All things being equal, Nigerians are expected to elect a new president on February 18, 2023.

Unlike never before, the next President has his job description clearly spelt out – to fix the current mess in the country.

As such, the country has to choose a kind of leader it has never elected before. He or she must clearly be above board, nationalistic, know something about everything, have the knack to exchange ideas, bridge builder, and be mentally fit for the seat.

If these parameters are lacking from the person that will take over from President Muhammadu Buhari in 2023, the beginning of the end of Nigeria may not be too far from sight.

For many citizens, the next general election is critical to the stability and sustenance of the country, hence, the need to critically vet those applying for the Aso Rock job.

While activities have started picking up among the two dominant parties, the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) with both getting prepared for their conventions, politicians and non-politicians have also started dropping names of potential presidential picks.

Perhaps to separate the wheat from the chaff, some influential Nigerians have lately been painting pictures of who will fit the bill as President Buhari’s successor.

Former Military President, General Ibrahim Babangida, was the first to set the criteria on the issue when he basically highlighted capacity and sound background as major criteria for the country’s next ‘saviour’.

Whilst Babangida represents different things to different people, his interventions and opinion in the affairs of Nigeria cannot be ignored at any point.

Speaking recently in a television interview, as part of activities marking his 80th birthday, Babangida ‘identified’ the qualities of the next president come 2023.

His words: “If you get a good leadership that links with the people and tries to talk with the people; not talking on top of the people, then we would be okay. I have started visualising a good Nigerian leader. That is, a person who travels across the country and has a friend virtually everywhere he travels to, and he knows at least one person that he can communicate with.

“That is a person, who is very versed in economics and is also a good politician, who should be able to talk to Nigerians and so on. I have seen one, or two or three of such persons already in his sixties. I believe so if we can get him.”

Also carving the qualities the next president should possess, Sokoto State Governor, Rt. Hon. Aminu Tambuwal, said Nigerians should lookout for someone that is tech-savvy, versatile, incorruptible and detribalised who will look beyond his religion and tribe when choosing a president in 2023.

Speaking recently in Lagos while delivering a paper titled, “Security challenges in Nigeria and its implications for sustainable development” during Richard Akinnola’s 63rd birthday lecture, Tambuwal, who is also the chairman of the PDP Governors Forum (PDP-GF), said the country needs a nationalistic leader in tune with modern technology, not a parochial leader.

Tambuwal said: “Nigeria needs a leader that is versatile. One that has friends and associates across the length and breadth of this country. A leader with a broad worldview and not a parochial and provincial politician.

“We need an incorruptible leader who understands that the best way to fight corruption is by personal examples and also by the building of strong institutions that can withstand shocks and manipulations. Nigeria needs a leader in tune with the times. Who is reasonably aware of the modern demands of technology in solving societal problems.”

Also speaking on who fits the bill for the 2023 presidency, Delta State Governor, Dr. Ifeanyi Okowa, said Nigeria brims with immense human and natural resources, and as such a responsible leadership should emerge at the next general election.

Okowa stated this last week in Lagos at the 2nd Annual Ripples Dialogue on the theme “Rebuilding Trust in a Divided Nigeria: Advancing the Conversation”.

The Delta Governor said, “As 2023 approaches, the focus should be on electing a pan Nigerian as president, a person with the capacity and charisma to cast a vision for Nigeria and rally all Nigerians behind it.

“We need a selfless, sacrificial, sincere, broadminded, caring and capable president that will inspire hope and confidence in the country; a leader who values merit over mediocrity, competence over cronyism, while upholding the fundamental principles of fairness, equity and justice.”

As permutation continues to mounts, some of the names already in the public domain for the 2023 presidency includes, former Governor of Lagos State and APC leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; former Vice President and presidential candidate of the PDP in the 2019 election, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar; the Governor of Ekiti State, who is also the Chairman of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum, Dr. Kayode Fayemi; former INEC Chairman, Prof. Attahiru Jega; former President of the Senate, Dr. Bukola Saraki; Governor Tambuwal; Transport Minister, Rotimi Amaechi, former Governor of Anambra State, Peter Obi and Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, among others.

As the list continues to swell on a daily basis, it is doubtful whether the two leading parties – APC and PDP – can align and work with the time-tested qualities spelt out above. But will the political platforms and players keep to this template, the answer remains in the womb of time.