- By Bernard Ogbe
Reading through the presidential speech for the jubilee celebration of Nigeria at 60, one can easily point a message of a leader, present at real time of experience to the histories most Nigerians read in their growth in the nation.
The analogy, taking the nation back on how it all came to be, a tales that quickly explained and in derivations, on point to the identification of the moments of set back to the initial plans, manifestoed by our heroes pass is indeed acceptable and in line with the way forward to a better and ever purposeful Nigeria we originate.
It had always been believed by majority of Nigerians that the civil war of this 30 months and the hold of power by the military for decades, the fore mention as stated was a cumulative of miss done of these same past that feud the sowing of the seeds of discord that catapulted the stiffness that led to the civil war.
Be that in the past, the need to rebuild a nation back to the initial focal objectives and build back the beauty of a nation, unfairly distorted of her original plans, was the sole reasons the nation looked on a man of his character, Mr President Muhammadu Buhari in the need for new foundational rescue of our dear nation, Nigeria.
We can not be disappointed in anyway of how best the government had ran, through the administration of Mr President Muhammadu Buhari. Looking back on the past, and the further foreseen and unforeseen predicaments that had beseeched the government, from the recession inherited from past administration, the world embattled health crisis that threatens human existence and the world’s economy, the strides so far can not be overlooked.
It’s concerning to say, the correction of the enumerated faults of the nation started in 1999 in the free hold of the nation by the civilian democratic inception. Though, the step taken by the leaders of this fourth republic, in the search of leadership, was in disguise, another heat unknown, built in the mind of citizens that could have a future crack of misconceptions to regions that bonded our nation Nigeria.
It’s unfortunate to bring to the fore this conception that seem to dent our unity, placing regions as a format to the leadership lines of our present democracy.
That mistake may had been made but we must tread with cautions in making this corrections, not to further compound the already existed tension on the way forward at the end of this present administration.
I borrow from the four (4) way test of what we think, do or say, of the Rotary international…
“Is it the TRUTH?
Is it FAIR to all concerned?
Would it be BENEFICIAL to all concerned?
Would it build GOODWILL and BETTER friendship (coexistence) ?… “
Until this four questions are given absolute attention on a balance, the grumbles, ripples, wobbles of regions in the leadership of the nation Nigeria, could in long years be a malice that may continually exist even if this move for Southeastern presidency turns unrealistic.
There’s no point choosing simultaneously three cardinal points out of the four cardinal points, over one, in the pretense of building a new Nigeria in unity. That, actually is not Fair to all concern.
It won’t be the Truth, to say, there are no competent hands from the east that can continue in the unity solicited of citizenry by the tones of the address of Mr President.
It is not Beneficial to all Nigerians concerned to keep aside the unique economic qualities of compatriots from the east in the call to serve to better the economy and the standard of living of citizenry.
It will not in good fate, build Goodwill and Better friendship / coexistence among Nigerians, to rule out a cardinal point out and expect the Natives not to feel inferior among equal stake holders in our one united Nigeria.
This is practically not sentimental but a fact to hold strong, in handling the behavior of human, such topical we have, in a complex nation like Nigeria.
May I at this juncture, bring to the notice of Mr President, one among other major factors that influenced his enthronement, at the fall of the PDP in 2015 presidential election. “The Northern factors of completing their turn in leadership.” In 2019 this same factors impacted directly the campaign as biggest political parties feed Northern candidates for a successful completion of the years given by nature for the North to serve.
We choose not to be turned in the spine, if these all, are just mare politics or a calculated rotation to further unite the nation…
The increase in the numbers of votes gathered by the APC in the 2019 general elections, was not only on the account of what they had done, but in combination with believe for an undistorted political leadership trend, set up by the PDP at the onset, 1999 as a drive to forestalling the unity of our divers Nigeria with tribes and regions.
Mr President Muhammadu Buhari is in no doubt the partaker of this very phenomenon as publications were made to sensitive Nigerians on the trend of the Nigeria presidential leadership.
We have no basis, campaigning for any candidate from the North in the 2023 general elections because Nigeria is not in anyway meant for solely the North as they’re expected to be civilized to the knowledge of it’s outcome in perception. Neither, do we intend to propagate a Western presidency come 2023.
In the justified face of humanity and the world, if the tones of political parties in the 2023 general elections are not geared towards the East as loftily considered for other regions in previous elections, it would be obvious, our readiness to accept the wrong of the past is far from bringing to the present, the unity preached for a stronger and better Nigeria.
We see no reasons, Senator Rochas Okorocha would see Igbo Presidency 2023 project as competitions within. It’s however better to make it more competitive in what these regions had contributed as Competitions brings about the best. We should not be scared if this competition could bring the best for the economic resuscitation of our dear nation, Nigeria.
Where there’s no competition, retardation and recycling of same old idea are prominent which should not be a seal with our Nation…
For the benefits of doubt, the 2023 general elections is an opportunity to correct that aspect of the impression of exclusion, felt by our Eastern compatriots.
The relative peace and unity expressed by Mr President in his speech, is key to our nation building and that corrections pleaded of him for a better Nigeria, can be liberally displayed in the decisions of political parties in their choice of candidates to succeed this present administration.
Bernard Ogbe
Writes From The Federal Capital Territory Abuja, Nigeria.
