#HASHTAG: For whom shall I vote?
It is not a
peculiar conundrum – many of my friends and associates are, like me,
yet undecided. To be sure, this pondering is the exclusive preserve of
a band of us who take ourselves way too seriously. Most of the voting
population has made up its mind. Still, my one vote, that one decision,
I insist on prizing highly.
We have a decidedly
uninspired (not necessary uninspiring) field of candidates. Yes, people
are passionate about many of them – but ask for the specifics and you
are likely, like I have found, to draw a blank.
Let’s take the
putative social media favourite – Buhari-Bakare – for instance. Sadly,
I find their campaign standoffish and self-involved. I find that the
two flagbearers make statements that don’t quite pan out with their
reality. I also find it difficult to live with their inability – or
unwillingness – to engage a wider field of interest groups and to
engage the media on anything but their terms. However, a mentor
recently made an eminently fine case for that ticket – it is the one
ticket not beholden to any narrow or special interest. It is the one
most uncomfortable with establishment, does not benefit from it, and is
angry enough to actually restructure our politics so that it begins to
benefit the people. Thus, tomorrow, I might hold my nose and jump on
that radical train.
Then there is the
president, Goodluck Jonathan – whom I had seriously considered voting
for as early as October last year. He has opened up several democratic
spaces in a way that has never been done before – opening up lines to
civil society, youth, entertainment and the arts in a way that no other
government has found important. He has actually brought government
closer to the people without a fear of demystification. I find that
thoroughly exciting. I am also privileged to have interviewed him
recently, and I came off thoroughly impressed with him as a person: he
revealed, in our off-record conversation, a man I would be comfortable
with as a leader. Unfortunately, too many of his actions, from his
refusal to attend the debates to the failure of any considerable power
reform, have created too many doubts in my mind.
In addition, there
is the matter of the PDP. Like I asked him, it does appear that his
party is wired against change. I am as interested in who will be
president as I am in the people around him. And I haven’t seen any
willingness yet to rein those elements in. It worries me, and I will
sleep tonight with that worry.
Three weeks ago,
after his performance at the debates, Ibrahim Shekarau became my
option, in principle. All I had left to convince me was to ask my
friends who know Kano, the state he currently governs. The verdict is
not good at all. The words don’t match the actions. Very sad. Very,
very sad.
On Nuhu Ribadu, one
line will suffice. I have listened to his interviews, his debates, and
his other public statements – and I look forward to seeing Fola Adeola
at the top of the ticket come 2015.
No candidate, of
course, can be perfect. I know that, trust me. But of the four major
candidates (going by polls and news commentary) the imperfections
threaten to swallow their essence.
What is a young man to do come Saturday? I just might vote for Pat
Utomi. He might have willingly taken himself out of the running, but
perhaps I want to be able to sleep with the satisfaction of knowing
that, strong candidate or not, I made the vote for the hand that I
truly, honestly believe is the most capable of understanding the
challenges of our complex nation, and following through with
prescriptions that will set it aright. I still have 24 hours to decide.
So, I suspect, do you.
