With the way Party Primaries are being conducted in Nigeria both in the All Progressive Congress,(APC) and the People’s Democratic Party, (PDP),it seems the 2023 election will be like the past elections in Nigeria.
As we speak,primary elections are on going while some are concluded but the outcome of those “selections” are not in favour of Nigerians with the President and Governors going into different arrangements to ensure some aspirants drop their ambition, while some are being promised juicy offices to compensate for the various arrangements.
Currently,we are having law makers returning to the assemblies for the third, fourth, fifth and even sixth time. This is recycling ineffectiveness, which is not in favour of Nigerians. The Political office has now turned to a normal business office where people go to make money and get rich instead of going to offer value and service to the electorates.
The Special Assistant to the President Muhammadu Buhari on Social Media, Bashir Ahmed, a contestant who lost in the APC primary in Kano, said what happened at the Kano APC primary is not an election. He asked that the election be conducted again as what happened earlier was just a charade. These and many more confessions are what marred the APC and PDP congresses across the Nation.
In Ogun State,a Lagos Senator-Olamilekan Yayi is slugging it with an incumbent in the Yewa Senatorial Election,Tolu Odebiyi with indications favouring the Lagos Senator. Other aspirants for the same office had earlier agreed to various agreements by Governor Dapo Abiodun for House Representatives and other appointments. Those concerned are Hon Gboyega Nasir Isiaka,Hon Akinlade.
In Ogun East, Senator Lekan Mustapha and Otunba Seyi Oduntan has been asked to drop their ambition for former Governor of Ogun State,Otunba Gbenga Daniel. Elections are only being held in Ogun State Senatorial District where the Governor’s favourite is likely to win.
In Ondo State,there were sporadic gunshots as some of the choices of the Governor lost in the election while some won.
Of Interest is Imo State Senatorial Election where Akeredolu’s wife alleged that no election was held in Imo Senatorial District where Aspirants were made to drop their ambition for the Governor’s choice of which Madam Akeredolu felt schemed out. This is the same thing the husband of Mrs Akeredolu is doing in Ondo State,forcing aspirants on party delegates. Let me just say “Nigeria has happened to Mrs Akeredolu in Imo”.
The situation is same in other States. With these various happenings, the change Nigeria needs is not likely to come as Nigeria is just recycling same old people who were the ones that brought us to this sorry state where we are now.
The Presidential Election primaries is currently in progress. The major contenders for PDP are Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Governor Nyesom Wike, after Peter Obi resigned to join the Labour Party.
In APC,we have a little over 20 Aspirants with Senator Bola Ahmed Tinubu,Professor Yemi Osinbajo,Rt Hon Rotimi Amaechi, Rt Hon Ahmed Lawan and others who will be slugging it out if the party does not finally agree on a consensus candidate.
As politicians are facing their business of trying to remain in public office forever,Academic Staff Union of Universities,(ASUU),Senior Academic Staff Association of Universities (SSANU),Non Academic Staff Union of Universities, (NASU) ,National Library workers across Nigeria and many more are on strike, and it seems nobody is concerned about this situation.
If Nigerians elect the same people winning Party Primaries, it is very glaring that the current situation of the country might not get better but worse.
The time to make a change is now but it won’t be easy.
Written by Tosin Adesile
