Nigeria, with its burgeoning population of over 200 million people is at a critical juncture in its political history. As Africa’s largest democracy, its political decisions can have ripple effects throughout the continent. This and other domestic concerns, including righting the ship of State to prevent violence, anarchy, strive destruction and anomie, were among considerations that made it of absolute importance that we got our processes for free and fair elections right. With that hurdle seemingly behind us (hopefully without protests and unrests), the necessity for a more responsible and responsive leadership takes centre stage and there is no better time to elucidate on the expectations of the country’s new Chief Executive Officer and Citizen Numero Uno than now.
I have reached a factual conclusion that the corAs a country that has faced significant challenges in recent years, including economic instability, religious and ethnic tensions, and a growing threat from armed groups such as Boko Haram, one of the most pressing issues facing Nigeria is the need for effective leadership.
Over the past two decades, the country has seen three Presidents come and go, each with their own set of promises and challenges. Umaru Musa Yar’Adua, for instance, was initially conceived as a beacon of hope and he translated that hope into a government that could relate with the plight of the average Nigerian as exemplified in the reduction of the pump price of fuel, the fair distribution of political favour, such as the freeing up of Lagos State council funds, and in the implementation of the Amnesty Programme in the Niger Delta.
However, Yar’Adua’s failing health truncated his tenure which ended under a cloud of controversy. His successor, Goodluck Jonathan, was widely criticised for a lack of action on corruption and security issues, two of the wide range of problems that bedevilled his time in Aso Rock and overshadowed other positives of his administration.
The outgoing President Muhammadu Buhari came to power in 2015 on a wave of optimism. A former military ruler, Buhari promised to tackle corruption and restore security to the country. He also pledged to revive the economy, which had been hit hard by falling oil prices and mismanagement under the previous administration.
However, Buhari’s tenure has been marked by several setbacks. His efforts to fight corruption have been criticised for being half-hearted, selective and more or less ineffective, if not outrightly non-existent. Unlike ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo, whose government was accused of targeting opposition figures and ignoring corruption allegations against members of his own party, corrupt practices found a means to become commonplace without fear of consequences. Meanwhile, Boko Haram, ISWAP and other armed groups, who took advantage of the general absence of pushback, became emboldened to continue to carry out attacks in the northeastern part of the country. Kidnappings became their favourite pastime despite Buhari’s repeated promises to defeat them. In addition, the economy has struggled to keep up, especially in the face of high levels of inflation and rising unemployment.
Despite efforts to diversify the economy away from oil, which has helped Agriculture record impressive growth under the Central Bank’s Anchors Borrowers’ Programme (ABP), the country remains heavily reliant on crude oil, leaving it vulnerable to fluctuations in global prices. The fraudulent subsidy regime has also worked against the common purse, keeping Nigeria from benefiting from upward swings of international oil prices. The sabotaging of the oil supply chain falls under the same category as corrupt practices that go without sanction, without consequences and without actionable repercussions as though the country is on autopilot.
These are joined by the lengthy fuel crises that the country is just beginning to recover from, the sabotaging of the otherwise justifiable Naira redesign policy from which we are yet to recover from, the prolonged strike action of university lecturers, the intermittent power supply issues, the wide scale problems of insecurity and others and it is obvious why the message of getting it right was paramount as Nigerians headed to the polls for what many determined as the most important election in the world this year.
Indeed, the country’s future hangs in the balance. It is clear to all that while peaceful transitions of power have been a hallmark of the country’s democracy so far, the track record of its leaders has left much to be desired.
Leadership was the plank on which the country’s potential for greatness could be galvanised into reality. To truly actualise Nigeria’s destiny as a regional and global powerhouse, the next president must be a leader with vision, discipline, and a commitment to transparency and accountability. The Nigerian people deserve nothing less. The winner of the 2023 presidential elections must do more than make promises as his predecessors have done in the past. He must show that he is ready, has the wherewithal to address the country’s challenges head-on and the political will to see it through.
The challenges facing Nigeria’s next President may be significant, but a comprehensive approach will be effective in dealing with them. The first and most urgent challenge is to address the country’s fractured polity. The President must undertake immediate measures toward national reconciliation and integration. This could involve creating forums for dialogue and consultation with representatives from different ethnic and religious groups, encouraging greater inter-ethnic and inter-religious tolerance and understanding, and investing in cultural and educational initiatives that promote national unity.
It goes without saying that the key challenge facing Nigeria is corruption. The president-elect must be committed to fighting corruption at all levels of government, without favour or discrimination. This means strengthening institutions such as the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and ensuring that they have the resources and independence they need to do their jobs effectively. He must also demonstrate clean hands for the sake of equity and because this is what will translate to a dedicated fight against all acts of corruption.
The president-elect must also prioritise security. Boko Haram and other armed groups pose a grave threat to the country. The government must work to improve intelligence gathering, increase troop levels, and coordinate efforts with neighbouring countries. At the same time, it must address the underlying grievances that drive people to join these groups, such as poverty, inequality, and lack of opportunity. It is important for the attraction of investments that the country be deemed safe and investors can trust that the government is prepared to do all that is necessary to safeguard their investments, including the rule of law.
In addition, the next president must focus on economic development. This means investing in infrastructure, education and healthcare, as well as promoting entrepreneurship and small business growth. The government must also work to diversify the economy away from oil and create a more favourable environment for foreign investment.
Education is on the ropes and very nearly moribund. It is surviving by the thread with acute lack of facilities, substandard faculties, threadbare infrastructure and underpaid and overworked academic and non-academic staff. These are not features of a progressive-minded country. Healthcare is even in a worse state with the private sector filling in the gap at ridiculous costs. These must change for growth. For all of these to come together seamlessly, the next President must be a unifying figure who can bring Nigerians together across ethnic, religious, and regional divides and make them all believe in and work for one Nigeria.
We have a diverse country with many different cultures and identities. It is essential that the next President works to promote national unity and reconciliation. The evidence from international football games involving our national teams and the heroics of our sportsmen and women show that Nigerians, deep down, are united and desire nothing but the success and glory of their country.
One way to achieve this is by appointing a diverse and inclusive cabinet that represents different regions, religions and ethnic groups in Nigeria. I have had cause in my past writings to recommend a unity cabinet modelled after Abraham Lincoln’s successful attempt to reconcile with his old adversaries. It is along those lines that I am making this recommendation for a unifying President.
The President must, as a matter of priority, address the root causes of the ongoing conflict and violence in various parts of the country. These include tackling issues such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality, which often fuel communal tensions and violence.
The President should work towards finding lasting solutions to long-standing grievances among different groups, such as the herder-farmer conflicts in the Middle Belt region, kidnapping in almost every region, terrorism in the North and the militancy in the Niger Delta.
Furthermore, the next President must prioritise economic development and job creation, especially for Nigeria’s burgeoning youth population. The nation’s economy has struggled in recent years due to falling oil prices and other economic challenges. He must work towards diversifying the economy and creating opportunities for businesses and entrepreneurs across different sectors. This will not only address the country’s economic challenges but also help address the root causes of insecurity and unrest.
We can be a great country, just like the United States of America, with good political leadership because we are naturally entrepreneurial, embrace free enterprise and emboldened with die-hard and can-do traits. As a priority, the next President must place a premium on good governance and accountability.
Endemic corruption has been a major challenge in Nigeria and it has contributed to the country’s economic woes and undermined public trust in government. To address this, the President must demonstrate a strong commitment to transparency and accountability. This could involve implementing measures to prevent and detect corruption, strengthening institutions, such as the EFCC and ICPC, and promoting a culture of ethical leadership and public service.
The President must work towards building strong institutions and promoting transparency and accountability in all aspects of governance. This includes ensuring that public officials are held accountable for their actions and that public resources are used for the benefit of all Nigerians.
To address the challenge of national security, he must demonstrate strong leadership in the areas of counter-terrorism, peacekeeping, and conflict resolution. This could involve boosting the capacity of the country’s security forces, implementing effective intelligence gathering and sharing, and strengthening the criminal justice system to ensure that perpetrators of violence and terrorism are brought to justice.
All that can be done while the President addresses the root causes of insecurity, such as poverty, unemployment, and inequality, by investing in social and economic development programs that create jobs and provide opportunities for the country’s youth as discussed.
To tackle the challenge of a struggling economy, the next President must prioritise economic growth and development. This could involve implementing policies that encourage foreign investment, reducing the country’s reliance on oil exports, diversifying the economy by promoting non-oil sectors such as agriculture and technology, and creating programmes to alleviate poverty and reduce inequality.
In regards to the country’s university system, he must address the concerns of university unions and work to improve funding, governance and workers welfare in the education sector. He must also focus on improving the quality of education by investing in teacher training, curriculum development and educational infrastructure.
The President must also lead by example by ensuring that his own administration is transparent and accountable to the people. He must be strong, decisive and committed to democratic governance, a leader who demonstrates a willingness to confront vested interests and self-regard. The fate of the country in the face of these challenges largely depends on the strength of character and dedication of the incoming President.
Finally, Nigeria is at a critical juncture and the incoming President will be a crucial factor in determining the country’s future trajectory. As such, he must be a unifying figure who can address the country’s many challenges and promote national unity, economic development, and good governance. With the right leadership and policies, the country can overcome its many challenges and emerge as a prosperous and peaceful country that is a source of pride for all Nigerians in particular and Africa in general.
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