Former presidential aspirant and convener of the YesWeFit Revolutionary Movement, Dr. Thomas-Wilson Ikubese, has called on President Bola Tinubu to shift focus from early politicking ahead of the 2027 elections and concentrate on delivering effective governance.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Good Morning Show during a segment titled “2027 Election: Justice, Corruption & Democratic Future,” Ikubese warned that the growing wave of political defections is being driven purely by election calculations, not ideology or commitment to service.
“The rate of defections we’re seeing—and will continue to see—is clearly driven by the approaching 2027 elections,” he said. “Politicians are focused on securing re-election and power retention, not on the welfare of the people.”
Ikubese questioned the ideological clarity between Nigeria’s two major parties, the APC and PDP, noting a lack of distinction in their governance philosophies. “If I ask you now, what’s the ideological difference between APC and PDP? Can you point to any?” he asked. “There’s no clear distinction.”
Citing Abia State Governor Alex Otti as a positive example, Ikubese emphasized that impactful governance is a product of vision and leadership, not party platform. “Governor Otti is performing because he has a clear vision and values accountability, transparency, and leadership. His success is not party-dependent,” he said.
Addressing concerns about Nigeria slipping into a one-party state, Ikubese played down the fear, noting that what truly matters is quality leadership, not the number of political parties. “How many parties are active in Rwanda or Burkina Faso? It’s not about the number, it’s about governance, transparency, and true leadership.”
He lamented that politicians were more concerned with staying in power than solving Nigeria’s pressing issues. “We keep putting the wrong people in power and expect results they are not wired to deliver. It’s like expecting a man to get pregnant—it’s biologically impossible,” he remarked.
Ikubese proposed key reforms aimed at curbing corruption and professionalizing governance. These include a single, six-year, non-renewable term for elected officials to reduce constant politicking; creation of a Special Anti-Corruption Court with a six-month trial deadline and life imprisonment for offenders; monthly publication of income and expenditure by all government arms to foster transparency; and a drastic reduction in the cost of nomination forms to encourage genuine public servants to participate in politics.
“How can you ask someone to pay N100 million to declare interest in running for president? That’s an investment they’ll surely want to recover once in office,” he argued.
Ikubese concluded by emphasizing that making public office less attractive to corrupt individuals is essential to Nigeria’s future. He expressed hope that if such reforms were enacted, citizens of integrity—like retired teachers and school heads—would step up to lead.
“Let’s make political office unattractive to political thieves. That was part of my manifesto in 2019 and it remains valid today,” he said.
Comments