OPINION: Nigeria Does Not Deserve President Fayose, By Elvis Ezeani

In a Nigeria that's in dire need of economic restructuring & recovery, a certain Ayo Fayose, currently governor of an economically not viable Ekiti State is gunning for the Presidency on the narrative of STRENGTH & RUGGEDITY.

According to the candidate, He has an impressive history of defeating incumbents - not revamping industries, not prompt payment of wages, not developing an industrial plan, not attracting FDI, not boosting healthcare, not economic diversification, not driving ICT development, not increasing foreign trade & investments as a catalyst for growth and development, not sustaining education, not rasing IGR via non oil sources.

In His opinion, the most essential attributes a Nigerian presidential material requires are not competence, skills, composure, capacity, integrity and leadership acumen but ability to go for the jugular at any point in time, within short notice and display an entertaining form of bravery. ‎
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He further wants to fly the flag of the PDP come 2019 because He is the most vocal member of the party - not it's most eloquent like Sen. Dr. Ikeoha Ekweremadu, not it's suave and most tactful like Obong Donald Duke, not it's most knowledge or technology inclined like Sen. Dr. Enyinnaya Harcourt Abaribe, not it's most diplomatic like Alhaji Dr. Sule Lamido, not it's idealistic like Wazirin Atiku Abubakar, not it's most data and figure sensitive like Dr. Peter Gregory Obi or even it's most morally intact like Ambassador Christopher Kolade or Frank Nweke Jnr.
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‎The Jonathan's presidency with all its flaws, weaknesses, failures, inadequacies, poor management of security issues, improper handling of corruption gave a certain rudderless Muhammadu Buhari impetus to take a shot at the Presidency. The consequence of this development is staring Nigerians in the face in form of hunger, high level of crime, insecurity, unemployment and little or no development. ‎

The current Buhari's presidency with all its mistakes, divisive method of leadership, poor handling of rising calls for self determination, selective war against corruption, lopsided appointments and payment of lip service to the development of the most critical sectors of the Nigerian economy is tacitly giving Ayo Fayose impetus to want to be be President.

As Nigerians, we owe ourselves and Nigeria a patriotic duty to confront this old order and demand from these unusual aspirants precise answers to the most important questions that affect us as a people. We cannot continue to rally round people who in an ideal setting are often kept as far away as possible from leadership.

Our biggest challenge as a country isn't the absence of a vibrant opposition because every one with access to social media is an opposition leader of some sorts. Our most pressing needs aren't electricity, roads, water, education, security or other basic infrastructure because, already, we provide these and even more for ourselves.

What then is our most pressing challenge?
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ABSENCE OF PLANNING! ‎

‎Just recently, it was disclosed that counting from 2018, in another 20 years, automobiles powered by gasoline and premium motor spirit will stop being manufactured.
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Before this time, more cheaper and cleaner sources of power, energy and fuels have been identified to include solar, hydro, shale, wind and bio gas.‎

‎For a mono economy as Nigeria, there's no second way to say that doomsday is approaching. There's no other way to suggest that the mother of all economic recession is imminent. This is simply not because the facts are lost on us but mainly because we are a people substantially given to trivial matters over the core issues that determine our economic viability.

Before this development in the energy sector, the ICT‎ sector which relieve heavily in the Nigerian Financial system for capital came under organized siege. In less than 3 years, nearly N600B of investors, depositors and shareholders cash was systematically removed from the system through a consortium of 5 banks which funded an aspect of the expansion drive if the now rested Emerging Markets Telecommunications Services Limited - Etisalat.
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‎In the middle of these negative progression are a huge population of indifferent youth and maybe women who appear to enjoy more of noise than substance - some even argue that government's decision to provide FOREX to pilgrims at $200 to N1 is ideal while businesses and industries crumble due to lack of access to same.
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This is suffice to say that we have more of rudderless leaders whose continuous insolence is fueled by our absurd indifference as a people. Can we really be rational voters for once?‎

2019 is fast approaching. Again, Nigerians will be offered a chance to select men and women who will on behalf of the state steer it's affair for a first 4 years. I desire to be part of a Nigeria that will get it right just as I yearn for my fellow citizens to get it right also.

While I earnestly look forward to a voting population voting along the lines of conviction, competence, skills, know how, capacity and other germane attributes which make an ideal leader, it is pertinent to clearly disclose that such attributes must at no time include personal strength and ruggedity as Mr. Fayose puts it.‎‎