The impending 2023 elections is a pivotal one for the future of Nigeria and with the electioneering campaign officially on, Dr. SKC Ogbonnia, a former presidential aspirant of the All Progressive Congress (APC) appealed to President Buhari to overtly support Mr. Peter Obi, the presidential candidate of the Labour Party. In an open letter, Ogbonnia states there are numerous reasons for Buhari to back Obi as his presidential successor. What stands out is their shared prudence and suspected anti-corruption similarities which was a core factor for Buhari’s election in 2015. He added integrity, young age, good health and young vision as other reasons for the president to endorse Labour Party’s Peter Obi.
It was suggested that although the Buhari administration had failed in its attempts at curbing corruption in the country’s sociopolitical system, the president could still back Obi to be the next president instead of Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar, the presidential representatives of APC and PDP respectively. He referenced Buhari’s 2015 movement for change which improved the country’s democracy. To witness the opposition take power centrally for the first time in over 16 years should also encourage his decision to support the Labour Party’s presidential representative. Ogbonnia, suggesting the need to prioritize Obi’s candidacy, further emphasized that the Buhari administration has demonstrated how old age or ill health can affect effective performance in leadership and be a disservice to the country’s status quo.
Tinubu’s nomination, a result of suspected corrupt practices.
On the health issue, the former APC presidential aspirant stated that the country could not afford being run by consecutive presidents with health predicaments, as Bola Tinubu, who should be a stabilizing force, also suffers from a health predicament, domiciling in numerous hospitals abroad over the past years. Ogbonnia said that the recent public outings by the APC presidential candidate does indicate how physically and mentally unfit he is to run the country. He criticized the party as being suspected of corruption.
Heavily criticizing the party’s decision to nominate Tinubu as the party’s presidential candidate for the 2023 general election, Ogbonnia said that this was in spite of corrupt practices under the Buhari administration. He described the APC candidate as an old man with frailties and poor health. He however noted that this was in no way degrading Tinubu’s efforts at helping the country sustain a democratic system.
Obi’s frugality for managing resources without corruption praised.
Having studied the political leadership of advanced democracy, he better understood the difference between the qualities of a political strategist and that of a worthy president. He again claimed that the 2023 election would pose as a legitimate opportunity for President Buhari to save his legacy and help the country from a total collapse.
While the presidential election is predicted to be a tight race between the three power houses — Peter Obi, Bola Tinubu and Atiku Abubakar. He also praised Obi’s attributional frugality for resource management with a zero corruption record. He called for President Buhari to support Peter Obi, as they share a common goal of curbing corruption in the country with a clear vision for improving the wellbeing of every individual in the country.
2023 election – progressiveness and anti-corruption.
Ogbonnia disclosed his understanding for the optics of supporting the candidate of an opposition party. However, he noted that the country’s all round development must be the priority over any political party, tribe or religion, urging the President to emulate the likes of Olusegun Obasanjo, former President of Nigeria. He beseeched President Buhari to stand with the right side of history by recognizing that the 2023 election was between the country’s progressiveness and the fight against anti-corruption and doing what is right.
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