his boss and his godfather, it takes great skills to juggle such loyalty. With the APC officially now zoning the presidency to the south, he has a great chance. However he needs to come out of his shell, power is not served ala carte. He should not be afraid to rock the boat, if he can get the incumbent on his side, the party ticket is just an airbreath away. However he is not a politician in the typical Nigerian fashion which is good and maybe an albatross, but he is in a party with a formidable structure. However, the issue of how the current government, of which he is a major player, has mismanaged our diversity and economy may be his major albatross, if he eventually gets the party ticket.
Akinwunmi Adesina
An economist, who is currently serving his second term as the President of the African Development Bank (AfDB), had previously served as Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development. He comes across as a very passionate man with a deep interest in the advancement of Nigeria and Africa. A great asset to Africa, he has the needed international reach to mobilize global capacity to help build the country. However, he falls very short in Nigerian politics. He is a technocrat to the core with very little interest in politics, he is an ideal candidate in a utopian Nigeria not of the Nigeria of today
Peter Obi
A former Banker and state Governor, who shot into national limelight with his famous speech at Pastor Poju’s annual event. He is one of the few Nigerian politicians who is not beholden to the status quo and is unafraid to do things differently. He understands economics thoroughly, his record as Governor of Anambra state is stellar and he will make a good president. The tide is in his favor, with the issue of the Igbo presidency, which is a matter of equity and justice. However, he is yet to throw his hat into the ring and time is of the essence when it comes to Nigerian politics.
On a final note, all these potential candidates will only be effective if the country is restructured, Nigeria’s potential is enormous but it will forever remain in the realm of potential until we do the needful. No matter how nebulous the president of the country is, he/she will be handicapped by the constitution. The current state of things breeds docility, that’s why a governor can publicly claim to visit his state once a week or another governor can conveniently assume the role of a party chairman. He does not need to do the hard work of creating wealth in his state, at the end of the month, FAAC money is shared. No country can ever prosper with this mindset.
Oladapo Kasumu
Public Affairs Analyst, writes from Lagos. Oladapo.kasumu@gmail.com
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