The 2015 Presidential Election will be markedly different from the elections we have witnessed in the past. It would be somewhat of good news because we now have two political parties who can stand toe to toe and somewhat of bad news because of the options BOTH parties present. Both parties present us with faces of the same group of people that have kept Nigeria in it's current situation.

Okay, before I get abused for the bolded above, I will like you to understand that this write-up is my opinion and the opinion of many other Nigerians of which you may not be part of.


I will start with the Ruling Party:
The People's Democratic Party; President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan and the Transformation Agenda.

The Peoples Democratic Party has in my opinion, has never been about the people. The party can be easier sold as the Politician's Democratic Party, with grossly internalized policy of personal aggrandizement at all levels of membership. This is a party that has created a caucus of untouchables looting at every level and rewarding the highest looters with higher positions for looting. Mark you, this has been happening since the inception of PDP and Democracy in 1999. The current level at which the corruption and looting is happening is Alarming! Little wonder the President, having moved up through the rank and file of this Party, declared on international media that "what a lot of people call corruption was mere stealing". That interview remains one of my most embarrassing moments as a Nigerian.

PDP and its presidential candidate have, over 4 years, looked over the highest revenue generated from oil and gas since the history of this Nation. It is a big shame that barely 3 months after oil price dwindled, the country is visibly shaken economically. Why wont we when nothing was being reserved from the surplus that we have enjoyed over the years. Actually, a lot were being reserved in/or reversed into the pockets of the corrupt individuals and corporations in and around the corridors of power.

Fact is that GEJ officially became the president of this nation in February 2010. What Has GEJ achieved in his almost 5 years tenure?
1. The privatization of the power sector - He can get my pass mark score of 60%. Not its revitalization which will require a change in the Nigerian System.
2. The YouWIN initiative - This was the closest you can get on some stimulation of indigenous youth expertise and entrepreneurship. The level of funding kept dwindling as the years pass.
3. Transformation Agenda - This is a well packaged agenda with very nice intentions. Some are being implimented but I will say in very slow manner with obvious lack of accountability of the resources spent. The Nigerian system, which I will discuss later, has ensured that very few of them (if any), will be realized (completed) by February 2014.

The actual GOODs, GOODluck Ebele Jonathan brought to Nigerians are:
Our ability to shout loudly on TV, newspapers and social media and on the streets against the ruling party and against the President without the fear of being shot dead or arrested for defamation of character. He has given us a taste of true democracy.
He has also allowed the Nigerian constitution play out as it is, revealing the terrible mistake of a write-up we refer to as our constitution. The failure of the constitution is very visible in the several accusations, counter accusations, impeachment sagas, cross-carpeting and agitations at all levels and arms of government. Clueless, that is what ruling strictly by this constitution will render any president. A Nigerian president need some level of unconstitutional actions to remain focused and achieve goals.
The GEJ's government was the only one brave enough to hold something close to the National discourse that is important for Nigerians of all culture, origin and belief to move ahead together as one country.
One high point in this democratic environment is the judgement on Disparity in Federal Colleges’ Admission Requirements. We have tasted these, we will ask for more and a government who will allow status quo to be questioned, debated and the voice of reason to prevail. This is the change people like me want. There should be a Total Change of the current Nigerian System.



Talking about Change brings us to the second Political Party:
The All Progressives Congress; General Muhammadu Buhari and the Call for Change.

My opinion on APC is also very clear. This part is a group dominated by aggrieved and opportunistic politicians, not in any way less corrupt than PDP. Where exactly does APC want to get the Change from? From Tinubu, Atiku, Rochas, Bukola Saraki and (let us for now exclude Buhari). For me to believe that there is anything changing from our 15 years of poorly implemented and heavily corrupt democracy in these people, they will all require change of name. These are the same individuals who have participated in propagating the corrupt Nigerian system that have enriched them. They do not want the kind of change me and you clamor for. They only seek a change for their increased relevance in the Nigerian equation.

I have always seen APC as a political move to change where the looting goes. You may have a contrary opinion but what change do you expect from:
1. Rochas - Who while he was in the race for the APC Presidential Ticket, installed his relative as the APC Governorship candidate only to return to Imo state to take over the ticket? This is the exact opposite of what those that really want change will be looking out for. The supposed APC ideals on corruption dead and buried in Imo State.
2. Atiku - With accusations of dollars changing hands on primaries election day, even coming from respected party officials, I need not add more. I think the 8 years enjoyed as part of this failure we call democracy can speak for itself.
3. Tinubu - Change? Where one family controls a state like Lagos filled with intellectuals. It is more like telling me that Theodore Orji of Abia state is the change we need in Nigeria.

What CHANGE does APC offer us? Certainly, the change needed is not Buhari.
I refused to mention Buhari in the previous list because he appears clean from the taint of corruption, that exists in 99% of the strands of the broom in APC logo. I used 'appears' because that is what the records hold. There is however a different risk Buhari presents. Buhari's government (though military) provided Nigerians with the least amount of information on what exactly is going on in government. It saw one of the greatest impediment of the media especially on making unguarded statements about the presidency. One can argue that it was a military dispensation but this level of lack of press freedom was not seen in other military regimes. If a corrupt regime guards information very well, it will appear very clean. His stance on Boko Haram (http://pointblanknews.com/pbn/exclusive/stop-killing-boko-haram-members-buhari-tells-fg/) , election violence (http://www.channelstv.com/2012/05/21/buharis-use-of-dogs-and-baboons-are-hausa-idioms-cpc-spokesperson/) and Sharia (https://www.nairaland.com/2062821/buhari-denies-claims-he-plans) increases the risks for those that do not share in these ideologies.

The real CHANGE APC offers, is an opportunity to hold public office holders accountable for their positions.
Public officers need to understand that if they perform poorly, even if they stand in an election against a monkey, they will loose because we trust the monkey to deliver some acrobatic entertainment to say the least. [/b]Sulivan Chime of Enugu state will win another Governorship Election in Enugu State if the constitution permitted it (Party or no Party); He is of PDP and has turned the state to a 95% PDP state. If Babatunde R. Fashola should be the presidential canditate of APC I would have been his Nairaland Campaign Manager, especially if his Running Mate was Rotimi Chibuike Amaechi. What I am saying is that the real change we need is the politics of ideas, proven personalities and tangible achievements. Not the politics of ethno-regional strategies and blame trading.

[b]The blind call for continuity of the current corrupt state is a call for spiral descent. The blind call for undefined change is a gullible act of folly.

I am still very much undecided on which party I am going to give my oneVote. I will wait for their manifestos (written and spoken). I will keep the records. I will discuss constructively the implications of voting either way with my constituency and my circle of influence. But I will bank on all of us to hold them accountable on the reason why we voted who we voted.

I enjoin all of you to do the same...

Banter Sai Buhari 2015 or GEJ till 2019 ....[size=14pt]what will keep you and you family happy and comfortable in Nigeria lies in your single vote[/size].

Use it Wisely.

By
An active Nairalander who for the purpose of this write-up decides to be known as OneVote

Sai Buhari 2015

Good essay buhari for president still. In fact i will ask professionsoyinka to mark it for you oh try no be small.

Ah dey come mak I 1st find d options. Just hang in dia

Buhari is the solutions to Nigeria problem but hatred are doing all they can to prevent him from becoming so. sai Buhari