Historically, I’ve been known to be optimistic, almost to the point of idiocy. That text asking to forward my BVN and secret pin to an unknown number? Probably legit. Instagram Green tea promising dangerously instantaneous weight loss written in pig latin? What could possibly go wrong? But when it comes to Nigeria and her politics? I pull a Beyonce and push all of my optimism to the left, favouring a long, hard stroll through Realist Avenue instead.

Nigeria is currently days away from making the decision as to who gets to be head huncho of its affairs, and then some — for the next four years. This date, as we all know was pushed by a week. While many bemoaned the inconvenience — my dour, realist self took it to be just one of many Nigerian sponsored – ‘disappointed but not surprised’ episodes.

What really should keep our attention and fan our worries is the fact that it is about to be someone’s job to hopefully take the economy from the toilet it is currently languishing in, and move our education from the cesspit of pre-civilisation it is teasingly slipping and sliding into. And let’s not forget, they’re about to be in charge of Nigeria’s insecurity problem that just won’t go away — no matter how much anyone wants to pretend it has been taken care of. Can your candidate handle this?

And not speaking from an ‘if you believe it, you can achieve it’ perspective. Do they have the tenacity required to push marauding herdsmen from the orbit of the everyday farmer just trying to get by? Do their policies, as advertised, have what it takes to keep Nigerians from risking it all for a Canadian visa, just for a shot at a better life? And godfathers? Is there a chance that their tenure will be marred by powers from above dictating the shots ? Can you beat your chest that your prospective candidate and his cabinet won’t turn Nigeria’s foreign reserves and earnings into a stylized shoulder bag, quick and easy to reach into for every personal expense? Will they abide by a government that awards corrupt politicians with added appointments and increased societal mettle? What about sparing Nigerians international disgrace and actually keep the laws of the country whose job their’s is, to preserve and uphold? With candidates for the 2019 elections crawling out of every crevice like little woodland creatures, it’s important to look beyond more Nigerians taking the time to be concerned about politics and ask the important questions. Does your guy sabi the work? Or are you voting simply to fulfill all righteousness?