Issues before the 2019 election gladiators and pretenders

As the intrigues around the elections continue to unravel, many different reasons are being adduced for why a change of the incumbent change-government is necessary, but I haven’t heard any meaningful message that resonates with me. There is a lot of noise from the old brigade and the usual suspects about the failings of the current administration, and why a change in leadership is necessary, but in a decent clime, most of those rabble rousers should not even be in a position to raise any dust as they would be in jail for their own contributions to Nigeria’s failed system.
There is also the clamour by the younger generation on why a change in baton is necessary, but what I haven’t seen is that compelling argument on why we should vote for any of the younger aspirants. Although I do not support old, wheelchair bound presidents, but if age was the most significant factor, then the Democratic Republic of the Congo, with all its resources and a 47 year old president that has been in power for 17 years would be the beacon of development in Africa. The younger aspirants haven’t demonstrated that they are any different from the old brigade, with their campaign manifestos also heavy on what they would do, but very light on how they would go about them as well as a realistic way of funding the promises.
There are a number of pressing issues any serious contender will address. First on my list is the security of life and property, as that is a constitutional right of every citizen. We need to see a demonstration of the understanding of the complex security issues in Nigeria, along with pragmatic solutions. Have we nipped the Boko Haram insurgency menace in the bud or have they metamorphosed into the so called herdsmen carrying out unprovoked attacks across the length and breadth of the country? Are we to expect more brazen robbery attacks like the one that happened in Offa, Kwara State, where a police station was sacked and banks raided unhindered? Should we create a colony for kidnappers so that they can legitimately continue to terrorize the citizens? Will 80% of the ineffective police force with staff strength of about 371,800 continue to guard the ‘important dignitaries’ while the remaining 20% protect 180 million citizens?
The next on my list is health as many of us cannot afford the luxury of foreign hospitals that will extend our life expectancy beyond the dire 54 years that the average Nigerian is sentenced to. How do we turn our public hospitals into lifesaving centers that the president and his offspring will be confident enough to patronize whether for treatment of ear infection or management of motorbike accident injuries? Is there a solution to the perennial industrial action by our physicians due to dangerous work conditions while some of their mates in another country are protesting against increase in salary? How do we ensure decent universal basic healthcare for every Nigerian citizen?
Another area that would be interesting for our aspirants to address is the human capital deficiency in Nigeria. Will we ever find a solution? Or because there are no quick wins in education, we will continue to neglect this all important factor of production? Does any of the aspirants actually understand the role of human capital in economic development? Are we going to continue to prioritize quantity of schools and graduates over quality and skills? Do we actually have educational systems and structures that address human capital needs of Nigeria?
Any aspirant that has no clue on the above enumerated fundamental issues will certainly have no idea on how to build institutions and run a vibrant economy. It is only when we find solutions to those aforementioned that we would have laid the foundation for an inclusive growth and a responsible and responsive government.

 
Olugbenga A. Olufeagba