By Anu Shoremekun
The gravitation of many Nigerians towards one of the foremost presidential candidates in the forth-coming election has left one wondering if providence would be a determinant factor in the emergence of the next President of Nigeria.
On Saturday 24th September 2022, I was riding in a taxi when one of the co-passengers suddenly requested to alight as soon as he saw the teeming supporters of one of foremost presidential candidate marching the street of Abuja. Although this rider who alighted had barely gone half of the journey he paid for, he opted to pay the complete taxi fare just to join the supporters who were having a peaceful solidarity march.
As we continued the journey, I kept pondering on what may have made the young man disembark from his original journey just to join a solidarity march in support of a presidential candidate. One thing that was lucid was that the commuter was not financial induced to join the solidarity march. Rather, he was spontaneously attracted to the cause. Could this be providence?
Days after, a notable socio-cultural group announced their decision to support the same presidential candidate the commuter alighted to join his solidarity walk. Surprisingly, this socio-cultural group abandoned a presidential candidate of their ethnic extraction only to endorse another candidate from a different ethnic group. Could this also be providence at work?
With nostalgia, I looked back at the political journey of this presidential candidate and observed that his humble presidential ambition has continued to blossom by the day. From his resignation from his previous party to becoming the presidential candidate of his current party, it appears an unforseen hand may be propelling this candidate.
This darling candidate has arguably created an upset in the recent history of presidential elections in Nigeira, from a contest between two main political parties we now have what some have come to describe as a three-horse contest. The swelling popularity of this third party and its candidate is also an indication of providence.
Also, the seemingly intractable crises bedevilling the parties of the major candidates contesting against this candidate also seems to be another hand of providence.
As we approach the 2023 presidential election, keen observers like myself are waiting to see how far this candidate can go and how much the electorates will be obidient to the wind of providence.
▪︎Shoremekun is a public affairs analyst based in Abuja and can be reached via email on shoremekunjoseph@gmail.com