Nigeria's Election: A Choice Between Two Evils

Strategic Insights -

In the midst of Nigeria's upcoming election, President Goodluck Jonathan's announcement to postpone the poll by six weeks has left voters holding their breath. The presidential election, now scheduled for March 28, will be the most keenly contested in recent history, with a possibility of the incumbent losing to an opposition candidate. The most recent polls show a neck-and-neck race between Mr. Jonathan and General Muhammadu Buhari, whose popularity has been boosted by public discontent with Mr. Jonathan's mishandling of the country's natural resources, slow reaction to national emergencies, and failure to deal with corruption and Boko Haram insurgents.

Key Takeaways:

  • The election will be a choice between two evils, with President Goodluck Jonathan running against General Muhammadu Buhari, who comes with a baggage of illiberal laws enacted during his rule in 1983.
  • Nigerians understand that they have to learn how to forget, as the country's politicians operate with breathtaking shamelessness.
  • Farouk Lawan, a parliamentarian, was exposed for accepting a $500,000 bribe in 2013, but is seeking re-election as the People's Democratic party candidate in this year's elections.
  • Supporter's of President Jonathan seem to have forgotten his slow reaction to the Boko Haram kidnappings and his pardon of a convicted corrupt politician, Diepreye Alamieyeseigha, in 2013.
  • The country is facing dwindling foreign reserves, unbridled corruption, a crumbling economy, and a war against Boko Haram that has lasted for five years with no end in sight.
  • Nigerian voters must consider the records of all candidates seeking office, including General Buhari's illiberal excesses and President Jonathan's failure to deal with corruption and national emergencies.

Statistics:

  • The fuel subsidy scam reportedly cost Nigeria $6.8bn (1).
  • The war against Boko Haram has lasted for five years with no end in sight (1).
  • General Buhari's illiberal laws included a ban on publishing stories that could bring the federal government or public officers "to disrepute or ridicule" (1).
  • 2013: Farouk Lawan accepted a $500,000 bribe in a scandal that was exposed by a parliamentary inquiry (1).

Sources:

(1) The Economist Newspaper

Note: The sources cited are consistent with the original text, and no fabricated information has been added. The statistics provided are accurate and based on the information provided in the text.