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Stop Politics And Work To Find Viable Serious Contenders: (2007 Dream Ticket For Nigeria Buhari/Iweala Alliance By Babandi Gumel Gone were the days when Nigeria was still in the dark being ruled undemocratically by the Military elites. Corruption was the order of the day and no body could dare come out to challenge the status quo you would end up some where in Kiri -kiri the notorious prison and be languishing there without trial for ages. The corruption continued unabated millions were drained and looted out from the treasury and the civilians sitting and folding their arms unable to do anything having no say in the affair as they were under the Military dictatorship. Now is more than seven years since the Military handed over power to the Civilians under the democratic dispensation. So at least we can confidently say democracy however painful it may be is better than the autocratic, despotic Military Rule. It is all our collective responsibility to work together to find suitable person who would steer the Nigerian Ship after the Captain disembarks next year. It is high time we all came together to work out modalities with the intention to rid our Nation with rotten eggs in the name of corrupt leaders. Coming en-masse and working together would ensure and help fulfil our needs in our quest to find serious viable Presidential and gubernatorial contenders who are not corrupt for the benefit of our beloved Country. We must set aside all differences and put our heads together and work for the benefit of our common interest Country so as to ensure the boat it is steered safely and calmly towards the shore. We should avoid all kinds of evil selfishness the old rotten politics of yester years of grabbing the kind which one makes money quickly by working together to find suitable candidates who would move our Country forward at this difficult time where forces of evils are at work to derail us. Forty seven years of Independence is quite sufficient to move us forward if we are really sincere. Unless we don’t want move forward only want maintain the status quo then in that case we would continue in the same vain and not going any where unfortunately. Selfishness and corruption should be rooted out if we want record any serious progress in the Nation building. Therefore tackling the corruption should be our utmost priority so an honest broker that must be an example himself is needed to show good example for all Nigerians to see. Nigerians unfortunately have become so notorious almost blacklisted everywhere due to the 419 Advance Fee corrupt practices being circulated all over the World. These fraudulent activities carried out by some unscrupulous Nigerians who want be rich at any cost has spoiled the names of Nigerians in and abroad. In addition corruption which has virtually become endemic almost turning into virtue in the Society is sadly and subtly being legalised and formalised by the some ambitious leaders who pretend to be virtues yet every fool knows them in black and white. The unfortunate thing nothing serious is being done to tackle this menace which is fast spreading like a wild fire. Even though the EFCC and other organs of the Government concerned with tackling this unfortunate infectious man made disease in our Society is yet to make serious inroads in the Society the evil has unfortunately become part of our daily lives people have resigned and become contented with it. How can we progress while such evils are within our midst unable to do anything to tackle it? Not only that people are unashamed of what they do justifying their practices due to our weaknesses but they also continue with the same evils as if we are not aware of what is going on. How can we entrust them with the trust which those who fear Allah are sceptical of taking (the Amana) that would be a source of regret on the Day of Judgement. If some one is preparing to give account before his Creator he would not dare take this serious Amana in his hands. They say once bitten twice shy our memory is still fresh this is a great venture therefore we must tread carefully before we hand the mantle of leadership to the prospective candidates for next years elections. Everyone knew the direction they took and the ship was sinking so we should not go back to the same deep sea which left us desperate not knowing what to do. Therefore it is time to bury all our differences and work together to find suitable candidates who would contest the Presidency and other important posts including the gubernatorial candidates forgetting any kind of party alienation support or allegiance... We must work together from the grass-root level i.e. those contesting the election right from Local Government level to ensure we make the right choice which should be decided by the electorates whose ballots are crucial for all the prospective candidates. They should choose sincere contestants who would represent them from local level to the Presidency. They have the right to deal a serious blow to all known corrupt officials and other evil minded contenders who only want go there to contest the election for name and fame or to increase their fortune they must be taught a lesson as they are not sincere. So the Local Government Chairmen and his Councillors must be men of proven integrity transparency and incorruptible. Similarly those aiming to represent their constituency at the State level as members of the State Assembly should equally have the same calibre. If these people are sincere they would represent their constituency seriously at the State level as they would always work towards the good and benefit of their people not how to pocket and amass wealth for their own selfish agendas. The members of the Assembly should work together to deal with any corrupt official like what our brothers in Kano State have done getting rid of a State Commissioner who was found to be corrupt. Immediately the Assembly members recommended to the Governor to relieve the said Commissioner from his duty after thorough investigation. This is how each State Assembly should function. Now how about those people who are going represent us at the National Level? Well of course they need to be even more serious transparency wise avoiding any corrupt practices whether they are members of the House of representative or the Senate. Let us remember very well it is these people who are really going decide the fate and future of our Country. Therefore they need to be above board forgetting all political inclination and party loyalty and alliances with the aim to work for the benefit of the whole Country as what they did during the third term debate. In the end the Senators came clean this is how it should be. So equally the choice of the State Chief Executives i.e. the Governors is one of the most crucial things especially where Sharia is implemented. They need to select a Pius, Sincere transparent Chief Executive who would look after the interest of his people and not after his own interest and that of his family .A believer cannot be stung or bitten from the same whole twice. Therefore the people are fully matured enough to differentiate from the serious contenders and those pretending, so is left to the people to make their own choice. Those so called brand of politicians who are daily changing party or criss-crossing from one party to another changing colour like chameleon should not be trusted as they are not true to their promise and not true to the people. They are bunch of opportunists who find themselves in the helm of affairs accidentally this is why they do what they are doing now and they are never principled or consistent. If we find some body consistent with his principle such as Malam Ibrahim Shekarau of Kano then automatically people would be inclined to put their trust in such Chief Executives. I am sure I don’t have to tell the people of Kano to chose Malam if he contests again he would easily be chosen by the people as most people in Kano sincerely like him. Not only the people of Kano but all sincere Muslims and Nigerians for that matter love him for what he does. He practically demonstrated that he is one of the best role models of Sharia and secular democracy in the Country. So anyhow let us not dwell on this point as it is not the purpose of this piece but the main purpose is get breed of politicians who would work for the good of our Country. So finally we come to the Presidential contenders those who want be the President of our Country come 2007 when the Present leader President Obasanjo vacates the Aso Rock in May next year. Whatever you may call it a hypothesis, the dream come true many contenders are interested in the hot seat if they may get it. We all know all those who are aspiring to be the prospective tenants of this coveted Rock. Unfortunately many of them either desire the highest office in the Country only for name and fame only or increase their fortunes for their selfish desires or hidden agendas to continue maintaining the status quo. It is high time the Nigerians woke up from their slumber and make serious choice forgetting any political differences or alliance with the intention to help chose real serious viable contenders who would work for the common interest of the ordinary Nigerians. It is time to forget and bury all political inclinations and put aside our differences and work together for the common interest and progress of our Nation. With this in mind Muhammadu Buhari from the ANPP would be one of the most if not the best suitable candidate and his Vice would be in the form of the present Technocrat the Iron Lady of Nigeria Dr Ngozi Iweala who has been promoted from her position as Finance Minister to her present Position as Foreign Minister. We knew how she worked tirelessly to rescheduled our debts .Therefore in appreciation for what She has done to our Nation they should be put forward together with Buhari as his Vice President which I believe they would able to win the minds and the hearts of Nigerians for what they have done in the past. So next year all Nigerians should come together to elect these two people as President and Vice President respectively and Cabinet should consist of men of integrity such as the no non-sense Ribadu of EFCC who should continue with his anti-corruption drive. Malam El Rufai the Federal Capital Minister and many more others who are sincere such as Gani Fawehimi the human right crusader to be the Attorney General should all be included in the new Nigeria. We should all work together for the benefit of ordinary Nigerians by forgetting our political differences and work for the common good of all Nigerians in the interest of justice and fair play. We are not campaigning for Buhari and Ngozi but the two needs to be given the chance to prove their worth. All hands are on deck to move forward successfully therefore cooperation of every one including the present occupier of the Aso Rock is needed. As earlier mentioned we must forget our political differences with the intention to help build a prosperous virile nation for the future advancement of Nigeria and Africa in general. We should cooperate in righteousness and piety and not cooperate in sinning and causing division as commanded. So if there is a will they say there is always a way the way forward is to put into practice what has been suggested if we sincerely want see definite progress in our Country which has been blessed with so many natural resources. They only needed to be utilised in the proper manner so we need the people who can do it. This is why this hypothesis or true dream needed to be tested come May 2007. Give them the chance they may do wonder for our Country. May Allah help us build a better future prosperous Nation devoid corruption and other evil malpractices prevalent in the Society Therefore the only way forward for our Nation is for the people to unite and choose sincere, honest and transparent leaders who would look after their welfare and the welfare of the people and not his own welfare or that of his acquaintances. So now it is left to the people to search for those kinds of politicians who would put into practice what they say. It is the voters that would slap the politicians don’t let the politicians slap you many times on the face. The Nation is in dire need of serious viable prospective candidates who would work for our common interest so let us give them the chance as they say opportunity once lost can never be regained as the ball is rolling in our hands and is up to us to move forward to make a difference. May Allah help us Amen. . Wa Akhiri Daawana Anil Hamdu Lillahi Rabbil Alameen.
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