President Yar’adua and 2011

As we approach 2011 general elections, with or without calls for President Umaru Musa Yar’adua to seek for a second term, he will naturally wish to have it. The political history of Nigerian and African leaders, with very few exceptions having opportunities to seek for other terms look the other way. In the First Republic , Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa sought for re-election. Former President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic also sought and contested for second term. In the present dispensation, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, after having his second term, also attempted to have an extra term called third term which he failed.


Constitutionally, President Yar’adua is entitled to seek for another term, but there are two reasons that Nigerians are skeptical about if he decides to seek for a second term. Firstly, what are his achievements in the nearly two years as Nigeria ’s President? Secondly, will he be able to conduct free and fair elections that will be acceptable to most Nigerians?


With the dust of 2007 elections yet to finally settle, will the present administration of President Yar’adua conduct an election different from how it was conducted in 2003 and 2007 elections? Will Nigerians say bye-bye to ballot box stealing and stuffing? Will the votes cast by Nigerians be really counted? And will we really have democratically elected leaders without the courts deciding their legitimacy all in 2011?


The controversy about 2011 has started in earnest courtesy of Justice Mohammed Uwais’ Electoral Reform Committee recommendations, which President Yar’adua still insist on nominating the Head of INEC contrary to the recommendation of Uwais committee. If the President does not have any personal intrest in the 2011 elections, why is he insisting to nominate the INEC Chairman instead of the National Judicial Council as recommended by the Uwais committee?


Can Nigerians trust President Yar’adua to conduct free and fair elections in 2011 if he eventually decides to contest? The study of Yar’adua’s antecedents as former governor of Katsina state during his tenure on how he conducted Local government elections and the roles he played during the 2003 and 2007 elections will help Nigerians to know what to expect during the 2011 elections.


Even the re-elections in states like Kogi, Bayelsa, Adamawa, Sokoto, Cross River e.t.c, can also assist Nigerians to have a close study of what to expect during the 2011 elections. After such elections with the opposition crying foul conduct, what was the reaction of President Yar’adua? And after the declaration of Prince Vincent Ogulafor that the PDP will continue ruling for 60 years and Governor Sule Lamido’s statement that PDP will rule forever, what were the reactions of President Yar’adua on such undemocratic statements?


President Umaru Yar’adua should also inform Nigerians his views on the proposal sent by the PDP governors to the party’s National Working Committee asking for automatic tickets to contest the 2011 elections-the PDP change of tactics notwithstanding- And if the proposal is expanded to include him, will he accept automatic ticket to contest for 2011 elections if he decides to contest? And as a PDP leader, what are his inputs in strengthening internal democracy of the party?


And if President Yar’adua finally decides to contest for 2011 elections, what are his achievements in office for the past nearly two years in the saddle of Nigeria ’s leadership? Among his promises to Nigerians are the implementation of a 7- Point Agenda and Nigeria ’s 2020 target of becoming one of the strongest economics in the world.


On the 7-Point Agenda, how far has Yar’adua’s government gone in implementing it? As the extent so far implemented can determine the success of fulfilling what remains before the end of his first term.


And the success in the implementation of his 7 – Point Agenda can determine if really the Yar’adua government is on track in its promise of making Nigeria among the strongest economies in the world in the next 11 years to come. Presently, according to the Federal government accepted World Bank figure, 40 million Nigerians are unemployed. And with about 70 percent of Nigeria ’s population living below the poverty line. With such statistics on ground, and the government not doing anything visible to tackle the problem, how on earth can Nigeria , with the present leaders not willing to listen to other Nigerians, be able to work toward making Nigeria among the strongest economies in the year 2020?

Instead of Yar’adua’s government to find ways of becoming successful in achieving its 7-Point Agenda, it has now become busy in finding ways that it will inflict more hardship, misery, suffering and hopelessness on Nigerians through the removal of all subsidies the Nigerian populace is enjoying. They may argue that the government needs more money and even the subsidies are not reaching those meant for, but when the Yar’adua government was getting a lot of money due to the rise in cost of petroleum products in the international market, was there any attempt to make the Nigerian people enjoy the increase? The only sets of Nigerians that can testify to the oil boom are the politicians holding public offices.


Nigeria and Nigerians should be saved from international embarrassment in 2011 elections. The ungodly and unholy activities of politicians during the 2003 and 2007 elections should not be repeated in 2011. And for Nigerians to have free and fair elections in 2011 , the agitation should start in earnest collectively by all Nigerians , irrespective of tribe, region or religion for us to truly have the leaders we elected to lead and represent us.


It is only when we have free and fair elections in Nigeria that we can start to boast of having true democratic government wherein those in the helm of affairs will feel responsible to their electorates. And even before the proper elections, party primary elections should also be free and fair. Imposition of candidates on party level weakens supporters and paves the way for election rigging. The 2007 elections were the worse ever as all political parties deliberately imposed unpopular candidates or those that did not win party primaries.


Whether President Yar’adua will contest or not in 2011 elections , the Nigerian people should assist him in seeing that Nigeria, like other countries which have developed , have free and fair elections in 2011. Democracy should be in full action by giving the Yar’adua’s government a very close marking in strengthening its hands to give Nigerians the leaders and representatives they truly elected.


President Umaru Musa Yar’adua has the great and golden opportunity in Re-Branding Nigeria and himself to the whole world as truly a nation of Good People, Great Nation with him as a great leader, if he could conduct a free and free elections that the opposition, local and international observers will testify that it is a really free and fair election.


Shehu Mustapha Chaji

shehuchaji@yahoo.com