Ahead of the 2023 presidential elections, Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, National Director of Publicity and Advocacy of the Northern Elders Forum (NEF) has shared his on the kind of candidate Nigeria needs.
Speaking during an interview with The Punch on his hopes for the 2023 elections, Hakeem said, “I hope Nigerians do not just get the chance to rally around, but also to interrogate these people. I hope we will be able to choose the best, not because they share our faith or because they share our region. I hope that we will learn our lessons when we look at the last 10 or 12 years. We don’t need sentiments about religion and ethnicity.
“The NEF has collaborated with other pressure groups to have interactive sessions with all the presidential front liners to evaluate them and acquaint them with the issues that are central to the North. We will ask them for commitments and to undertake that they will lead the country with honesty and goodness, and that they will keep their eyes on the economy and the fight against corruption and insecurity.
“That is what we intend to do. It is going to be a very serious conference, and we have extended invitations to all the aspirants in that regard. They will come in person with their running mates. We will spend a few hours with them. We have incredible and respected Nigerians who will come there and interrogate them. Hopefully, something positive will come out of this.
“We will have a very close interaction with these candidates; so, it gives us a good understanding of who they are and what they will do with the power if voted in. They must be able to give us the future. What do they want to do with this country? We don’t want someone who is ill-prepared to be in the Presidential Villa as we did in 2015. Nigerians have a lot of challenges and we need a man who can solve them”.
Speaking on the age factor, Hakeen noted that there need be no emphasis on age even though it has it value.
He said, “age is a double-edged sword. There is an advantage in wisdom and also an advantage in usefulness and youthfulness.
“we are not putting a premium on health alone. We are putting a premium on other things. One can be young and do nothing, and one can be old and still not understand what change is. Take a look at the President. He has never changed anything in this country from 2015 to date”.
I always love the Northern elders for their political maturity.
Compare this masterpiece with the jaundiced commentaries from the likes of Afenifere, Ohaneze, Obj, Bode George who are displaying their morbid personal hatred for targeted presidential candidates.
This is Statesmanship at it’s vintage……