AbdulRahman Agboola
In as much as we all remain students of the master teacher-life, experience gained from either good or horrible events play vital roles in decision making and form core basis for good judgments. The horrible fate of this country accrued from skewed and biased parameters indulged in choosing second in command to the helmsman by the power brokers.
It is a known fact that weaklings are mostly chosen as running mates in political settings probably out of protective means to avoid tussle, usurping of authority or gathering strength to rub shoulders with the helmsman even in the face of glaring derailment. Our Constitution does not provide compelling responsibilities to deputies other than taking over from their principals in case of demise, absence or incapacitation.
In a sound democracy with regards for competence and capabilities, a deputy is as intellectually equipped and grounded as the principal himself and the glaring realities in Nigeria today command consideration of excellence and capabilities in the choice of deputies. Dwelling briefly on the past, the demise of General Murtala Muhammad as the head of state brought in his 2nd in Command General Olusegun Obasanjo as a replacement that appropriately filled the gap with credible performance on the glorious execution of the designed agenda of that administration due to his competence and productive postures.
In the current trend, the demise of Late President Umaru Yar’Adua brought in President Goodluck Jonathan who did not only abandon the Seven Points Agenda initiated by his demised principal but showcased incompetence and desecration of the duties of his office to a level of loss of respect globally. Nigeria is totally messed up at all fronts and rated among foremost corrupt countries in the world, while the level of division along ethnic and religious lines portends hell for the future if a system change is not attained soonest.
The consensus for a change of government at the federal level among the downtrodden mostly affected by the misfortunes of President Jonathan Presidency could only be actualized if the opposition party does not commit the error of fielding a weakling as the Vice Presidential candidate. The Vice Presidential candidate of APC must possess similar credentials with the Presidential flag bearer in order to forestall the emergence of ugly scenarios in case of eventualities.
The credentials of topmost aspirants for the Presidential flag bearer of APC are superb as they earn respects among the electorate. And it is fundamental to consider that the life expectancy in Nigeria is 45 years but only God can determine the transition of man to the great beyond at any point in time. In case of incapacitation or demise of the President, we need a worthy replacement in the Vice President, this is a reality derived from recent occurrences in Nigeria.
General Muhammadu Buhari is regarded as a tenacious and forthright personality with distinction in both personal and public life. The fact that he commands large followership base on trust in his honest and positive dispositions to public good makes him most outstanding among his contemporaries. His positive record as former head of state remains symbolic and unblemished. In spite of series of propaganda implored by his detractors to dent his image before the masses, many Nigerians have expressed readiness to sail through with the Peoples’ General to emerge victorious at the 2015 Presidential Election.
Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is regarded as an experienced technocrat and politician with strong understanding of the workings of government. He is viewed as a personality with good credentials to revamp the economy of the country within shortest possible time if elected as President. He is a bridge builder with records of positive inclinations to pro-democratic values especially his stand with the masses as the Vice President of Nigeria with serious role in the truncation of the stylish third term bid of his Principal.
Governor Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso is a reputed performer as shown in massive developments in Kano state under his watch as the governor. His outstanding performance as minister of defense and former deputy speaker, House of Representatives has earned him trust as a leader with sincerity of purpose. Chief Sam Nda-Isaiah is regarded as a genius with inherent skills and capacity to perform excellently as shown in his untainted record as a publisher of Leadership newspaper.
It is safe to conclude that the credential of the APC Presidential flag bearer to emerge at the National Convention tomorrow in Lagos is sound enough to take the country out of its present doldrums of ineffectual leadership and reposition Nigeria for greatness. In the interest of progress and collective good of the masses, APC leaders must unveil a Presidential running mate with worthy credentials in order to attain the required system change in Nigeria.
The masses should equally prioritise excellent records and outstanding credentials above sentiments of race, religion or affinity in our quest for system change.
Comrade Agboola is National Coordinator, Mass Action for Good Governance and Grassroots Development in Nigeria
