From the outset, not many Nigerians believe that Obiageli Ezekwesili, a former minister of education, would indeed, stand the presidential election on February 16, 2019.
Her entrance into the race in the first place was on the spur-of-the-moment decision. Not many people believe that it was a decision that was critically thought-through.
Since leaving the Olusegun Obasanjo cabinet in 2013, Ezekwesili has been a vocal voice within the nation’s Civil Society Organisations (CSOs).
She made her greatest mark in Nigeria in activism, particularly her role in the #BringBackOurGirls crusade she co-founded.
She has severally clashed with government and security officials on this front. Her entrance into partisan politics took many Nigerians by surprise.
Her brief campaign on his quest to take over the nation’s rein of power from President Muhammadu Buhari was approached from the point of view of activism. She was militant and forceful.
The news about her withdrawal from the race began to trend in the social media on her twitter handle and thereafter a statement was issued by her campaign office.
Ezekwesili stated that “This decision followed extensive consultations with leaders from various walks of life across the country over the past few days. I deem it necessary for me to focus on helping to build a veritable coalition to ensure a viable alternative to the #APCPDP in the forthcoming elections.”
“It is my ardent belief that this broad coalition for a viable alternative has now become more than ever before, an urgent mission for and on behalf of Nigerian citizens. I have therefore chosen to lead the way in demonstrating the much needed patriotic sacrifice for our national revival and redirection,” she further said.
She also said: “I wish to state that over the past three months, I have been in private, but extended talks with other candidates to birth a coalition that would allow Nigerians to exercise their choice without feeling helplessly encumbered by the evil twins of #APCPDP.
“While the deliberations continued, I never hesitated for a moment in my willingness and determination to sacrifice my candidacy in order to facilitate the emergence of the envisaged strong and viable alternative that Nigerians could identify with in our collective search for a new beginning.
“My commitment to this promising political recalibration has been consistent and in consonance with my agreement, at the request of candidates under the Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT) arrangement in 2018, when I consented to supervise the internal selection process as an outside observer passionate about building an alternative force.”
She took the decision after she had appeared and debated penultimate Saturday alongside the presidential candidates of Youth Progressive Party, Kingsley Moghalu and Fela Durotoye of Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN).
The activist explained that her reason for the change of mind was to form a formidable alliance with other smaller parties to wrest power from the incumbent APC and to prevent the PDP from returning to power.
The question many people have been asking is how it took her so long to realise the need for such coalition.
Recall that sometime in August last year, a number of parties had come together under Presidential Aspirants Coming Together (PACT) to select from among themselves a consensus candidate.
At that time, Ezekwesili, who had not made public her aspiration, moderated the event that saw the emergence of Durotoye as the aspirant under the PACT umbrella. She also hailed the process and had said it was the way forward.
However, the alliance fell apart following Moghalu’s withdrawal from the coalition, who distanced himself from the processes that led to Durotoye’s emergence, describing them as flawed.
Party is supreme
Ezekwesili said that her decision to quit the race and dump the party may not have been welcomed by the party, but the party insists that she was expelled from anti-party. Analysts say that she does not have the right to take a unilateral decision against a party that gave her the platform to run.
Abdul-Ganiyu Galadima, chairman of the ACPN, who also doubles as the vice presidential candidate, reacting to Ezekwesili’s withdrawal at a press conference he convened, alleged that the former minister was just in the race to negotiate to be the minister of finance and that she had kept the party in the dark about her real intention and the finances that had accrued to her.
According to Galadima, the candidate, whose entrance into the race had received applause from the women folk in a country where gender inequality is a big issue, had used the platform of the party to get funds from donors, which she had not spent to show commitment to her ambition. The ACPN chairman said having realised that Ezekwesili did not represent the interest of the party, the party was endorsing President Muhammadu Buhari’s re-election bid. He also accused Ezekwesili of receiving cash donations of $5000 and N35 million from local donations and other property in the name of the party which they insist she must account for.
Analysts say that since the party is supreme, candidates are bound to do the bidden of their parties, since there is no provision for independent candidacy.
Permutations persist
Observers are saying that she may look towards supporting Moghalu who was adjudged the best at the debate.
But some analysts say that going by the power shift arrangement, the north still has four years to go and that it would be a waste of time to support a candidate from the South, whether South-East; South-South or South West.
Months before her withdrawal, an influential member of the society had dismissed her quest to rule Nigeria this time around.
“Activism is different from governance,” the informed individual, who runs a company in Lagos had said.
According to the chief executive officer, “If Ezekwesili is doing what she is doing now in 2023 when we have all agreed for the sake of fairness, equity and justice, that power should go to the Igbo of South East, I would understand, but not now. She does not have my sympathy, no matter how much she tries to impress. She has a fantastic resume; she is well exposed; but mind you, to be the president of Nigeria is not the same thing as being a minister or agitating for #BringBackOurGirls; a lot is involved.”
Following her withdrawal, some observers have said that the former minister was not serious about going to the poll, but to add to her long list of Curriculum Vitae (CV) and to position herself for more juicy appointments within and outside the country on that basis.
“Let’s face it, deciding to contest for the presidency of Nigeria is a courageous step on its own,” said Collins Oke, an engineer, who claimed he had been a fan of Ezekwesili since her days as education minister.
“Oby did not just declare intention to contest. Unlike many of those on the INEC list as presidential candidates, she has been publicly selling her manifesto. She is all over the place, at different fora talking about the need for a better Nigeria. I bought her views that neither PDP nor APC is good again for the country; it is high time we tried other political parties. She took her campaign seriously within her limited resources unlike many of those who nobody knows parading themselves as presidential candidates,” Oke said.
The development may have set off a series of what should be expected between now and February 16 when the presidential election will hold.
Experience is greatly needed and events in the next few days and weeks will determine whether the crusade for a change of guard as being canvassed by Ezekwesili and the likes would yield the desired dividend.
You are going nowhere, INEC tells Ezekwesili
While the ACPN and Ezekwesili are on each other’s jugular, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) has pointedly said that it is too late now for any candidate to withdraw from contesting any position in the upcoming general election.
INEC was responding to Ezekwesili’s withdrawal from the race. Rotimi Oyekanmi, chief press secretary to Mahmood Yakubu, INEC chairman, said November 17 was the last date any candidate can withdraw.
“It is impossible for any presidential candidate to withdraw from the race now. According to the Timetable and Schedule of Activities for the 2019 General Elections, the last day for withdrawal by candidates or replacement of withdrawn candidates by political parties was 17th November, 2018 for Presidential and National Assembly Elections.
“The deadline for Ezekwesili or any candidate in that category to withdraw or be replaced has passed.”
Section 35 of the electoral act, which gives deadline from withdrawal from any election, states:
“A candidate may withdraw his candidature by notice in writing signed by him and delivered by himself to the political party that nominated him for the election and the political party shall convey such withdrawal to the Commission not later than 45 days to the election.”
Days ahead will determine whether or not Ezekwesili and her party would resolve their differences to enable her go ahead with her candidacy.
Zebulon Agomuo
