I have been reading your various interesting reports on the 2011 Presidency and in particular about the PDP aspirants. This is a very challenging issue for our country and our collective future will be determined by the outcome of this process and that is the very reason that we should all be very careful and do a very critical analysis of the issue. 

Unfortunately, I was born in what is now referred to as the "South" in Nigeria and my opinion is likely to be misunderstood. However, such narrow classification or affiliation should not prevent my submission on an issue that affects us all transcending our religion, region and even the resources we have. What do we really need as a nation? Who are we seeking for as a leader for Nigeria at this critical time in our nation's history and that will determine our new future as we march toward 100 years as an amalgamated country by 2014? Are we really interested in people who are expressing their desire and commitment as well as conviction to lead Nigeria or we are interested in people seeking for a region of the country to lead the nation not minding the person? 

I was really humbled and gladdened by the quality of people who emerged as aspirants for the Presidential ticket under the PDP, especially from the Northern part of our great country, who will challenge our incumbent President Jonathan, whose political growth has proved all predictions wrong.From the former Military President who kept the nation together for nearly nine years and brought a whole new perspective to governance in Nigeria by the empowerment of women through the office of the first lady, to the former VP who remained steadfast against all challenges that he faced in the 1999 -2007 dispensation and eventually emerged as the most successful VP in Nigeria's history to have maintained the office for 8 years as well as the former NSA who has an accomplished record and highly respected to the miracle worker of Kwara State whose leadership of the Governors forum has been applauded, I had no doubt that the race to Aso Rock by 2011 will usher in the best of all. However, I have been dismayed by the shift from the personal abilities of these candidates and their personal determination and commitment to offer themselves to serve our nation to the new found antics of "zoning" and "consensus" candidate.

I have learnt from your reports that all the four aspirants from the North are willing to "step down" for any of the four that is selected by the Ciroma led committee as the candidate of the North. What is the meaning of this? Does this imply that none of them is really committed and see himself as the best candidate for the country? If three others are willing to step down for a consensus candidate, then my understanding is that none of them really meant to be the Presidential aspirant of the PDP. If that is true, then they should not waste the precious time of Nigerians and heat up the polity with unnecessary sentiments. If each of them is willing to step down for a consensus candidate, then all of them could as well step down for President Goodluck who has shown his personal determination and commitment to go to the elections not as a regional candidate but as a national candidate. If after the consensus candidate of the North, the PDP forms a bigger national committee for a PDP consensus candidate, what is the guarantee that the Ciroma elected candidate will not agree to a higher consensus, possibly for national interest?

My submission is that if the aspirants are sure that they really aspire to lead Nigeria and are committed to that decision, the way of a consensus candidate will ridicule their aspirations and will write them out of history for a long time. Their supporters will be so disappointed that they gave up even before the battle began and whenever they come again, no one will take them serious. I also do not feel that what Nigeria needs now is to raise a President along regional, tribal or religious lines. Let the competition be open to all who truly aspire to represent the PDP and let Nigerians decide.How can we guarantee that all the people in the South will vote for President Jonathan and that all the people in the North will vote against him? Let us not lay a precedence that will further frustrate the efforts toward national re-unification. 

If the candidates from the North are actually serious about becoming the candidates of the PDP, let them do their homework and confront anyone who is seeking the mandate too. Let us not reduce the exalted office of Nigeria's President to an office to promote and protect regional and factional interests. How will a candidate who emerged as a consensus candidate of the North feel that he will be welcome and embraced throughout Nigeria? If we are interested in building a new two Nigeria divided along North and South, let Ciroma better tell us his children as he probably understands Nigeria more than many of us. However, if the effort is to raise a leader for the present day Nigeria, I think that his committee is working toward an effort in futility as he cannot guarantee that his consensus candidate will not "sell out" to a new national consensus committee that has a higher interest than the regional interest.

If the candidates from the North are serious about becoming the PDP flagbearers, let them summon the courage and go to the party primaries election and whoever wins should emerge. The present consensus stuff is ridiculing their intention and creating a serious doubt about the sincerity of their intentions and this will put them in very bad light as those who represent very narrow interest and not the national interest of Nigeria. How can former President IBB who administered the whole Nigeria be reduced to a candidate of and for the North? How can VP Atiku who served for 8 years as Nigeria’s VP become a candidate of and for the North? How do we explain the wonderful records of the former NSA to become a candidate of and for the North? I may agree with Governor Turaki who has gained experience at a state level that emerging as a candidate of the North is higher than what he has accomplished and even then, as the Chair of the Nigeria’s Governors Forum, he should really look beyond such tags.

Please, let only those who feel capable of leading Nigeria seek to lead Nigeria and let them test their acceptance in the battle field instead of stepping down long before the election timetables are announced. Nigeria needs national level leaders with national aspirations and interest in their heart and not regional interest leaders. Let all the 4 aspirants from the North go to the PDP primaries or allow President Goodluck as an un-opposed candidate of the party please. 

Thank you and best wishes in the work that you are doing.

Dr. Raphael Ogar Oko is the Africa Regional/Nigeria Country Coordinator ,Teachers Without Borders
He can be reached by email: raphael@teacherswithoutborders.org