The presidential candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 general elections former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, and the Minister of Works and Housing, former Governor Babatunde Fashola, a member of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), are on the path of disagreement over the significance of the 2023 general elections.
Fashola, as a guest speaker at an annual lecture organized in Lagos by TheNiche, said that the 2023 election “is just another election,” noting that there is nothing special about it. Atiku in a personal letter to Nigerians, disagreed with Fashola, expressing that the 2023 general election “is not just an election”, but a choice between freedom from the clutches of the All Progressives Congress, or certain doom for Nigeria in their hands.
At TheNiche annual lecture with the theme: “2023 Elections and the future of Nigeria’s Democracy”, Fashola highlighted certain possibilities in the 2023 elections. He noted that people started talking about the 2023 elections immediately after the 2019 general elections, even when petitions at the tribunal were yet to be resolved.
According to Fashola, “we started hearing talks of 2023 immediately after the 2019 elections. Long before petitions at the tribunal were resolved, talks about 2023 has begun.
“While thinking about what will better our lives, some were already talking of 2023.”
Fashola stated that there has been so much hype about the 2023 elections, saying that the election may not bring change.
The minister noted that the 2023 elections have little chances of change. He, however, admitted that “no two elections are not always same, some things vary.”
Fashola expressed: “politics and elections draw their oxygen that things will never remain the same.
“Nothing remains the same in every election cycle.”
He said that there will always be new registered voters, adding that new registered increase in 2023.
Fashola, reiterating that there is nothing significant about the 2023 elections, said that “if there is going to be change, the number of the newly registered voters does not support the hype of change in 2023.” He stated there was higher number of new registered voters in 2019 than 2023. He, however, acknowledged that young people are eligible to vote in 2023, while they were not in 2019.
Fashola urged Nigerians to focus on the kind of people they elect. He cautioned: “the kind of people we elect determine the quality of policy and governance in the three arms of government.”
The Minister declared: “We can win elections without exaggerations.”
Atiku insisting that the 2023 election is significant, said that there is the need for Nigerians to be reminded of what lays ahead as the campaign period draws near.
Atiku highlighted: “It is very important that we use the remaining days to organize our base and establish our strength in all the 176,846 polling units across the country.
“I know that it is not an easy task. But it will be more worrisome to allow the APC to remain in office one more day after May 29.
“The election that is ahead of us is a choice between the certainty of a better Nigeria and a promise of failures by the APC.
“It’s a choice between freedom and doom. And I trust that you will do your all in ensuring that Nigeria is free from socio-economic hardship.
“Recruit your friends as canvassers at the polling units and let’s join hands to salvage the country. As one, we can get it done.”