•Also assesses their strengths and weaknesses

By CHIOMA UGBOMA

A former President of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Dr Olisa Agbakoba (SAN), on Wednesday gave an assessment of frontline 2027 presidential hopefuls, insisting that the best candidate should be chosen based on policy outlook.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Agbakoba stated this at a news conference tagged: “Devolution is the Solution. Foundational Reform Agenda for Nigeria’s Transformation.

Speaking on the hopefuls, Agbakoba said: “President Bola Tinubu has engaged in fundamental policy corrections, including, fuel subsidy removal, forex market harmonisation, and tax reforms amongst others.

“These interventions are technically correct and necessary. However, President Tinubu is yet to address the issues on federalism and devolution of powers.”

Agbakoba said that former vice president Atiku Abubakar, the 2023 presidential candidate of the PDP, appeared to understand Nigeria’s fundamental issues of devolution.

“Abubakar played a pivotal role in the Olusegun Obasanjo administration’s reforms but was cast aside, and that ended the fundamental reforms of that era.

“The former vice president’s historical understanding of restructuring is evident but whether he can deliver on these fundamental issues going forward, with clear timelines and unwavering commitment remains to be demonstrated.

Agbakoba said that Mr Peter Obi, the 2023 presidential candidate of the Labour Party “brings fresh perspectives and innovation ideas to Nigeria’s challenges.

“However, whether Obi possesses the political architecture, coalition-building capacity and institutional leverage to implement transformational reforms remains an open question requiring scrutiny.”

He said that Nigeria’s challenges are not policy failures but system outputs.

The senior advocate of Nigeria said that Nigeria suffered from extreme over centralisation, creating a capacity trap where the Federal government is overburdened and subnational governments underpowered.

He said that every 2027 presidential candidate must answer questions on delivering a new constitution, implementing genuine devolution of powers, and establishing fiscal federalism with resource control.

“All candidates will answer questions on withdrawing government completely from business, empowering private sector as economic driver, and achieving double-digit GPD growth?

“The candidates must also tell Nigerians if they would implement a single -digit interest rates and functional credit system, unlock N25-35 trillion in identified revenue opportunities , develop critical minerals up to 20-30 billion dollars annually, and transform infrastructure, judiciary and institutions.’

Agbakoba said he is not interested in political parties or any candidate but the ability of politicians to deliver good governance and making life more meaningful for Nigerians.

He said politicians must be more concerned about the structural foundation of Nigeria which remained the way out.

He lamented that no presidential hopeful is championing real devolution in spite of being very vocal about it.

On criteria for presidential selection in 2027, Agbakoba said the candidate with the best policy outlook on devolution, private sector empowerment and revenue generation is the leader Nigeria needs.

“Any candidate unable to articulate clear, time-bound commitments to foundational reforms should be disqualified from serious consideration.

“If constitutional replacement, fiscal federalism, genuine devolution, and revenue generation measure outlined are fully implemented, Nigeria will enter a Golden Age.

“This golden age is not a distant dream. It can begin within five years of implementing these reforms, the foundations laid by 2030 will produce prosperity, lasting generations. (NAN, but headline rejigged)