Buhari and the second term bid

With the release of the 2019 election time table by the Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC),political actors across the country have started strategising and forging political alignments to ensure election victory. 

Although, the electorate umpire has not given the political parties the green light to kick start campaigns, the past few weeks have been busy with alignments, endorsements and unveiling of groups. It started with the seven APC governors and South-east political leaders who endorsed President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term. 

It is true that President Muhammadu Buhari has not declared his intention to contest the 2019 election, but his body language indicates that he may seek re-election.  However, the success of his second term bid will be premised on some factors.  Firstly, the fight against corruption. President Muhammadu Buhari promised to tackle the menace of corruption when he assumed office in 2015.The government has been able to record considerable success through the arrest of some former government officials and retrieving stolen cash and assets worth billions of dollars. 

Worthy of mention also is the mechanism put in place to block revenue loopholes through TSA,BVN and IPPS. These policies have checkmated cases of corruption.  Secondly, the fight against insecurity. The war against Boko Haram insurgents in the troubled North-east can be seen as a success story. 

The Nigerian troops have been able to liberate many villages from the grip of Boko Haram. The Buhari administration has also tamed the threat posed by IPOB in the South-east. The activities of Niger Delta Avengers who unleashed mayhem and made oil operation difficult have also been halted.

But then there is the issue of revitalisation of the economy. This is another area President Muhammadu Buhari promised to work on. Unfortunately, Nigeria’s economy has not been doing well. There is high rate of poverty. So for the president to get another term, these and many other factors will be considered.

Ibrahim Mustapha Pambegua wrote from Kaduna State