…....Ahead of 2023, Nigerians deserve good leadership.
Among the issues that will influence electorates’ choice for the 2023 presidential election, security, economy and unity are said to be the most crucial. Analysts further narrow it down to unity arguing that after President Buhari’s 7 years of nepotism, Nigeria has become terribly factionalized and in dire need of a true unifier. It is also argued that it will be very difficult to grow and secure any economy in an atmosphere of discord such as Nigeria is experiencing today.
No wonder, the supporters of the three frontrunners in the presidential race have been presentingtheir candidates as the true unifiers of Nigeria. It is however difficult to say who amongst the three frontrunners will turn out to be a unifier. To how much a unifier, each of the candidateswould be requires a peep into the candidate’s past leadership performances in relation to the current problem of disunity in the country. Let’s begin with the Waziri of Adamawa.
ALHAJI ATIKU ABUBAKAR
The Presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Atiku Abubakar has severally been described as the Great Unifier. His online campaign handlers, especially, the KogiState Born Senator Dino Melaye and a former Special Assistant to the former President, Goodluck Jonathan, Reno Omokri, believe that Atiku amongst the three frontrunners is the most accepted and loved candidate across the country. At least, four reasons are used to make the case that Atiku stands a better chance among the other presidential candidates to unite Nigerians:
Firstly, Atiku among the three candidates has wives from all the major ethnic groups in Nigeria. Thus, having a Yoruba, Igbo, Hausa and Fulani wives doesn’t only show Atiku’s love for these ethnic groups but also that he understands what their problems and stands a better chance to pacify them. It is also argued that since Atiku is able to reconcile the differences of these Ethnic groups in his family he will be able to extrapolate the same into Nigeria.
The second reason was the role Atiku played as the vice president. He was the brain behind all the experts and technocrats from the various tribes in Nigeria that worked in Obasanjo’s administration. He was the one that discovered the likes of Soludo, Oby Ezekwesili, Dora Akuyili, Okonjo Iweala, Sanusi among many others. In making these choices, Atiku went for the best irrespective of the person’s tribe or religion. It is believed that this quality endeared Atiku to all the tribes in Nigeria who have come to see him as a just man.
The third reason is Atiku’s moderate attitude towards religion. While the current occupant of AsoRock is generally seen as a radical Moslem and accused of trying to Islamize Nigeria, Atiku is seen as a moderate Moslem.  Atiku unlike Buhari has never given anybody any course to feel that he will support let alone try to Islamize Nigeria.  The kind of fairness and equality Atiku has treated Christians and Moslems in Nigeria with, have made him their champion. This endearment in itself has provided a wonderful platform for dialogue,
Finally, it is claimed that although Atiku loves all the tribes in Nigeria, he particularly has a soft spot for the Igbo. Atiku himself has constantly talked about his special love for the Igbo. He chose Obi an Igbo man as his running mate in 2019 because of his love for the Igbo. Most of those he recommended as high profile ministers and advisers during Obasanjo’s regime were Igbos. Igbos, including the former Imo State born Speaker of the House of Representatives, Emeka Ihedioha are Atiku’s political sternwards.  Atiku even went as far as saying that he is running for president to pave way for a president of an Igbo extraction since he was only going to do one term.
The believe therefore is that since the Igbo nation is the most marginalized people in Nigeria,Atiku will use his special affection to pacify and fully integrate them into mainstream Nigerian politics. In fact, speculation has it that the first thing Atiku would do as a president would be to release Nnamdi Kanu and initiate a pacification of the Igbo nation. Â Â
ASIWAJU BOLA AHMED TINUBU
Like the supporters of Atiku, supporters of Alhaji Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, the All Progressive Congress (APC) presidential flag bearer have equally argued that he is the man tounite Nigeria. This claim is anchored on at least three reasons.
First, Lagos State is the microcosm of Nigeria with its complexes and complication. Therefore,any person who has been able to reconcile the national contradictions in Lagos should be able to unite Nigerians. The fact that Tinubu is the one who transformed modern Lagos and made it a home qualifies him as the person who will unify the country if given the chance.
Second, Tinubu is a Moslem but married to not just a Christian but to a pastor. Achieving this kind of reconciliation especially in a country like Nigeria where religion matters is a tip of the iceberg of how Tinubu is going to reconcile the ethnic and religious differences in Nigerians.
The third is Tinubu’s antecedents as the governor of Lagos State. The claim is that Tinubu created a government of Lagos State that was all-inclusive. A government that went beyond people of Yoruba origin to include Hausas, Igbos and the minority tribes. It’s this Tinubu’s Lagos State that produced the likes of Jeo Igbokwe, Jack Orji, etc., people who are today diehard Tinubu supporters. This is a portrayal of the type of inclusive presidency Tinubu is going to run and will definitely help him to heal the rift caused by Buhari’s bigotry.
 PETER GREGORY OBI
The presidential candidate of the Labour Party (LP), Mr. Peter Obi is also presented by his supporters as the man who will unite Nigerians and heal the rift Buhari’s bigotry has caused. Advocates of Obi’s unification policy normally deploy three reasons.
Number one is that Obi’s supporters are maily youths from different tribes, religions and ethnic nationalities in Nigeria. These youths are motivated by the bad state of the country and see in Obi the man who will take them to a united and prosperous Nigeria. Therefore, since Nigerian youths are already putting aside ethnic biases to support Obi, uniting them, if he eventually wins the race will be as easy as ABC for him. Â
The other reason is that almost all the socio-cultural groups in Nigeria, including Afanifere, Ohaneze, South-South Forum, Middle-Belt Forum and Northern Christian Forum have adopted Obi as their candidate. Since leaders of these groups, which cuts across almost all the social categories in Nigeria have chosen Obi, it is safe to assume that uniting them when he becomes president will be quite easy.
The final point is Obi’s philanthropy, which has led him to empower youths, build and equip schools and donate to communities across the country. It is said that Obi unlike Tinubu did not govern a cosmopolitan Nigeria city like Lagos, but through philantropism, he has been able to touch lives across the country. It is believed this will help Obi run an inclusive government that would unite Nigerians from all tribes.
THE UNIFIER Â
These brief reviews have shown that Obi, Tinubu and particularly Atiku, have wonderful chances of uniting Nigeria. Therefore, hypothetically, any of them will do better than the current occupant of Aso Rock is doing. However, individual accomplishments should not be the only criterion to judge who can unite Nigeria. The major factor that caused the current feeling of disunity should also be taking into consideration.
While a number of factors, including insecurity and Buhari’s lopsided appointments will likely make the list, the very obvious and dominant factor is the injustice against the people of Southeast Nigeria. Leaders of Afanifere, South-South, Ohaneze and Middle Belt have on many occasions, stated that righting the wrong against the Southeast has been the most important factor making them to support Obi.
The fact is this: Nigeria practices rotational presidency and all the major ethnic groups in the country except the Igbo have had their turns at the presidency. As it stands today, the marginalization of the Southeast is the single most important factor causing disunity in Nigeria. What this entails is that any effort to reconcile Nigeria has to begin from ensuring that justice is done to the Southeast. Atiku and Tinubu cannot achieve this. In fact, an Atiku or Tinubu’s presidency will further estrange the people of Southeast who are already feeling marginalized.Saying that an Atiku or Tinubu’s victory in the coming presidential election will worsen the disunity in Nigeria does not mean that these candidates are hated by the Southeast. They will only be seen as the architects of the continuing subjugation of the the zone.
Peter Gregory Obi is the only person among the three frontrunners in the presidential race whopossesses all it takes to bring unity to Nigeria. I understand how difficult this is for Atiku and Tinubu’s supporters. Considering their ages, it would mean that the two will never be able to rule Nigeria again but it is a sacrifice, which Atiku, Tinubu, their supporters and every well-meaning Nigerian need to make to build a united and prosperous country.  Â
