Nigeria Content Online

Last week, Nigeria
had its first presidential debate for the 2011 elections – and three of
those who seek to lead it, stood to answer questions sourced from
members of the public across board.

Nigerians – of all
stripes and across demographics – gathered around TV sets across the
country in volumes only seen during perhaps the World Cup and foreign
football leagues, as citizens proved their engagement with this
election cycle. It was the strongest sign yet that this will be an
election like no other.

Citizens might not
be enthused with the political landscape, the candidate options and the
lack of preparedness on the part of our election’s custodians, but they
seem to have accepted the reality that it is better to participate than
to leave participation to those focused on narrow interests.

Ibrahim Shekarau,
Nuhu Ribadu and Muhammadu Buhari dealt with questions about corruption
to accounts of stewardship, power reform, political association,
education and a whole range of issues affecting the Nigerian people.

There is a lot
that will be or has been said of the performance of individual
candidates; however, one thing is clear – the three options for
president are serious-minded aspirants who, at the minimum, seem to
have a genuine engagement with the issues at the hearts of ordinary
Nigerians. Unforgettable for instance, was the performance of the
governor of Kano State, a man hitherto unknown by Nigerians outside his
direct sphere of influence and associated with a political platform
that has been besotted by one crisis after another – but Mr. Shekarau
disproved bookmakers and proved himself at least intellectually and
eloquently capable of fine insight into many of the problems that a
president of this country will need to solve.

While the debate
was largely amiable, the saccharine air of conviviality that coloured
the vice-presidential version was thankfully absent, lending the
atmosphere to an intellectually charged affair where candidates were
able to clearly draw contrasts with their opponents. It will be
difficult to forget Mr. Ribadu’s broadside reminding Nigerians that he
has been in active service for the past 25 years while at least one of
his opponents has been in retirement for the same period, or Mr.
Shekarau’s well-received assertion that bodies like the Economic and
Financial Crimes Commission and the Independent Corrupt Practices
Commission are nothing but “glorified police stations”.

The questions were
direct and engaged, and the candidates didn’t flinch. While the
continued absence of Goodluck Jonathan from well-done debate platforms
like this not arranged on his own terms are deplorable, this debate
made it clear to Nigerians that we are, at the very least, spoilt for
choice. Indeed, the president’s presence or absence was irrelevant in
the final analysis. If anything, Mr. Jonathan sidelined himself from
serious-minded consideration by choosing an interview with a musician
best known for lyrics about the female anatomy, to bouncing off ideas
with his contemporaries in this election.

In fact, with his
absence, what became clear is that Nigerians do have options to the
incumbent. The debate was a study in candidates whose strengths are
diverse and whose plans are distinct.

We are proud of
the moderator, Kadaria Ahmed, who shone forth with the fearless,
authoritative and independent journalism that has been our watchword at
NEXT.

In a nation that
desperately needs to build strong democratic institutions – a
functioning legislature, a disciplined executive, a vibrant,
progressive judiciary and an independent press – last Friday was a
giant step in the right direction.

Of course the
choices we will make in this election must go beyond the outcome of one
debate – Nigerians must go beyond Mr. Buhari’s admirable calm, Mr.
Ribadu’s visible passion and Mr. Shekarau’s obvious knowledge, and
examine thoroughly the history, track records, manifestos and
interactions of these candidates. The work of rescuing Nigeria
continues.