The PACT agreed on various objectives, such as: the failure of the current leadership; the need for visionary leadership to fill the vacuum; consolidating the process of nation building, amongst other objectives. The PACT agreed that a consensus will be reached, and one candidate will represent the interests of the other candidates and receive the support of others at the 2019 general elections.
Before the creation of the PACT, two members were clear favourites to emerge as the consensus candidate. On one hand, we had Fela Durotoye who was under the Alliance for New Nigeria Party (ANNP). He had no political experience or exposure. He had never occupied a position whatsoever at any level of government. Yet the centre of his campaign is a New Nigeria hinged on good governance. Good governance? Coming from a man that has no governance at any level. Good governance is not through reading about politics or knowing all the political theories and strategies. It is about creating a model that brings a country to its full potential, utilizing policies and procedures that stood the test of time. There is no doubt that he has wonderful ideas to bring the country to a great future. But his means and ideas for the nation are too futuristic and unrealistic.
Kinsley Moghalu, on the other hand, was a former Deputy Governor of The Central Bank of Nigeria. He also served as a United Nations official. He is also prominent in academia. He runs under the flag of Young Peoples’ Party (YPP). In my opinion, he has the best plan to improve the nation. He is not making promises, but an action plan to bring the nation forward. He is an eloquent speaker; he has some experience of governance and also has an idea of the political sphere of Nigeria. His plans on implementation of policies and ideas are very realistic and feasible. He doesn’t promise to put technocrats or ‘the best people’ in office.
However, like Fela Durotoye, he doesn’t have the necessary and appropriate platform to unseat the incumbent. ANNP and YPP are no match for the larger political parties. They fail to understand that election results are hinged largely on the party of the candidate.
A few weeks after the PACT was created, the consensus vote was called to decide the consensus candidate.
Only seven votes were cast and Fela Durotoye emerged as the winner with 4 votes. Kingsley Moghalu was the runner-up with 3 votes. There were reports of irregularities even though there were independent observers present like Oby Ekwelisi. Kingsley Moghalu, after a few days, decided to continue running for the office of the president despite the consensus agreement.
These events brought about mixed feelings for me. It was obvious why they consensually voted Fela Durotoye. Prima Facie he had the best chances in terms of popularity and goodwill with the people. His name seemed more prominent in the mouths of Nigerians than Kingsley Moghalu. The vote was based on who is more popular to them than who has more to offer.
The PACT was centred on the fact that there was a need for a brighter and better Nigeria, which the current crop of leaders could not provide. The members had an agreement to support one candidate. One could say that Kingsley Moghalu ought to have honoured his word and support Fela Durotoye for presidency. Your word is your bound. If you can break your word at this stage, what makes you different from our current crop of leaders that perpetually do so.
The fall-out members when PACT failed to favour them made the whole consensus a complete joke. Then why enter an agreement when you know there is a possibility of one not being favoured. If they believe that the only way they can bring change to the nation is being the President of Nigeria, then such a person is delusional and is suffering form self-deceit.
I had high hopes for the PACT. I saw it as one of the smartest moves to bring about a New Nigeria with a new direction. But pride and self-righteousness brought it all to an end. The PACT is now in shambles and was ended only being honoured by about 10 members. is this what the future holds for Nigeria? Where the sons continue the mistakes of the fathers?
2019 will offer to be an instrumental year for the voters and the candidates alike. Every day brings about a new candidate with no new ideas or directions. Who is the ideal candidate? What makes one an ideal candidate? Who can really bring about a new Nigeria? I doubt these candidates can sufficiently answer these questions. Is it time to look forward to 2023?
Only Time Will Tell.
