Imagine Nigeria As A Large Corporation On The Verge Of Hiring A New Chief Executive!

Election seasons are usually a time of frenzied political activities, and the 2023 general elections in Nigeria are no different. There is a sense of optimism in certain quarters against the backdrop of an underwhelming scorecard of the outgoing administration, particularly in the poor handling of the economy, security, education, and many other sectors.

Business of Politics:

We cannot divorce business from politics as the decisions of those elected directly or indirectly affect businesses. Also, political players see politics as a business.

Imagine Nigeria as a large corporation on the verge of hiring a new Chief Executive; the board and other stakeholders will have a short list of candidates, hopefully from within or outside the organization. The choice for CEO will depend on the present state of the enterprise, the antecedents of the candidates, and the desired trajectory for the organization. Nigeria is at such a crossroads, and electing the president in 2023 has as much or even a higher stake than hiring a CEO.

The job of the president of a country is like that of a CEO. Every decision, action, or inaction determines the fate of the nation; the same way the CEO affects the outcomes of a business. Also, from an economic viewpoint, it is imperative that whoever takes the helms of affairs in Nigeria in 2023 stirs the ship of the nation with a steady hand and clear economic direction like a Chief Executive Officer.

When a company is ailing, the board will often hire a new CEO to try and turn around the fortunes of the company. The choice of the board will be one in the best interest of the company in both the short and long term. In a similar vein, Nigeria is ailing, and the next president of Nigeria must think and act more like a CEO with a good grasp of economic realities combined with a political will to right the sinking ship of our economy and tackle insecurity and other endemic national ills. However, because politicians see politics as a business, their interests often run cross-current with the best interest of the country; even though their policies are framed in elite-mass terminologies.

The president to be hired should boast stellar academic and professional qualifications and accomplishments. He should be able to articulate and operate more like a CEO with a clear focus on long-range goals, strategies, plans, and policies, routinely exercising discretion and independent judgment in the performance of leadership duties.

As we approach the run-in for the 2023 elections, let us explore some of the leading candidates for the 2023 presidential elections viz-a-viz their antecedent, their chances at the poll, and the likely result if they get the nod for Nigeria’s top job.

Among the contenders in the race for Aso rock, Bola Ahmed Tinubu should enjoy some advantage as the aspirant of the ruling party, APC. Popularly known as BAT, Tinubu is like a board room mogul with influence and allies across the length and breadth of Nigeria. The brand recognition of APC and Tinubu is high as he has been in the political space for a long time and APC is the ruling party. There may be a lower brand acceptance for APC in the run-off to 2023 compared to 2015, when they took over power from the ruling party, PDP. Over seven years of poor performance in critical areas like the economy, security, education and the choice of a running mate has eroded their brand value and acceptance.

BAT has deep pockets and is willing to deploy state resources (with the help of APC) and mobilize personal resources to push their aspiration to claim top dog in Nigerian politics. Tinubu winning the presidency may be another geriatric like Buhari fulfilling a life-long ambition of becoming the President of Nigeria, and that may just be it. BAT’s ailing health, mental and physical capacity may hinder his ability to perform.

Though he has a cream of top technocrats to pick from, his government may create a field day for his cronies to have free access to Nigeria’s commonwealth. One of the problems in Nigeria is endemic corruption, and it is hard for BAT to shake off his corruption toga. It means BAT cannot campaign with the anti-corruption mantra or fight corruption if he becomes the President of Nigeria.

Atiku Abubakar is no stranger to the political or economic space. Atiku served as VP to Obasanjo for eight years, and he has been a serial contender for the Office of the President since he left power in 2007. AA popularly called has business interests he has successfully run over the years in many sectors of the Nigerian economy. That should count as some needed experience for the CEO position, but he comes with a track record tainted by allegations of corruption, ethnic and religious bias. His progressive stance should accord him some credit with voters, but promises are seldom matched by performances, particularly by politicians.

AA at the helms of affairs in Nigeria may produce short-term gains like privatizing government institutions, but it may lead to long-term economic ruins if those concerns are sold to friends and cronies under dubious and phony deals.

An Atiku presidency does not promise anything new for the Nigerian enterprise. The government may be to maintain the status quo instead of a radical rejiggling of the governance architecture and strategic redirection for the country.

Even though there are some antecedents for Peter Obi as a two-term governor of Anambra state, his decision to throw his hat into the ring for the CEO of Nigeria has created a massive disruption in the political landscape. He is indeed a polarising factor, like every disruptive idea or technology. You either hate him or love him; no fence-sitting is allowed.

In the ring of gladiators for the presidential seat, Peter Obi of the Labour Party may be like the “new kid on the block”, but he is by no means a pushover or a new entrant to the political scene. His candidacy is like a breath of fresh air in our putrid political space, and it has awakened a new block of voters among the younger generation who are keen to have a say in determining their future.

The emergence and campaign of Peter Obi have inspired hope in many lethargic voters, as evidenced in the people-inspired campaigns and massive registration and collection of permanent voters’ cards. His campaign seems like a people-powered revolution of a sort. He is disrupting the marketplace by making the campaign issue-based instead of mere political rhetoric and jingoism. His campaign has a narrow focus, and his message is simple and directed at a specific demographic, the younger generation, with many passionately identifying with his message.

Like in business, we know enthusiasm does not win an election; stratagem does. If Peter Obi can harness the wave created by his early adopters, who have shown a sense of commitment to the course, self-organizing and self-funding, he may stun the establishment and win the elections. Whether the new force of “OBIdients” can provide an alternative to APC and PDP, cause an upset, and win the 2023 elections, time will tell. The best products or companies do not always do better in the market. The ability to deploy the best-in-time strategies focused on clear goals leads to failure or success; it is true of businesses and products as well as elections. Good Strategies will trump enthusiasm, deep pockets, being a good person, or even mass appeal.

Elections are always hard to call because of twists and turns; however, Peter Obi is set to clinch Nigeria’s top job against the traditional contenders. His emergence on the ballot has up-turned many postulations about the race. His profile, acceptance, and army of backers are growing daily, particularly among the younger generation. If he maintains his present trajectory, he will coast to victory in 2023; he will be the surprise package of the 2023 elections like Macron in France and Sarkozy in Ukraine.

Till then, we watch, we wait, and we vote.

Opinion By: Kenneth Ogbebor

Images & Graphics: The CEO Business Journal