Agenda 2015: Why Sanusi Should be a Presidential Candidate?

No other state in the world has been so thirsty for a new brand of leadership like Nigeria. From both sides of the Atlantic, there is a growing scarcity for that leadership that can help the world manage today’s tensions and challenges while helping it take the leap into the new world. Most of the world’s leaders have not performed creditably well in managing aspirations and realities. It is from this fallout that the world stares blankly into the stars with hope so tired out.

In Nigeria, tomorrow is in a hurry to show up. But the leadership with that capacity remains scarce. But there is a silver lining. One that represents our tomorrow. Our tomorrow should depict this: new national ideals and heritage, confidence, morality and character, a robust economy and eternal love for the state and pursuit of global dominance; it desires the man with such embodiment, the skill-set and knowledge base plus the grace and savviness in stormy times like now. Sanusi is such!

Sanusi peer from his fine rimmed glass like a professor but with that street-smartness to handle the hazy issues and bring them to resolve. Where others rush through and miss the mark, his crave for details and sagacity has become legendary and his enemies cannot hide their admiration. It has saved the banking sector from near total collapse and demise-Helping the economy see a bright light where it has lived in the dark.

Why a Sanusi as a presidential candidate? Almost all our presidents are case studies in poor negotiation skill and unpreparedness towards power. They never dreamt of exercising power someday neither do they understand any form the workings of the economy. They are hardly prepared or reluctant wannabe-rulers or presidents. I am sure Sanusi would have dreamt of this this-A day that afforded him the opportunity to clean the rot in the banking sector as well as show to the world the hefty salaries the legislators were receiving. A day to show deftness in policy formulation and execution.

Much of the turmoil in our system is driven by a lack of confidence in the ability of policymakers to boost economic activity and resolve long-standing government problems. A Sanusi presidential candidature is a winner any day in the regard.

While we have witnessed worst political scandals and episodes of presidential misconduct and immorality in our nation’s history, Sanusi’s activities and past point to a life of moral character and this will be expressly be the tone in his administration.  Nwachukwu Egbunike observed while writing in Vanguard of 31 December 2010,  that in a country where “many are afraid to speak plainly to power” Sanusi deserves recognition “for saying the truth and not denying it; standing firm and not fizzling out before an irrational mob”. He concluded that Nigeria could certainly be transformed, if it had more men like him.

Strikingly too, Sanusi professional life is serenaded by quotable quotes on him with regards to all the multi-faceted problems plaguing the country. Is it in the area of foreign policy, oil and gas, power, health, education, provision of employment and infrastructure for the country? For others, we can hardly point towards any. A lot of our phony leaders can hardly point to their stand on Nigeria’s economic revival and taking her place in the 21st century.

The Sanusi we know does not kowtow to praises which is wine of our phony leaders. When he was called “Mr. Central Bank Governor” he was rather irritated and not blown away into that planet where egos are sweetly massaged and quality leadership wiped out. He wouldn’t budged nor be beaten into the path of apologizing where he knew he was correct.

For as long as government has the power to influence relative income shares and market profitability of people in the society through its ability to tax, regulate, and redistribute, we need a Sanusi to leader us in other to check the possibilities of political corruption. Sanusi has shown his ability to render service to the nation without bestowing privileges and favors which is the preoccupation of phony politicians.

21st century economies need men of Sanusi’s caliber in power. It is because his managerial acumen and experience in Risk Management and Control. For our economy that has gone through decades of executive recklessness and impunity, a Sanusi candidacy come 2015 is a cure to this malaise. He is not just qualified as governor of its apex bank but because of his tempered mien and sincere disclosure.

Consequently, there is a huge improvement in a banking sector of the economy thereby enhancing the quality of banks, establishing financial stability, enabling healthy financial sector evolution and ensuring that the financial sector contributes to the real economy. He said that the Wahhabist rhetoric of fundamentalists runs counter to genuine Muslim interests. He holds the view that while Sharia is religious, it is not divine; and that its application is neither uniform in all Muslim societies nor static over time.

Sanusi is an enlightened capitalist and a beneficiary of capitalism. He has been hailed by many as the man who exposed some of the country’s billionaires with financial flaws and also as big debtors who were siphoning millions of dollars as loans to enrich themselves. Seriously, his reforms are appreciated by the World Bank, International Monetary Fund (IMF) and other global financial bodies. And this has earned honour beyond the shores of Nigeria as best Central Bank governor of the year, who punished the financial loot and recklessness of Bank’s chief while the West couldn’t.

Finally, he will be a candidate of choice come 2015 as recognized by many as having fought a courageous battle to cleanse the banking industry. Also, popularly adored and respected for speaking out for millions of Nigerians, against the federal legislature’s consumption of a disproportionate share of the national budget when 70% of the populace lived below $2 per day. In this era of nimble government we need a Sanusi to cut the excess flesh in governance and everything ill-governance.