18th September, 2014
By Charles Ola Oni
As the race for the next presidential election is drawing very near, the hawks in the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, have perfected plans to perpetuate themselves in power almost ad-infinitum. And the most worrisome is that the present administration under PDP that has made life difficult, insecure and hard for most Nigerians, still wants to cling to power at all costs.
The major or worry now is, who shall save or deliver us from the hands of the task masters, the pharaohs of our time in Nigeria? Or are we going to continue in the same trend of hopelessness, decadence, insecurity, rot, decay, deceits, despair and uncertainties?
From all perspectives there is need to retrieve power from PDP in 2015. But how can that be done?
The only opposition party and alternative for now is the All Progressives Congress, APC. And how APC can grab power from the PDP at the centre is by fielding acceptable and popular candidates that can convincingly win elections at least from their zones and areas, not those that would not be able to deliver their local governments let alone their state or zones.
Putting sentiments apart, General Muhammadu Buhari is the most acceptable, respected, popular and even idolised person from the North presently who is the best man for the job. No other person can garner the number of votes Buhari can get from the north in a presidential election. It is certain that Buhari cannot get less than 70% votes from the Northern Zone.
From the South presently, the most likely person that can match him in acceptability, popularity, firmness, ingenuity and respect so far and can swerve votes as well is no other person than Mr. Babatunde Raji Fashola. Sentiments apart, this is the only person that seems to have the magic wand, ingenuity, popularity, firmness that can match Buhari and can convincingly sway the votes, especially in the southwest, even from people of other extractions.
It is obvious that a lot of people from other extractions have a lot of regard for BRF despite his religious background and stern policies. His ingenuity and role in maintaining security, environmental improvement and provision of other infrastructure during his stint in power through which many from other nearby states voted massively for him in 2011, stand him out. Those who voted for Fashola would be hoping such transformation would be replicated in their own areas or states if he becomes president.
Despite his many stern policies many still appreciate the impact and long term benefits of those stern policies and praise his efforts in sanitising our society.
Most of the nauseating, criminal hideouts, odious places and people have been transformed, rehabilitated. Most of the no go areas for ordinary person/citizen in broad daylight without being mobbed, attacked or robbed have become places of free movements even at night. Most have been transformed to recreational/relaxation Centre’s and centre of attraction.
Finally or in conclusion, as Buhari is stern and firm, Fashiola is also stern and firm; as Buhari is a no-nonsense fellow so also is Fashola. As Buhari is a moderate person in socialities so also is Fashola; as Buhari has some magic wand, so does Fashola.
These are the people than can sanitise us, our environment, our society and our nation Nigeria at least for now from the rot, decadence and all sorts of cankerworms and insecurity. This is the time to permit Buhari and Fashola to upstage the status quo.
•Oni wrote from Lagos