2023 Presidency: Frontrunners Are Not Prepared For Climate Change

It is no more news that the world today is experiencing long-term shifts in temperatures and weather patterns.

This fact-finding mission revealed that the three presidential front runners are not prepared for the effects of climate change. 

The continent of Africa is confronted with environmental and climate action difficulties.

The question of how frontrunner-2023 presidential candidates would handle climate change has been thrown at them and here is how they have reacted to it and what it means to Nigeria.

Atiku Abubakar

Not only is climate change a novel concept in Africa but also a concept that was not a burning topic when Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the presidential candidate of the PDP was vice president between 1999 and 2007.

Bola Tinubu and Peter Obi also did not have to bother themselves too much with climate action when they were governors of Lagos and Anambra states respectively.

Bola Tinubu

 Now more than ever, there have been variations in the solar cycle, alongside human activities that have propelled climate change, primarily due to burning fossil fuels like coal, oil and gas.

No doubt that the effects of climate change will be harsh on a third-world economy such as Nigeria.

It has resulted in higher temperatures, farm produce shortage, changing rainfall patterns, and increased climate variability in Nigeria lately.

Peter Obi

It is worrying that presidential aspirants in Nigeria do not look prepared for these challenges.

Peter Obi did not expect that he would be asked a question related to climate change when Akeeem Adenuga, tweeting from Ibadan posed the question during a live chat.

“What do you think about the green energy initiative administered by the present APC administration considering your policy to pursue aggressive production and industrialization?”, he threw at the session aired by Objectv Media.

The Labour Party Presidential candidate didn't think climate change is a priority for Nigeria.

He said he was not very vast in issues concerning climate action but his administration would consider it “in all its doings''.

He countered that one should not be talking about climate change when the country is dealing with hunger and insecurity.

The APC presidential candidate, Bola Ahmed Tinubu did not pass the snap test either in the view of the Centre for Reforms and Public Advocacy (CRPA).

While addressing the Arewa interactive committee on Monday in Kaduna, Tinubu disclosed that developed countries should support Nigeria with finance if the country is to comply with climate change guidelines.

“Climate change is a question of how do you prevent a church rat from eating a poisoned holy Communion”, Tinubu stated.

Similarly, the tone of the statement released by the PDP presidential candidate, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar was also passive and political.

The statement only said that the present government should find ways to “unveil a special humanitarian assistance programme to provide immediate succour” to the communities affected by flooding lately.

“These unfortunate incidents should be a wake-up call to the urgency of our responsiveness to the issues of climate change and global warming”, he added sympathising with the victims.

The statement was too reactive as it failed to give any hint that the presidential candidate understands or has a clear-cut way of dealing with environmental sustainability and climate change despite his key campaign agenda being the resuscitation of industries in the country.

The fact

Environmental sustainability and the prevention of the effects of climate change are national security concerns in Nigeria.

Like every other country of the world, Nigeria needs to be prepared to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, carbon dioxide and methane that are causing climate change. 

Climate change in Nigeria

We use gasoline for driving our cars, coal for heating and clearing our lands and forests regularly, and so we need a responsive government that will have feasible plans in core areas including energy, industry, transport, building, agriculture, land use and other main ingredients of climate change.

Verdict

 Nigeria has commitments to achieve environmental sustainability in rural and urban centres across the country. 

Governance at the same time has shifted dramatically away from stomach infrastructure as promised by most of the candidates for the 2023 presidential election to a science-inclined leadership. 

Presidential candidates are required to tell Nigerians their plans for the Net Zero target, energy transition, environmental sustainability and how to strengthen adaptation.

Nigerians should not accommodate a grand commander of the federal republic without basic knowledge of climate change science and environmental sustainability. 

 

Written by Yusuf Adua