Nigeria is on the march again for the choice of another President and other political office holders. Even before INEC blows the whistle political bigwigs have started their moves towards 2019. This is coming at the time the present administration is celebrating 2nd year anniversary. The drum beat of succession bid is more pronounced over who gets the most exalted seat of presidency come 2019. It is also a fact that some states like Kaduna, Sokoto, Kogi and Rivers are often in the news with serving senators or ministers that want to take over the seat of Governor in their respective states. Some names have been mentioned as likely successors to PMB. Some are not in the ruling party, while those in the ruling party have started some calculations with some media pronouncements.
At the moment, I’m more concerned in Buhari and his challenges come 2019. It’s a known fact that PMB once announced that he has quit politics after three attempts. Fortunately, his fourth attempt came like a whirlwind, it blew forcefully and the first time in the history of Nigeria, the opposition Party (APC) unseat the incumbent Dr Ebele Jonathan Goodluck and his party (PDP). Buhari’s unprecedented victory was celebrated globally. This was manifested in the number of goodwill messages received before, during, and after his inauguration.
In his inaugural speech, he promised to fight corruption, fight insurgency/National insecurity, create jobs to reduce youth unemployment that is responsible for emerging youth restiveness in various parts of Nigeria. Presently PMB’s government is fighting corruption, though with lots of criticism that the fight is selective and targeted at oppositions. The fight against insurgency was applauded with the fall of camp zero in Sambisa forest, activities of Boko Haram have drastically been contained. In fact, they are now reduced to a sizeable portion in Borno State. In a bid to solve unemployment, the government initiated the N-Power programme. The N-Power exercise has created a platform for youth employment in the country. President Buharis inaugural speech gave us some sigh of relief
But the most prominent part of his speech is “I belong to everybody and belong to nobody”
Despite being for everybody and not for anyone (in specific terms) PMB is not without challenges. His administration was welcome with Niger Delta Avengers bombing of pipelines and fall in oil price in the global oil market; who to appoint to form a cabinet even after the formation of the cabinet, the criticism continues. Aisha Buhari’s BBC Hausa interview threw another spanner that those appointed are non- card carrying members of APC and were not part of the struggle of 2015.
Though PMB is yet to make his intention known but it’s the tradition with incumbent to recontest (tazarce) for the constitutional leverage of 2ndterm in office. Mr. Presidents~ greatest challenge is his health. As much as he loves Nigeria and would like to see a new Nigeria as corruption free entity, he must be mentally, bodily, physically and physiologically sound to actualize it. Since the return of Mr President, he has exhibited convincing signs of strength as shown during his sallah retreat at Daura and the commissioning of the project in Kaduna. I pray for his sound recovery being the best I can do for him.
He also has the challenge of his political party where so many members are already talking about 2019. How he settles that is another hard nut to be cracked. Hence the ability to reach a consensus that will not lead to split of the mega party to their old fragments is a likely challenge. The ruling party APC is currently faced with some crisis in some states. The most recent being the statement credited to the Honourable Minister of Women Affairs Hajiya Aisha Jummai Alhassan that she will support Atiku Abubakar come 2019 because PMB had earlier said he won’t seek reelection. More over Atiku is her god father!
The resurrection of ethno-religious call for self determination is another serious challenge. Nnamdi Kanu has become famous with his call for a state of Biafra, the threat of no referendum, no election in Anambra, the quit notice by Arewa Youth, and the current unrest in Aba and some parts of Eastern Nigeria. These agitations have been part of our political history. During IBB, we had the National question and the debate over our membership of OIC when IBB stepped aside after the annulment of June 12 elections. The debate keeps reccurring. I urge the agitators to follow the conventional procedures. We have had too much unrest in Nigeria. We should work towards healing the wound not re opening it.
We saw the birth of OPC under the leadership of chief Gani Adam and Dr. Fredrick FaseuN. The gain of that struggle according to some commentators led to emergence of Chief Olusegun Obasanjo as president. We are all living witnesses to the activities of Mujahid Asari Dokubo which gave birth to Dr Goodluck Ebele Jonathan as President from ethnic minority in Nigeria. Today, it is Nnamdi Kanu and the Biafra State agenda. To my mind, it’s all geared towards having a concrete understanding of having an Igbo man as president come 2019 or thereafter. All these noise about ‘restructuring’ or ‘true federalism’ are meant to bring the nation to an agreement that your worry is noted and will surely be considered. Also, the nation is just recoverying from Boko Haram insurgency.
The Fulani herdsmen feud is also a challenge that I most unfortunate, because we have been living over the years withone another, why the feud now?. Is it because we have a Fulani man as a leader? Among the latest of such feud being the Mambila killings at Sardauna local government of Taraba state and Plateau community where scores were killed and other killings in the southern part that made some states to pass Anti-grazing Law to regulate activities of herdsmen in their state
With the arrest of Evans and some kingpins who were alleged to have kidnapped innocent people along Kaduna-Abuja road , and Kaduna, Birnin Gwari road ,you need to give our securitymem more words of encouragements so that we may not have “ political kidnap” come 2019.Also, the gradual return of insurgency in Borno is another issue of great concern
Finally, while I join other Nigerians in praying for your sound recovery, I take the pain to scribble these few notes on the challenges of 2019. I also pray that the synergy between you the Vice President Prof Yemi Osinbanjo to surmount these challenges remain firm so that you will leave Nigeria better with plenty prospects. Amen.
Danlami Alh. Wushishi is a Minna based lawyer, He can be reached at danwushishi@yahoo.com
