By Dr. Tunde Olusunle and Dan Okereke

It is crunch time, and Nigeria decides. We, the people, have reached a point of no return. When it is time to vote, what issues are most pressing for Nigerians? That is if you are willing to ignore the immeasurable suffering the corrupt and incompetent APC government inflicted on the people. The economy has collapsed, inflation is running high, unemployment is at an all-time high, and the wanton killing of innocent citizens has become the order of the day. But we are not ignoring these eight years of suffering inflicted on us by the ruling APC government. How could we?

Similarly, Nigeria is dealing with several issues that endanger the country’s stability and unity. Many factors erode the country’s social cohesion, but some of the most important ones are internal conflicts, restiveness, insurgencies, agitations, and religious intolerance. This is very concerning because it threatens national security and unity and undermines the progress of democracy.

However, a critical examination of the Atiku Abubakar policy document: “My Covenant with Nigerians,” points to hope from this misery. Atiku brings hope.

The escalation of tensions and disputes is one of Nigeria’s most pressing problems today. Politics of gimmickry by fraudulent APC politicians, coupled with Buhari’s anti-people economic policies that have impoverished millions of Nigerians, primarily fuel these tensions, and in turn, they provoke violent conflicts in different parts of the country. The social fabric of Nigeria has also been severely weakened due to this, with people becoming increasingly divided along ethnic and religious lines.

How do we recover Nigeria from the wreckage of APC misrule? How do we substitute identity politics with national consciousness and return Nigeria to the path of unity and national cohesion?

Nigeria is facing a wide range of complex problems. The need for immediate action to resolve these problems and preserve national harmony and safety is evident. The government, civil society, and the private sector will need to work together to accomplish this. Nigeria’s future is at stake if these problems aren’t solved, so prompt action is required to protect the country’s stability and cohesion.

Identity politics and a lack of social justice have weakened Nigeria’s unity. However, if Nigeria’s incredibly diverse population can learn to work together and find common ground, there is hope for mending the country’s fractured social fabric. This is the central message of the Atiku Abubakar Presidential Campaign manifesto. Nigeria is in a terrible mess caused by greedy, needy, visionless APC moneybags and mercenary political adventurers. But Atiku Abubakar offers hope. Nigeria is redeemable. All hope is not lost. The five-point Agenda in Atiku Abubakar’s Policy document clearly and constructively outlined how a new Nigeria can be birthed.

To ensure that everyone’s opinions are considered, this process must be open and based on collective negotiation. By acting this way, we can eliminate the factors contributing to identity politics while also addressing the underlying causes of tension and conflict.

For Nigeria to be one, social justice must be a top priority. Nigerians trust Atiku to unite the nation because his political trajectory hinges on bringing people together and forming lasting national cohesion. His politics have centered around ensuring that all citizens’ needs are met, regardless of race, religion, or economic standing. Over the decades, Atiku Abubakar has built bridges across national divides and pursued economic policies that have helped build a more equitable society where every Nigerian has a sense of belonging and a chance to make a positive impact. The resentments that fuel identity politics will also be alleviated with this.

Bringing together people from different walks of life and helping them find common ground is crucial in pursuing national unity. This procedure needs to be open and frank, with everyone’s input being considered. Doing so can help Nigeria’s diverse population learn to trust and understand one another, which can help heal the wounds inflicted by identity politics.

The Atiku Abubakar policy proposal addresses the root causes of tension and conflict. It proposes how to neutralize the harmful elements that fuel identity politics with transparent and collective negotiation to ensure that all voices are heard, and all perspectives are considered.

An inclusive society in which all Nigerians feel valued and empowered to contribute to their communities can be achieved by prioritizing social justice, treating all citizens equally, and ensuring their basic needs are met, regardless of ethnicity, religion, or socioeconomic status. The resentments that fuel identity politics will also be alleviated with this.