The time has come for Nigerians to choose who the next leader (President) would be, the main contenders are, the incumbent president Goodluck Jonathan, ex-military ruler Gen Ibrahim Babagida popularly known as IBB, ex-vice president in the fourth republic and former custom boss Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, Ovation magazine publisher and M.K.O Abiola protégé Bashorun Dele Momodu, Kwara State Governor and former senate leader in the second republic son, Bukola Saraki, Former anti-graft boss Mallam Nuhu Ribadu.
The last four years has been turbulent politically after the former president Olusegun Obasanjo 2nd term in office ended and a purported third term failed. There has been religious/ethnic unrest across the country, late president incapacitation, elections annulment, various impeachment, corruption charges, bank reforms, militancy and of recent Federal legislative scuffle just to name a few.
The 2007 general election countdown was marred by political grudges between President Olusegun Obasanjo and his ambitious vice, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. The election primaries were held and most importantly PDP presidential aspirant was chosen and he was in the person of President Olusegun Obasanjo long time family friend, Katsina governor Umar Musa Yara'adua, a man with no presidential aspiration and a well-named vice president Goodluck Jonathan were imposed by the President in favour of Rivers state governor Peter Odili.
The election was literally and vocally tagged the worst election ever held in Nigeria by both local and foreign observers (though the then electoral chairman Prof. Maurice Iwu claimed it was the best), the turnout was low, names were missing in the voting paper and in the voters register (names like Nelson Mandela, Bob Marley, the legendary Fela Anikulapo-Kuti and some fictional names were registered as voters, violence was used to gain and rig votes.
There have been radical changes at the electoral commission, and with assurance from the Presidency of fair play and a credible scholar (Prof. Attahiru Jega) in charge of the electoral commission, It is time for the change the Nigeria youth yearn for as witness in the last U.S.A presidential election, where the youth came out en masse to voice out and cast their vote, to have a say about the present in future, Nigeria youth has to come out and vote unlike the previous elections to determine who the next political office will be, the vote lies in our hands and we can only make it count by coming out to register and vote for credible people and not sell our future by selling our votes.
What has happen in the last fifty years should not be allowed to happen in the next fifty years, this change can only start from YOU and I.
