State of the Nation: Ikubese to Tinubu — Focus on governance, not 2027 election
Speaking on the Good Morning Show on Channels TV during a segment titled “2027 Election: Justice, Corruption & Democratic Future,” Ikubese emphasized the importance of governance over political maneuvering.
On Defections and Political Ideology: When asked about the recent wave of defections ahead of the 2027 general elections, Ikubese noted: “The rate of defections we’re seeing—and will continue to see—is clearly driven by the approaching 2027 elections. Politicians want to retain their positions and secure re-election, which means they need more votes. At the presidential level, for instance, the more states your party controls, the easier it is to win re-election. That’s essentially what we are witnessing.”
Ikubese questioned the ideological differences between the APC and PDP, stating: “What’s the real difference in ideology between these two parties? If I ask you now, what’s the ideological difference between APC and PDP? Can you point to any? There’s no clear distinction.”
He argued that governance should be the priority, not politicking, and used Abia State Governor Alex Otti as an example of performance driven by vision, not party affiliation:
“Otti is performing because he has a clear vision, believes in accountability, transparency, and leadership. His success isn’t party-dependent.”
On One-Party State Fears: Ikubese dismissed concerns about a one-party state, stating:
“How many parties are active in Rwanda or Burkina Faso? What matters is not the number of political parties but the quality of governance, true leadership, transparency, and accountability.”
He lamented that politicians are more focused on clinging to power and recycling themselves, neglecting true governance.
“We’re putting the wrong people in power and expecting results they’re not wired to deliver. It’s like expecting a man to get pregnant—it’s biologically impossible.”
On Reforms and Governance:
Ikubese proposed several reforms to address corruption and improve governance:
Single, non-renewable six-year term for elected officials to avoid excessive politicking.
Special Anti-Corruption Court to handle corruption cases within six months, with life imprisonment without the option of a fine as a deterrent.
Monthly publication of income and expenditure by all government arms, similar to the EFCC’s public statements.
Reduce the cost of nomination forms for political office to encourage genuine public servants instead of wealthy power-seekers.
“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 in office.”
Ikubese’s Vision for True Leadership: Ikubese believes that if these reforms are implemented, only those genuinely committed to public service will step forward.
“We’ll see retired teachers, school heads—honest citizens—taking up leadership roles.”
He concluded by stressing the need to make political offices unattractive to political thieves, adding that this was a key part of his 2019 manifesto.
