The news that Wiebe Boer a Dutch Nigerian, is not running for governor of plateau state has left me a little upset.
This appeared as a breath of fresh air out of nowhere, and I am not suggesting Wiebe Boer was going to win, but just the thought of a “white man” running for governorship in Nigeria had me in butterflies.
Maybe the news came out to gauge reactions – is Nigeria ready for this? Maybe this was nothing more than an idea floated to him by someone. Whatever the case, it would have been a masterstroke for Nigerian politics. Mind you, Wiebe Boer has come out to debunk the claims. But the cat is now out of the bag.
Would Mr Wiebe have become the first white European Governor in Africa? And in Nigeria? Nigeria sets the lead in Africa, so it had to happen in Nigeria. With the lack of trust in Nigerian leadership at its highest, I think he would have stood a chance of winning.
If it was true, this appointment would have brought the spotlight into Nigerian politics, it would have taken Nigeria up a notch socially, and brought us closer western ties. With many Nigerians currently occupying top political positions everywhere in the World from Australia, USA, Europe and the UK. This would have just been WOW!
That white people can find top opportunities in our political system like the type we have found in the western world would have come as a big plus. Wiebe Boer has worked in Nigeria, he knows the terrain and maybe he should think again about his ambitions. My hope is that we have not scared him off; for this is a door we need to open. It brings fresh Air into Nigerian politics.