Tomorrow, about 8,000 All Progressives Congress (APC) delegates will
file out to choose a candidate to fly the party’s flag in the February
14 2015 presidential poll. The stars arrayed in the party’s line-up each
have intimidating credentials. But beyond this, the party, in our
opinion, is on trial. The outcome of the exercise is bound to be a
watershed that will define the future of democracy in the country. For
many, it is not whether any of the gladiators – ex-head of state General
Muhammadu Buhari, former vice president Atiku Abubakar, LEADERSHIP
Newspapers founder Sam Nda-Isaiah and Governors Musa Kwankwaso and
Rochas Okorocha – carries the day. Rather, it is about a credible
process. Elections are meant to be won and lost. We enjoin those who win
to be magnanimous in victory and those who lose to support the winners,
to ensure that the
last hope of the common man is not sacrificed on the altar of personal ego and ambition. To thwart the hope reposed in the party to provide Nigerians a credible alternative that will ensure good governance in the polity would be a monumental disaster.
For most, the expectation of a foolproof exercise is more important than the prospect of winning, fair or foul. Different scenarios have been painted of how the votes will go. We believe that not even Nostradamus would have been able to predict who carries the party flag, given the fluid nature of horse-trading and sophistication of each of the aspirants. For us, again, what is important is the credibility of the process. We enjoin the delegates to be above board and the umpires to be independent and transparent in the conduct of the selection process. When delegates accept money to vote for candidates, they are, in effect selling their rights, only to complain thereafter, as whoever emerges, having paid, considers that he does not owe any obligation of service. However, we are enamoured by the fact that the gentlemen on offer have each charted a roadmap, encapsulated in their individual understanding of the cardinal objectives of the APC and have been campaigning based on issues and not on other, mundane tendencies that stymie Nigeria’s development, like religion, ethnicity and circumstances of birth.
APC has a date with destiny come 2015. As the dawn foreshadows the day, what delegates, party leadership and the aspirants do will justify whether Nigerians should expect true “change” – the party’s mantra – or not. In our opinion, if the leadership of APC is truly ready to take over government and serve the people of this country, the primary election must spell out the destination towards which they are headed. We will be glad if APC aspirants do not resort to litigation, but seize power by making the people’s votes count.
last hope of the common man is not sacrificed on the altar of personal ego and ambition. To thwart the hope reposed in the party to provide Nigerians a credible alternative that will ensure good governance in the polity would be a monumental disaster.
For most, the expectation of a foolproof exercise is more important than the prospect of winning, fair or foul. Different scenarios have been painted of how the votes will go. We believe that not even Nostradamus would have been able to predict who carries the party flag, given the fluid nature of horse-trading and sophistication of each of the aspirants. For us, again, what is important is the credibility of the process. We enjoin the delegates to be above board and the umpires to be independent and transparent in the conduct of the selection process. When delegates accept money to vote for candidates, they are, in effect selling their rights, only to complain thereafter, as whoever emerges, having paid, considers that he does not owe any obligation of service. However, we are enamoured by the fact that the gentlemen on offer have each charted a roadmap, encapsulated in their individual understanding of the cardinal objectives of the APC and have been campaigning based on issues and not on other, mundane tendencies that stymie Nigeria’s development, like religion, ethnicity and circumstances of birth.
APC has a date with destiny come 2015. As the dawn foreshadows the day, what delegates, party leadership and the aspirants do will justify whether Nigerians should expect true “change” – the party’s mantra – or not. In our opinion, if the leadership of APC is truly ready to take over government and serve the people of this country, the primary election must spell out the destination towards which they are headed. We will be glad if APC aspirants do not resort to litigation, but seize power by making the people’s votes count.
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