Experts interrogate the presidential agenda and chart the way forward

Stakeholders at the 20th edition of the annual Daily Trust dialogue organized by the Media Trust organization in Abuja were unanimous that the 2023 general elections must not only be held, but must be free, fair and credible .

But how to get to the desired destination without shaking the foundations of the fabric of the country remains a matter of debate. Under the theme "Questioning the 2023 presidential agenda", the forum, which brought together participants from the political class, business, the diplomatic community, civil society organizations, as well as the media, evaluated the manifestos of some of the main candidates for the presidency of the February 25 election.

Notable speakers at the forum included the Metropolitan Archbishop of the Catholic Diocese of Abuja, Cardinal John Onaiyekan, and the US Ambassador to Nigeria, Mrs. Marybeth Leonard.

A retired Federal Permanent Secretary and former Chairman of the First Bank of Nigeria, Mrs. Ibukun Awosika; Lecturer at Lagos Business School (LBS), Dr Yetunde Anibaba; member of the Daily Trust editorial board, Professor Jibrin Ibrahim; and a human capacity development expert, Dr. Eugene Enahoro; constituted the panel of speakers for the occasion.

Also present were the traditional leader of Karshi in the FCT, Alhaji Ismaila Mohammed, the former Governors of Niger and Katsina States, respectively Dr Mu'azu Babangida Aliyu and Ibrahim Shehu Shema, as well as former ministers and senior government officials and the Chairman of the New Nigerian Political Party (NNPP), Prof. Ahmed Rufai Alkali, among others.

Daily Trust Chairman Kabiru Yusuf, who set the tone for the discussion, noted that ahead of the election there were restrained voices, flashes of red lights.

According to him, "The government and security agencies must be aware that in hundreds of towns and villages in the northwest and northeast of the country, banditry and kidnappings have made normal life impossible. Whether those facing such existential threats will be able to patiently wait in line to perform their civic duty remains to be seen.

“In the southeast, violent IPOB unrest, primarily directed against police and INEC facilities and personnel, could deter entire communities from voting. This deliberate disenfranchisement will fuel the separatist agenda and become a self-fulfilling prophecy.

“When you add this to political vitriol online and offline; with backstabbing campaigns and dirtier money circulating, it is hard to envisage an uncontested election result. So, indeed, if we the citizens ignore the provocations, Nigeria could be the eventual winner at the polls. Therefore, it is in our collective interest to give this poor but wealthy country another chance to rise from the ashes."

Onayeikan, who chaired the event, questioned whether the 2023 elections would usher in the desired change, lamenting that peoples' expectations in the past of their elected leaders have not been met .

He added, however, that the renewed interest of Nigerians, especially young people in the upcoming elections, was a marked change from the past. Citing figures from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) that there were around 100 million voters so far registered on its voters list, the clergy said: "This is a big change in the citizens and c is an indicator that the people have abandoned their electoral apathy.

"Therefore, let our professional riggers be warned that this time business will not be as usual and this is not a threat, but a loud warning, let him who has ears hear."

The US envoy in her remarks, noted that her country had "full confidence" in INEC to deliver free, fair and credible elections in the country, noting that all commission required was the purchase and cooperation of Nigerians to do the exercise without error.

She said, "We have seen the capabilities of INEC on display in the successful elections in Ekiti and Osun States, as we look forward to this continued success in the national general elections in February and March Our confidence stems from the signing this year by President Buhari and other elected leaders of the Elections Act 2022, the key legislation that has strengthened Nigeria's electoral system.

"For example, the use of the Bimodal Voter Accreditation System (BVAS), for voter accreditation and transmission of results. In all of this, the media has a big role to play in ensuring that Nigerian voters get accurate information and facts before, during and after the elections.”

“Therefore, as we approach election days, we urge the parties to strictly adhere to the peace accord they signed in September last year,” noting that another opportunity would be offered to candidates to sign a new agreement before the main election.

In his words, “The United States stands firm with the demands and desires of Nigerian voters to complete...