Opinion
By Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr.
IT was a very interesting week of campaigns, the issues remain fiercely predicated on the economic policies of the present watch and the impact of the REFORMS on the masses. The candidates also raised issues about the optics and the propriety of the President, the Vice President and the Senate President being outside the Country at the same time for one reason or the other. Questions about how seriously the Presidency under the APC considers Governance were rife and alive. The Nigerian Leader is holidaying in France whereas the French Leader who had received him a few days earlier was airborne to New York for the United Nations General Assembly. BUT to the President and his minders, nothing spoil…
The debate on FUEL SUBSIDY TO BE OR NOT TO BE continues to headline the fireworks. The position of the ADC Presidential Candidate Citizen Atiku Abubakar on this debate is lucid, he actually threw up the debate. That of Citizen Adewole Adebayo of the SDP is known. That of Citizen Peter Agada of the YPP is known. And that of Citizen Omoyele Sowore of the AAC is also known. What is curious is that of Citizen Peter Gregory Obi whose position on subsidy appears somewhat different from that of his running mate Alhaji Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso, whereas Peter Obi argues that subsidy should remain gone, Kwankwaso says that a well guided subsidy regime should be re-introduced. I have argued in this series that Citizen Peter Gregory Obi must understand that 2027 is not 2023, and that he must hasten to perfect the ideological thrust and trust of his campaign. I hope he takes this bold advice in good faith.
While the President and the Vice President are away, the APC Presidential Campaign Team has proceeded under the watch of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation Senator George Akume, and the Chairman of the APC to consult with Traditional Leaders and Regional Stakeholders regarding supporting and voting the Party in the forthcoming General Elections. The ADC is reaching out to the people and exploring ways of perfecting the coalition of the opposition. The SDP is courting the progressive left and talking with clearheaded ideologues about the way forward for the Candidate, the Party and the nation. Whilst the NDC and the OK Movement are bickering over the names in a certain Campaign Council, yet again I think that the NDC, its leader Senator Seriake Dickson, the Candidate Peter Gregory Obi and his Vice Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso must quickly rise above banal internal conflicts to the serious issues that agitate the electorate. We want to score all the Candidates on issues NOT on noise, sound and fury. We have got no place for the ‘tales of an idiot…’ We want to debate and discuss issues, ideas and policies. And such is the basic minimum.
DOWNSIDES: As the campaign continues, we must call out those who are determined to undermine the civility and the sanctity of the civil space…
1. Those stoking violence and threats in Delta, Edo and Kaduna States MUST Stop. And across the States of the Federation, Governors and Law Enforcement Agencies must commit to ensuring and guaranteeing the freedoms that nurture democracy. The freedom of Assembly, the freedom to hold and to peacefully desiminate information as guaranteed by the Constitution MUST BE protected and defended.
2. The brickbats and tug-of-war between the APC Governors and the FCT Minister Nyesom Wike must not be allowed to degenerate to any form of crisis and or violence in States like Imo, Kwara, Rivers, and in the FCT.
3. The CBN through its Governor MUST stay off Partisan Politics and concern itself with the Fiscal and Economic Policies of Government.
4. Spokespersons of Mr President should stop telling stories that give the impression of a conquered people and a subdued nation… The President is the number one Public Servant and not an overlord or a Czar. The office of the Nigerian Citizen is the highest office in the land, therefore Nigerians have the right to ask questions and demand answers.
5. The government must hasten to give her REFORMS a human face, as the present cost of fuel pump price is deepening the frontiers of multi-dimensional poverty.
Going forward this series shall proceed to address the particular candidates and their policies/ Manifestos (KNOWING THE INDIVIDUAL CANDIDATES AND THEIR MANIFESTOS), therefore Candidates who have not forwarded their Manifesto and Policy Programmatic are encouraged to do so through our WhatsApp number 08111112719. Or email address [email protected].
Our unalterable commitment is to nation, and our creed is COUNTRYFIRST.
Week Six Loading…
God Bless Nigeria.
Chris Mustapha Nwaokobia Jnr.
Convener COUNTRYFIRST MOVEMENT. A Good Governance Advocacy Group.
A.I
Sept. 24, 2026
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