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Nigeria's Presidential Candidates Include Charismatic Incumbent,
Anti-Corruption Reformers

   There are nearly two dozen presidential candidates for Nigeria's
   highest office, the presidency. But opinion polls indicate that four of
   them have the greatest chance of winning. They are incumbent President
   Goodluck Jonathan, who is from Nigeria's southern Delta region, and
   three from the north: former general Muhammadu Buhari, Kano State
   governor Ibrahim Shekarau, and well-known anti-corruption activist,
   Nuhu Ribadu. Voters will determine which of the four they think can
   best handle the country's problems, which include corruption,
   unemployment and erratic energy supplies.

   William Eagle | Washington, DC  April 11, 2011

   President Goodluck Jonathan is popular in many parts of the country. In
   2007, Jonathan, the former governor of Bayelsa state, ran as the vice
   presidential candidate on the ticket of the ruling People's Democratic
   Party. He and presidential candidate Umaru Yar'Adua won, and Jonathan
   took power nine months ago after the president died.

   Jonathan has promised that as head of state, he will end discrimination
   against minorities in government. He's also introduced ambitious
   programs to develop the country's gas reserves and privatize the
   long-stagnant state-run energy company. According to Reuters, he says
   that effort will help strengthen Nigeria's petrochemical and fertilizer
   industry and will also create up to half a million jobs.

   Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan, one of nearly two dozen
   candidates for the presidency

AFP

   Nigerian President Goodluck Jonathan

   Abimbola Olakunle, a political analyst and columnist for The Nation
   newspaper in Lagos, offers his view of the president.

   "Jonathan is first presidential candidate in Nigeria to have a PhD,"
   says Olakunle, "but for a PhD holder, he seems to lack clinical
   appraisal of policy, leaving many to think that he lacks rigor in
   thinking and proper analysis and grasp of issues. He just might be
   swayed by emotions and passions. But he doesn't have the arrogance of
   those who have come before him."

   Empowering the powerless

   Emmanuel Iffer, a former news editor with the Leadership newspaper,
   says others, especially from Nigeria's smaller ethnic groups, feel
   empowered by Jonathan, who comes from a family of canoe makers from the
   minority Ijaw group in Delta State.

   "[For] the vast majority of minorities in the south or the north
   central part of the country," says Iffer, "the Jonathan presidency
   gives hope to every Nigerian no matter [how small the ethnic group}.
   Some people are saying 'if this man is from this area and becomes
   president, it helps me. It gives me hope I or my child could also
   tomorrow be anything in the country.'"

   Anti-corruption credentials

   Close behind Jonathan in opinion polls is retired general Muhammadu
   Buhari of the Congress for Progressive Change. Buhari briefly led
   Nigeria as a military ruler in the early 1980's.

   Iffer says many remember him for his strong stand against corruption
   and for his other experience on the national level.

   Muhammadu Buhari, former military ruler and Presidential candidate for
   the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), speaks during the flag-off
   of the presidential campaign at Mapo square, Ibadan

Reuters

   Muhammadu Buhari, former military ruler and Presidential candidate for
   the Congress for Progressive Change (CPC), enjoys strong
   anti-corruption credentials.

   "He's been governor (of North-Eastern State), a minister for petroleum,
   a head of state, and also the chair of the (development agency) The
   Petroleum Trust Fund," says Iffer. "A lot of Nigerians believe he has
   credibility. This is his strength. His weakness is the perception that
   he is pro-Islam and anti-Christian."

   Many say Buhari has effectively dealt with the issue. He's one of
   several presidential candidates who are working to attract more voters
   ' by choosing running mates from different geographical areas or with
   different religious backgrounds.

   Balancing the tickets

   Auwal Musa Rafsanjani is the executive director of the Civil Society
   Legislative Advocacy Center in Abuja.

   "One of the smartest [things] Buhari has done," says Rafsanjani, "was
   to get a [Christian televangelist] pastor [Tunde Bakare] to be his
   running mate. Before Buhari chose his vice president, it had been a
   campaign issue for the ruling party to [portray] him as a religious
   person [and an extremist], but by picking the pastor, he neutralized
   the issue. Most people now are not voting on basis of Muslim-Christian,
   but are looking into other variables."

   Tough on graft

   Sometimes compared to General Buhari is anti-corruption activist Nuhu
   Ribadu. As the head of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission,
   and former policeman, Ribadu took action against powerful governors
   suspected of graft and other forms of malfeasance.

   Dr. Jibrin Ibrahim of the Center for Democracy and Development in Abuja
   says although Ribadu has never run for elected office, he nevertheless
   remains influential as a candidate of the Action Congress of Nigeria,
   or CAN.

   People wait to be registered at a polling station at Oyeleye in Ibadan,
   Nigeria, Saturday, April 9, 2011

AP

   People wait to be registered at a polling station at Oyeleye in Ibadan,
   Nigeria.

   "His advantage," explains Ibrahim,"is he is contesting for a party that
   has done quite well in the (recent legislative elections). The
   assumption is he'll be able to gather the ACN votes which cover the
   southwest zone. (where the ACN routed the PDP incumbents). But in terms
   of numbers, he will not be able to get as many votes as Buhari would."

   Eloquent speaker, able administrator

   Rounding out the top four candidates is Ibrahim Shekarau, a two-term
   governor of Kano State and candidate of the All Nigeria Peoples Party,
   ANPP. [1]Nigeria's Leadership newspaper says 'many consider his tenure
   as one of the longest periods of (inter-ethnic) peace in the state.' He
   is also credited with improving the state infrastructure, including the
   building of new roads and water treatment plants.

   Democracy activist Jibrin Ibrahim says many viewers were impressed
   during televised debates between Shekarau, Buhari and Ribadu in
   mid-March.

   "He was able to do a good critique of the inadequacies of the (ruling)
   PDP administration," says Ibrahim. "He was also quite eloquent and able
   to put his arguments together in a way that people found convincing.
   (However), I don't think he stands much of a chance because in his own
   geopolitical zone [the north] he is overshadowed by Buhari, who is more
   popular and charismatic."

   Unless any of these candidates drop out of the race this week, they are
   expected to be on next Saturday's ballot.

   The winner must have a majority of the popular vote, including in 24 of
   the country's 36 states, plus the Federal Capital Territory, the city
   of Abuja.

References

   1. http://leadersandlegacy.com/2011/01/19/who-is-ibrahim-shekarau-profile-of-the-anpp-presidential-candidate/