With
the less than four months to the general elections in Nigeria, endorsement game
has been taking different dimensions. The two leading political parties’ candidates
have been endorsed and still being endorsed by individuals, interest groups and
international establishments like media.
Infoprations’
monitoring of the endorsement game shows that Nigerians did not believe that
The Economist's, a London-based intelligence magazine, endorsement will contribute to the
victory of Alhaji Atiku Abubakar, the People’s
Democratic Party’s candidate. Analysis reveals that Nigerians
believe that alleged corruption linked to the party and some chieftains would affect
Alhaji Atiku’s victory despite being endorsed by the renowned medium.
Apart
from the corrupt practices linked to the stakeholders, Nigerians were of the
view that The Economist must have
been paid for the endorsement to play up the PDP’s candidate credibility and
capability to Nigerians. “On whose interest is The
Economist’s endorsement? Obviously not for the poor masses in Nigeria,” Owolabi
Anifowose stressed.
For the Nigerians, who supported
the endorsement based on good governance, Alhaji Atiku has done it as Vice
President and head of the economy, stabilizing the economy. “You stabilized the
economy that help pay up salary arrears from decades, clear up our national
debts and built up foreign reserves with our GDP grew at the fastest rate
despite oil prices then were hovering between $16 and $28, between 1999 and
2003, yet the economy was able to attract investment to create private jobs.”
Costly Signaling for The Economist
From the analysis, it also emerged that The Economist is likely to run into a reputation crisis in Nigeria.
For instance, the magazine has been warned by the Nigerian government to desist
from “false
predictions” for the country. “By endorsing a candidate, you are running
the risk of losing your reputation. It has to be the case that there's some
risk to the person that's saying it,” an expert noted.
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