By Asikason Jonathan
At the homestretch of
the 2015 presidential election, the Goodluck Jonathan’s reelection campaign
team challenged the then candidate Muhammadu Buhari on a sport contest. When
the gauntlet was left unpicked, the team in a follow up, set the internet abuzz
with the juxtaposition of the pictures of President Jonathan and members of his
Federal Executive Council jogging and that of not-too-good- looking candidate
Buhari.
*Buhari |
The challenge which came on the heels of
simmering conjectures on the health condition of candidate Buhari was aimed at
passing one message which is: President Jonathan is healthier than candidate
Buhari to carry out the duties of the office of president of the Federal
Republic of Nigeria.
But was “health” given a premium in the
election? The vuvuzelas of the opposition party was so fortissimo that not even
the yawping of Governor Ayodele Fayose of Ekiti State
could be heard. They rally-cried “Nigeria sai changi” and people
responded with “Sai Buhari” and thus turned a blind eye to the critical issues
in the election.
That health is of premium in the electability of a candidate leaves no room for
argument. All public office –let alone the office of president– demands people
who are sound both in body and in mind so that efficiency and proficiency will
be brought to fruition in the exercise of the duties of the office.