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2015 Presidential Election: The five odds against JONATHAN and BUHARI

THE 2015 Nigeria’s presidential election is a straight fight between the opposition APC candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari and President Goodluck Jonathan of the PDP.

ENCOMIUM Weekly examines the odds against the former head of state and the incumbent president, who are running neck-to-neck in the Saturday, March 28, 2015 poll.

 

WOBBLING ECONOMY, CORRUPTION, INSECURITY NARROW JONATHAN’S CHANCES

Jonathan
Jonathan

Despite President Jonathan’s modest achievements in office, not a few believe he has ruined the economy, allowed corruption to thrive while thousands of Nigerians have died under his watch as a result of insurgency and violence in the Northern part of the country.

 

  1. ECONOMY IN GRAVE STATE

One reason Nigerians might reject President Jonathan is the worsening state of the economy.  From growing inflation to the devaluation of the naira, unemployment and low standard of living, the clamour to vote out Jonathan could resonate on March 28.

 

  1. CORRUPTION

Nigerians are also not pleased with the fact that they might have lost over N30 trillion to corruption since the inception of the Jonathan administration.  This wicked allegation is not ‘good’ for the ruling PDP.

 

  1. INSECURITY

Despite the current progress being made in the fight against insurgency, victims of the Boko Haram and other shades of violence would make a statement with their vote at the presidential election.

 

  1. POWER GENERATION

Many still don’t know why darkness still envelopes the country after billions of naira has been budgeted for the power sector.

The recent reduction of tariff, some argue, cannot compensate for the low power generation and distribution that has seen Nigerians go without power for months.

 

  1. THE TOGA OF A CLUELESS PRESIDENT

Another major odd against President Jonathan is the perception he’s weak, a non-performer and generally clueless.  His political opponents have successfully branded him as a leader without balls and incapable of steering the ship of state to the promised land.

 

AGE, HEALTH, MILITARY PAST TORMENTS BUHARI

The major odds against General Muhammadu Buhari in the March 28 presidential election are basically his age and rumoured health status, inglorious military past, education foundation and reputation of key figures in his party.

 

  1. BUHARI’S AGE AND HEALTH SCARE VOTERS
Buhari
Buhari

The APC presidential candidate, General Buhari might lose to Jonathan on the grounds of his age and alleged ill-health.  At 73, Buhari’s opponents say he doesn’t have the stamina to lead the country at this age and time.

 

  1. ONCE A DICTATOR, ALWAYS A DICTATOR

Buhari is also not in the good books of many Nigerians who feel he truncated the nation’s democracy in 1983 and abused human rights in his 23-month dictatorship. Now, they say a leopard can’t change its spots.  And this is a major odd against the APC presidential candidate.

 

  1. RELIGIOUS FANATICISM

Buhari’s enemies have also accused him of being a religious fanatic. In fact, the allegation is that he would Islamise Nigeria if elected in 2015.

 

  1. THE POLITICS OF SCHOOL CERTIFICATE

The issue of Buhari’s educational qualification is still a subject of litigation in the court.  And the matter is there, those afraid of the retired General are still telling voters to go for a better educated candidate.  It is, however, not clear how much this would affect Buhari’s candidacy.

 

  1. REPUTATION OF BUHARI’S PROMOTERS

Those kicking against Buhari’s presidency say he cannot initiate a true change with the crop of politicians promoting him.  They alleged key political figures in the APC are corrupt.  Hence, corruption can’t fight corruption.

This might work against the popular presidential candidate on March 28.

– UCHE OLEHI

Encomium

Written by Encomium

A media, tech and events company.

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