2015 ELECTIONS: A LITMUS TEST
Few days to the much anticipated February elections in Nigeria, there have been visible evidence of high wired political campaigns at the levels of major powerful political blocs by the different aspirants to the diverse positions that would be up for grabs and especially the office of president.
The position of the President of Nigeria comes with a lot of responsibilities and considerable global wide influences given the strategic importance of Nigeria in Africa and the world at large. Nigeria has often been regarded as the giant of Africa and in most recent times, the biggest economy in Africa. Nigeria is a natural leader; going by our population, diversity, the size of our economy, the resourcefulness of our people and our level of developments. Therefore, Nigeria occupies a strategic position in the development of the African region and the position of President, to a large extent, is a major platform for such a holder to wield a lot of influence and privileges in the International Community.
No doubt, the current presidential electioneering campaigns have witnessed lots of upheavals between the two leading political parties in the race for the presidency; but there is no gainsaying the fact that the Presidential candidate of the People's Democratic Party; Dr. Goodluck Ebele Jonathan is riding on the crest of the desire of Nigerians for continuity. This is due to his issue-based campaign rallies, which is premised on the giant strides and developmental progress the country has witnessed within his first tenure in office as president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
More to the point, the Deputy Chairman, Finance Committee of the Presidential Campaign Organization, Dr. Ngozi Olejeme, has urged Nigerians to vote for Jonathan, saying that a vote for PDP in the February 14, 2015 presidential election is a vote for a continued economic growth, development and unity.
Olejeme made this call recently when she received prominent political leaders from Delta State in Abuja. “Dr Goodluck Jonathan is a good listener and knows his task of governing the country. He is the only presidential candidate that can lead Nigeria to greater heights. He will make Nigeria a better place and a global economic power”' she said.
Olejeme assured Nigerians that Jonathan will stick to the policy of transparency and accountability. “President Jonathan will accelerate economic transformation in his second term through investment in critical infrastructure projects so as to drive economic growth. He will pay special attention to education and health. He will focus on building strong economy. He will take communication, transport, electric power provision, security and portable water supply to the highest level. He will create jobs. He will ensure that resources are equitably distributed and an enabling and conducive business environment provided. He will continue to work on good governance, which is an essential part of economic growth and development. He will continue to champion economic diplomacy, promote the growth of local business”.
Beyond this, any true Nigerian would want the Nigeria's democracy project to succeed; of all the elements of success, continuity and sustainability are the most fundamental. At the moment, so many comments are ongoing as to how the February elections will be, but one thing remains an article of faith; February 14 is a litmus test for a continued economic growth, development and unity.