NIGERIA: NOW THAT THE CANDIDATES HAVE EMERGED, HERE ARE MY EXPECTATIONS

APPRAISING THE BUHARI PRESIDENCY - THE PARAMETRES GOING FORWARD...

The problem with the Buhari administration is not integrity deficits - what with a President with an outwardly obvious austere lifestyle with a Vice that is a Pastor and Constitutional Lawyer not given to process infractions. The problem, however, is a drought of ideas, the will to see it through with the right execution team. Unfortunately, ideas rule just about anything - from fighting corruption to building effective institutions that can tackle and remove systemic problems on a sustainable basis; from reordering national priorities to removing structural problems militating against the transition of Nigeria from a commodity-based economy, with persistent brain-drain to one that emphasizes a bottom-up approach to growth and development. 

RIGHT NOW, MY APPRAISAL OF THE BUHARI PRESIDENCY WILL FOCUS NOT ON INTEGRITY, BECAUSE THAT SHOULD ORDINARILY BE A BASELINE ATTRIBUTE FOR ANYONE SEEKING TO RUN NIGERIA.

In 2019, that is if he wins, our focus should be on the team, the plan and execution roadmap for addressing our structural deficiencies and the succession plan thereafter. REMEMBER, 4 YEARS IS JUST 48 MONTHS; IT IS JUST 1 461 DAYS. It soon passes.

2019 - MY EXPECTATION OF ATIKU

Here is one man, just like President Buhari, whose sole ambition in the last 25 years has been to rule Nigeria. A nurse by training with a successful career in the Customs Service. I hear he has a good eye for spotting talent and appears more nationalistic in outlook.

ATIKU DOES NOT SUFFER A DROUGHT OF IDEAS.

One strong point for Atiku is his drive for rethinking Nigeria and his policy blueprint on building the right political and economic structures for maximising Nigeria's potential. I expect him to play on this strength in the build-up to the elections and possibly avail us a hint on the team that will work with him if he wins. 

HOWEVER, THE PERSISTENT PERCEPTION OF CORRUPTION AROUND HIM IS NOT HELPING. 

So, if I were Atiku, I will openly declare my assets and my business dealings. I will speak around the perception of corruption around me - clearing the air on what transpired and my role in it because Nigeria needs a President without the baggage of corruption and one that is not so conflicted as to be arm-twisted by a corrupt system.

2019 - MY EXPECTATION OF THE YOUTHFUL PRESIDENTIAL CONTENDERS.

You are no push-overs; you may not have the extensive grass-root structure as yet, but ideas are like light, they can pierce the darkest tunnel, so mobilise as extensively as you can. Shine your light because you represent the future that Nigeria needs so direly, especially at this time when the old-horses whose actions or inactions got us to this point are still holding so firmly to power.

WHO SAYS YOU CANNOT WIN? AND EVEN IF YOU DON'T, DEMOCRACY IS ABOUT PARTICIPATION AND NOT JUST WINNING.

So make your voice heard. Come to the table with an alternate blueprint and show that our problems are man-made and not divinely ordered. Mobilise, mobilise, mobilise! Someday, maybe sometimes soon, the walls will crack and it will be time to let in your light. God bless Nigeria.