Issue-based political campaigns please

SIR: The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Atiku Abubakar during his interview on Arise TV recently, was credited with seemingly repulsive remarks. In an attempt to puncture the chances of Peter Obi, Labour Party’s flagbearer, the former VP boldly said that “about 90 per cent of northerners are not on internet” and therefore do not hear Obi and his Labour Party’s mantra. Had such remarks emanated from a candidate from the southern part of the country, believably, Atiku would be amongst the first to throw arrows in revenge for slighting his region. Ideally, a leader should be worried rather than leverage on the plights of the masses. But could this allegation be true?

Atiku also punctured All Progressives Congress (APC) that its government is characterised by lopsided appointments. I concur that a chief factor that affected the present government is workforce by subjective appointments. Though President Muhammadu Buhari has robust policies, however, he didn’t engage the best hands to translate them to results, instead, mostly politicians after self-interests. In fact, about 70 per cent of the workforce cannot pass a competency test if in the private sector where proficiency is prioritised. How Buhari succumbed to being whitewashed with such a workforce, and still unable to reshuffle after the first term deeply calls for reasons. Truly, this is inconsistent with the bravery, willpower people perceived in Buhari that led to his resounding wins at the polls.

On the alleged oversight, an indictment if affirmative, will go to the Minister of Communication and Digital Economy, Isa Ibrahim Pantami that while the nation is advancing from 3G/4G networks, eagerly waiting for the rollout of 5G network to revolutionise the information and communication technology alongside the economy, a key region in the Nigeria-project with massive population is left behind; yet to embrace the digital world vast opportunities.

Beyond these issues, campaigns must be issue-based, essentially on capacity to rescue the economy from quandary and decay it found itself through quack leadership over the years. All indices glaringly point to danger. Recently, a music artiste, ‘ASA’ surprisingly ‘entertained’ Buhari and his audience during the unveiling of the NNPC Limited at the Presidential Villa with an unexpected hit-song, ‘Fire on the mountain’. The singer consciously used the concert to convey a direct strong message on the state of the nation. An oracle is not needed to buttress the point as the decays, cataclysms are glaring.

Carl Umegboro, ACIArb is a public affairs analyst and social advocate.