NIGERIANS are interested in knowing when Nigerian candidates for the 2010 election will emerge. There are many candidates with campaigns that proudly display their identity as sectional candidates. They are out to represent sectional interests.

We can easily say sectional interests come along the lines of religion, region, or relationship. Sectional interest in Nigerian politics includes class interest and is increasingly becoming personal interest.

None of the candidates, to date, is telling Nigerians what he intends to do for them, beyond the hackneyed list of things that are wrong with Nigeria, which they claim they will correct.

The quest for the Presidency is far more important to the candidates than their ability and individual qualifications. Do they care what happens to the country under their watch? Are they interested in policies that will benefit the common people?

It is the same story everywhere. Presidential candidates stake their claim to the throne with the base refrain that it is their turn (to eat?). Governorship candidates speaking unabashedly about their section of the state having not produced a governor! It is enough reason for their aspiration.

Candidates for legislative seats and even those waiting for political appointments parade the same argument; in fact, it is their major credential. Programmes are unimportant. Competence is a word that distracts representation (federal character, zoning, geographical spread) and other encumbrances that we have built forestall competition of ideas and reward of excellence.

Nigeria is in a flux. Politicians sidestep the critical crises that are battering the base of the country as they look with gleeful deception into their future. For them, it is all about elections. It is important to win elections, not minding that the courts could reverse the results almost at the tenure of the man who did not win.

It is all about democracy. Once the elections are held regularly and one set takes over from the other, all is well. Any suggestions to the contrary will be rated mischievous reaction meant to distract those who are sacrificing their time and businesses serving Nigerians.

In the South-East, universities have been shut for more than five months. It does not seem as if they will be re-opened soon. This has not slackened the pace of politicians from the zone. They are fighting themselves over whom to support to be president, while the future of thousands of their relations is on hold. Kidnapping thrives; the authorities cannot arrest their leaders, who may provide the kidnappers as thugs for the elections.

The Boko Haram sect and the troubles it means in the North-East are considered of interest because there are fears there may be no election in those places, without peace. Security of the people is important so that they can vote.

Things are not different in other parts of the country. Condemnations about militants in the Niger Delta are rooted in the disruptions the attacks impose on the economy. The economy in this case is the capacity of governments throughout the federation to access their monthly revenue allocations from crude oil sales. If militants do not interfere with revenue available to governments, who will bother?

Whether it is in the South-West, where the wheels of industrial prosperity the nation once enjoyed is grinding to a halt, no thanks to collapsing infrastructure, or the North-Central, once the food basket of the country, but without facilities to preserve what it produces, Nigeria is in a bad shape. In the North-West, the flooding received quick attention because elections are near.

Arguments about the state of the economy do not bear out the silencing of rural Nigeria. Many parts of the country are cut off from civilisation  — no roads, no electricity, no health facilities and no school — but someone will remember them soon because their votes are important.

At election time, we expect the impact of 12 years of civil rule (by 2011) should be reflecting on new values that politicians would have imbibed. Governments are supposed to work for the people; it is a myth. The closest people get to governments is during campaigns when everyone needs the votes.

Why are politicians not talking about the future of Nigeria? Why is their interest restricted to winning elections, at all cost, including some lives their thugs will terminate if they will help their bosses to get ahead.
Nigerians want Nigerian candidates in the race.

These are candidates who think for the good of the common people, who have the time, compassion, knowledge and humility to serve Nigerians. It will not take too long to confirm the selfish interests of candidates in the elections.

We hope campaigns on these elections are based on issues. It is no longer enough to tell Nigerians fanciful stories of the future when our foreign reserves are depleted, electricity is not working and those in government see their positions as opportunities to loot the country.

Let the Nigerian candidates arise and tackle these challenges.