I recently came across a statement attributed to former Governor Peter Ayodele Fayose, advising Alhaji Atiku Abubakar to refrain from contesting the presidential election in Nigeria again. This raises some important questions that deserve our attention.
First, who exactly are the younger candidates he envisions for the 2027 elections? Is he suggesting figures like Minister Nyesom Wike or President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, whom they seem to support while still in the PDP? It strikes me as fundamentally undemocratic to suggest that anyone should be barred from running for office. If Atiku decides to contest and some individuals disagree with him, they are entitled to voice their opposition, but attempting to disqualify him through insinuation is simply not acceptable.
Age alone should not disqualify a leader’s vision or mission in politics. After all, who could have predicted that President Joe Biden would emerge on the global stage after Barack Obama? Or that Donald Trump would run against a younger and highly capable Kamala Harris today?
Let’s take a closer look at the impact of the younger generation in Nigerian politics, particularly those from Fayose’s era. What have we seen? A landscape marked by calamity, chaos, and unprecedented corruption. How many from that generation have transitioned into meaningful business ventures since leaving office, rather than continuing to exist off the nation’s resources?
It’s crucial to acknowledge that Atiku Abubakar has consistently demonstrated the qualities of a true democrat. He does not exert a tyrannical grip over any state in Nigeria and has never resorted to thuggery or manipulation of the electoral process. If he is blessed with good health, what is stopping him from running?
Furthermore, why didn’t the proponents of younger candidates rally behind figures like Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Bukola Saraki, Chibuike Amaechi, Omoyele Sowore, Aminu Waziri Tambuwal, Donald Duke, Kayode Fayemi, Nasir El-Rufai, Peter Obi, Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, and others? Instead, they actively worked to install President Bola Ahmed Tinubu!
Is Fayose suggesting that members of his faction will soon come forward to advise Tinubu against seeking re-election in 2027? This raises a broader question about the integrity and consistency of their political stance.
In conclusion, let us embrace a more democratic and open political discourse, where every candidate, regardless of age, is free to contest and contribute to our nation’s future.