2023 general election is a defining moment for Nigeria as a nation. Any attempt to rig the poll may lead to unpleasant consequences for the country.
By Emeka Alex Duru
Any attempts by the Nigerian authorities and desperate politicians to rig the 2023 general elections, may ignite fire on the country that may be disastrous. To stave off the catastrophe that may result from such untoward acts, the only way out, is to allow free and fair elections, let Nigerians select who they want to lead them, genuinely.
These are the remarks by foremost industrialist and Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), presidential aspirant, Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa, in an exclusive interview with TheNiche, in his Lagos office.
Ohuabunwa, who described his aspiration as divinely motivated, promises to bring on board a presidency that is anchored on leadership experience with focus on wealth creation and in management of the country’s diversities.
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He argues that with his strides in corporate governance and successful leadership of professional organisations, he stands in good stead to infuse in the country a leadership that will encourage development and wealth creation.
“I have led organisations that are multi-ethnic diverse. I left each one of them better than I met it. Talk of National Economic Summit Group (NESG), Nigerian Employers Consultative Assembly (NECA), Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN)
etc.
“I build, I leave legacies. So, I am bringing that understanding that the focal thing for any president, is development. If I become president, my title will remain president but my function will be minister of investment because I understand that what can make an economy grow is investment- local or foreign. And to create an investment haven, you must create an enabling environment” he asserts.
Though not a money bag but appreciating the role of money in politics, Ohuabunwa, insists that not having enormous war chest would not deter him from the race.
He hopes rather, that with combined efforts of the people who believe in his aspiration and who are supporting his cause, he would be able to confront whoever that comes across in the contest. Another factor that informs his thinking is his conviction that Nigerians are becoming slightly wiser that money is not all, having collected money severally without visible change in their life.
“You see, when new things have to happen, the rules begin to change. They may not be visible. My coming out has a motivation that I believe, is divine. Permit me to say so. I am trusting that those things that define our politics will begin to mellow.
“If we continue to do Nigerian politics the way it is being done – war chest, stolen money or money that has been gotten from the devil somewhere, where you have to go and sign agreements and sell your soul so that when you become a governor or president, they put their pipe and start collecting their money back and you can’t do roads, bridges or provide light, this country will not change”, he stressed.
He empathized with Nigerians for having a country that has leaders that don’t seem to understand the import of leadership. Leadership, he said, is not office and not merely being president but the vision and ability to influence positive outcomes and get people to do so, happily, even when they are in pains. Ohuabunwa, a pharmacist, is former managing director of Neimeth.
The current Nigerian leaders, he argued, lack these qualities, hence his desire to step out.
Watch out for the excerpts of the interview….