Election 2019: Failure Does Not Deserve Continuity By Ogundana Michael Rotimi

“This is not a time for continuity. Failure does not deserve continuity. Incompetence does not deserve continuity.”- General Muhammadu Buhari

On the buildup of the 2015 election, I and few friends gathered those- about 30 of us, in the administrative block of my office together, and conducted a mini-poll, on whether they would vote for the then president- Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, popularly known as GEJ, or against him. The outcome of the poll was absolutely against GEJ. I was not surprised about the outcome of the 2015 presidential election afterwards. Now, as the polity of the 2019 election heats up, Just last week again, we repeated the same thing- this time for President Muhammadu Buhari, and even extended the participants to those outside the administrative block, the outcome was against President Buhari`s re-election. If President Buhari`s name appears on the ballot paper come 2019, I won't be surprised about the outcome of the election.

The logic behind this is simple: the perception of people within your immediate environment on a particular issue within a given period- especially when the sample of people involved is reasonably diverse, tells you about the perception of the larger society on the same issue within that period.

Everywhere I go I sample people's perception of this government and their intention to either retain it or boot it outcome 2019. I must say that to a larger extent that the perception has largely been on the negative.

To be very honest, Nigerians are increasingly becoming more politically conscious and more interested in what becomes of their society especially the political landscape than ever before. The growing political consciousness is obvious, and the increasing intolerance to government excuses and failures is more re-sounding than previous years. This perhaps is the hope to cling to as we go to the polls come 2019- the confidence that Nigerians would do the needful and vote out failure, and such leadership that cannot be trusted to keep its words and ready to be responsible.

The incumbent political party- All Progressives Congress (APC)- led government promised heaven and earth and sounded like a serious option while as an opposition party before 2015, only to get the people's mandate then turn around to deny their manifestoes and promises. It is arguably that there has not been any government that enjoyed such level of goodwill that this government enjoyed when it newly came to power in 2015. The goodwill was large enough that it increased the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit- PMS, popularly known as petrol, from N86.50K  to N145 per litre with almost near to zero resistance from the people, and still turns around to claim payment of subsidy after such huge increment. 

Also, President Buhari and the APC- led government enjoy a huge goodwill that kept the president intact even when he had for about 6 months presided with no cabinet in place. Needless to mention, that he also enjoined a massive support from the people when he was hospitalized outside the country while he had no trust in the healthcare system that he is responsible to fix.

Nigerians gave all they had to see this government work but it was obvious the government was not ready for leadership when it came on board, embarrassing enough was the fact that the president had contested three previous times earlier before he won on his 4th attempt. One would have expected and believed that he would have prepared himself for the enormous task ahead, but his actions and in-actions suggest otherwise.

Come February 2019, it is incumbent on Nigerians to do needful- vote out incompetence, insensitivity and failure. A fraudulently behaved government should not be given the privilege to enjoy a second term. A second term for an incumbent should be driven by performance and not be sentiments or emotions.

As it stands today, president Buhari and the APC- led government have not shown enough seriousness, neither have they been limitedly responsible enough to deserve another term. They have repeatedly denied their promises and manifestoes- toned it down to the economy, security and fight against corruption, yet have still been found grossly wanting in these areas,

The President Buhari and APC- led government incompetence and unlimited excuses should by merit get him out of the Rock and send him back to his farm in Daura because failure does not deserve continuity. Incompetence does not deserve continuity.

In the words of General Muhammadu Buhari at the APC national convention in 2014, I quote:

“The time for hope, the time for belief, is now. You cannot trust the corrupt to end corruption. You cannot trust the selfish and self-interested to rule in the best interests of the people. You cannot trust those who believe hope is a tool of government rather than a human right to plant the seed of belief. Let’s be clear. This is not a time for continuity. Failure does not deserve continuity. Incompetence does not deserve continuity.”

God Bless Nigeria.

Ogundana Michael Rotimi, Socio-economic, & Political Commentator. He tweets @MickeySunny