2023 Presidency: A Look At The Economist's Appraisal Of Peter Obi

A British weekly newspaper, The Economist recently weighed in with terse statements as to why Peter Obi, Labour Party's flagbearer, should be voted in as Nigeria's next president. 

The Economist joins other interests including a former president, Olusegun Obasanjo, in recommending the former Anambra governor.

This is another one out of the numerous opinion polls tipping one candidate over the others but this time from a foreign source. 

Many more voices are echoing their preferred candidates in this end-time period of election campaigns.

According to The Economist, "Nigeria desperately needs a new kind of leadership and Peter Obi offers the best hope of it.

"Nigeria has been cursed with bad rulers. A military regime gave way to democracy in 1999, but since then elections have offered voters an ugly selection of the ancient, the incompetent, and, most recently, a former military dictator.

"Parties have stoked ethnic divisions, intimidated their opponents, and bought votes.

"Many candidates—federal, state, and local—seek power to grab a share of the country’s oil wealth.

"Successive governments have been deeply corrupt.

"Turnout has steadily fallen. But as Nigerians go to the polls on February 25th, Peter Obi, a third-party presidential candidate, offers a measure of hope."

A Summarized X-Ray of The Economist's Summations

"Africa’s most populous country is in desperate need of it.

"The economy, the continent’s biggest, bursts with youthful potential—half the country is 18 years old or younger. A flourishing Nigeria would boost the whole of Africa...

"In addition, the country is beset by violence. Boko Haram and its jihadist offshoots launched more attacks...

"Turning that round starts with a clean ballot.

"Rigging elections outright is harder these days but the electoral body and police must clamp down more on intimidation and vote-buying."

The Economist writes off Bola Tinubu of the ruling All Progressives Party (APC) as unlikely to shake things up going by his age, his shunning of scrutiny, and his fanciful and incoherent promises to mention but a few.

The digital newspaper also shrugs off Atiku Abubakar, the People's Democratic Party (PDP) flagbearer, as no better going by his grandiose industrialisation ideas, plans for 1m new police officers without clues for paying them, and the fact that his former principal, Olusegun Obasanjo, accused him of embezzling $145 million, to mention but a few.

However, The Economist describes Peter Obi thus: "Mr Obi, a sprightly 61-year-old former state governor who is leading in the polls, offers an alternative.

"Most striking, he has urged people not to vote along ethnic or religious lines but to favour competence..."

AllNews Nigeria wishes Nigeria a successful and hitch-free 2023 presidential election.

May the right winner that can and will reposition Nigeria positively emerge!