Whenever I am giving an opportunity to address Nigerians on the issue of selecting the right leaders, I always say on such occasions that ‘intelligent people always make good leaders!’

It is that time of the year again when we select leaders to govern us for the next four years. As the presidential elections draws nearer, we must all focus on our role as citizens and our impact on the outcome of the elections.

February 16, 2019 is a day for Nigerians to decide if they will continue with the Buhari-led administration or breathe the fresh air the opposition People Democratic Party is promising. We must all understand that our votes will to a large extent determine our future or let’s say our standard of life in the next four years.

So, what are you using as a guideline to make that all important choice?

Many Nigerians are often times left ‘confused’ by the candidates who come promising heaven and earth all within a period of one year. During campaign periods, all the candidates present themselves as having no defects. With sweet words here and there, all passion appears ‘perfect’ and convincing and very genuine. It cannot be faulted because we live in the age of ‘packaging’.

At times like this, you need a ‘third eye’ to be able to see and assess which candidate is just packaging himself with a good image, and which one is truly ready to devote himself to the people. Indeed, it takes a little time and precision to do it.

Here, I will try to present a few tips I think can help us vote smartly and not be carried away by the ‘sweet promises’ of the caandidates:

1.What are your intentions:Even though this is supposed to be very important, it is often considered trivial by most of us because it involves our personal relationship to God.Anything that has a good intention guiding it will bring goodness. So, what should be the right intention in this context?Intend that when lending your voice or support to any of the candidates, the intention is to choose a leader because of God.That is to say, you have the right reasons to be accounted for before God.If God wasn’t important in governance why do we have our leaders take oath of office? The problem is after elections most times is if the elected candidate in carrying out his mandate knows that his business is with God, but the matter is why we choose someone to be the leader of our business and then not involve God before making that choice.So once again, straighten the intentions that can be accounted for before God.

2. What is their track record?This means doing a study to trace the lives of the candidates in the past.It must be believed that whatever he has done in the past, will at least contribute to his future life.In the context of this election, the past needs to be considered. How far have they affected their immediate community, state and Nigeria?If all this while the candidate has never cared for even his immediate community, or so far he has not been been known for speaking out for his community, be rest assured that he will ignore the people’s affairs.So, Look and study carefully.

3. What are their vision, mission and programs?Again it is important we use their track record to determine this. Their past performance has a lot to tell us about their future. The most basic thing is how reasonable (realistic) the vision and program offered.This means that the vision, mission and programs that they present to us must be truly measurable to be realized.The source of funding, timing of implementation and how to implement it is clearly reasonable to do.Remember, people should not be fooled by the sweet ‘promises’ that are actually impossible to do.Indeed, we all know that ‘the politician will promise to make a bridge even though there is no river’.The important thing is how?

4. Who are the people around him? You will also need to look at the success team and the people who surround the candidate. This also often escapes the study of many people. I need to say this point because there were many incidents of the fall of leaders in this country because he was surrounded by people who were greedy and greedy. As a result, it is not uncommon for leaders surrounded by ‘ignorant’ people to be helpless and fall into the valley of corruption. So look for the candidates who are surrounded by good families, good friends, good success teams, and good political machinery.

5. Lastly, remember it is your responsibility: The choice is entirely yours to determine the leaders in this country. Choosing is easy, but being accountable for what we choose must have careful consideration. Indeed there is no perfect candidate, but we must continue to strive to achieve that perfection. At the very least, good business will bring goodness by God’s special grace.

Who will you be voting for and why?

https://businesslinetv.com/2019/02/14/five-things-to-know-before-you-cast-your-vote/