Young leaders for Nigeria are in high demand in recent election times. HENRY ODUAH profiles the “torchbearer” who has since become the figurehead of such calls.
Elections are fast approaching, more so if the dates remain unaltered after the most recent alterations by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) from February 14 and 28 to March 28 and April 11.
One would not be quick to blame Nigerians, as only matters concerning Jonathan and Buhari make the headlines. Nobody seems to pay attention to what the other presidential candidates have to say and perhaps offer.
Presidential candidate of the United Democratic Party (UDP), Barrister Godson Mgbodile Ohaenyem Okoye, presents us with the case of an unfamiliar face in the political sphere. It might even be surprising to some Nigerians that besides Jonathan and Buhari, there are 12 more candidates representing different political parties and requesting votes to land the top job in Nigeria.
Okoye, who also doubles as the national chairman of the UDP, was born in 1963 in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. He emerged as the flag-bearer of the party for the upcoming presidential elections at the party’s special delegate national convention held in Owerri, Imo State, in December 2014.
After his emergence, he told a national daily: “Nigeria has passed through several momentous stages in her march towards statehood, but none will be as strategic, challenging and significant as the election of 2015 because any government that will emerge from that election must be rich in people-oriented ideology and completely aligned to the patriotic effort of Nigerians for it to be accountable and transparent.
“My vision is to make Nigeria secure and prosperous, through effective governance to overcome our current educational, security and power problems. My goal will be to create jobs for all those who want to work and economic opportunity for all those who want to achieve.
“I am passionate about rescuing Nigerians from the politics of the ‘stomach infrastructure’ through our mission of stopping government of a person, by a person, for a person. I have the will, the depth of passion, faith, the intellectual and strategic platform to get the job done.
“It is our objective to reclaim the soul of Nigeria from the evil cabal that has held it hostage for a long time and then embark on a reconciliation drive. Thereafter, we will reform the style of politicking in Nigeria, by de-emphasising the role of money.”
The barrister attended St. Peter’s Primary School in Eziagu, Aguluezechukwu, Local Government Area in Anambra State. He then completed primary education at Rumola/Rumadolu Primary School, Port Harcourt.
His secondary education began in 1976 at Government Secondary School, Creek Road, Port Harcourt. That same year, he parted ways with the school and returned to Anambra where he joined Aguata High School, Aguata. There he completed what was left of secondary education from 1977 to 1981.
Unsatisfied with his tour around the nation, Okoye sought admission for tertiary education in South West Nigeria and, fortunately, the University of Lagos (UNILAG) offered him admission to study Law from 1984 to 1987. Upon completion, Okoye cemented his law studies at the Nigerian Law School, Victoria Island, Lagos, from 1987 to 1988.
Okoye learnt the ropes of legal practice as a fresh lawyer in a law firm, Toyin Anifowoshe & Co. He was with the firm from 1989 to 1991. With his eyes set on his own law firm, Okoye put to work all he had learnt in school and on the job by setting up Godson M. O. Okoye & Co. in 1991. In 1993, an alliance which he went into gave birth to a new brand called Nnoli & Okoye Chambers Senate president’s office for two years (2002 to 2004). Thereafter, he returned to his chamber.
As a matter of fact, Okoye is not in the bracket of novices in politics, as he has contested and sadly tasted defeat several times. He contested and lost the governorship elections in Anambra in 2010 and 2013. Despite running on the platform of a relatively new political party, Okoye came fourth in the 2010 election which saw Peter Obi retain his position as governor. He re-contested in 2013, in an election that saw Willie Obiano of the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA) as the eventual winner of that contest.
Okoye, after contesting and losing the 2010 and 2013 governorship elections in Anambra, has not given up on his dream of having a “change in all key sectors in Nigeria”. Minding the fact that only a handful of Nigerians are aware that Okoye is vying for the position of the presidency, one can only but imagine if anyone knows Okoye’s running mate, Haruna Adamu.
In fact, while the APC preaches change, Okoye and his party are clamouring for generational change. In that regard, Okoye’s age can be said to be in agreement with his call for a shift to a government run by a much younger generation.
As part of his manifesto, Okoye says that in the new Nigeria he envisions “courage will replace fear; competence will replace mediocrity, character will replace buffoonery, conviction will replace coercion, candour will replace charlatanry, consultation will replace confrontation, civility will replace aggression, and reason will replace violence”.
Media houses have become more at home with his statement which borrows some lines from the famous one-time United States President, Abraham Lincoln, of having a government of the people, by the people and for the people.
“I am passionate about rescuing Nigerians from ‘the politics of the stomach infrastructure’ through our mission of stopping government of a person, by a person, for a person. I have the will, the depth of passion, faith, the intellectual and strategic platform to get the job done,” says Okoye.
If voted into power, the lawyer’s immediate task would be to heal the wounds of the past through what he refers to as R+R+R= R (Reclamation + Reconciliation + Reformation = Redemption). In an attempt to explain the triple-R formula, Okoye says that it is his party’s objective to reclaim the soul of Nigeria from the evil cabal that has held it hostage for a long time before embarking on a reconciliation drive. The drive would witness a reform on the style of politicking in Nigeria through the reduction of over-emphasis on money. After all these had been put together, Okoye says Nigerians can go to bed with the conviction that the nation is on the road to redemption.
From 1994 to 1997, Okoye was National Coordinator (East) of Nigerian Youth Organisation. He was Deputy National Organising Secretary, Grassroots Democratic Movement (GDM) from 1998 to 2000. Then in 2001, he received a political appointment as a consultant to the Senate president on political matters. His political affiliation grew wider in 2002 when he was appointed as the special adviser to the Senate president on political issues. Most notably, Okoye held the position of national secretary of the United Democratic Party for 11 years (2003 to 2014).
Okoye is a member of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), International Bar Association (IBA), and a member of Rotary Club (Paul Harries Fellow). He likes football, reading, jogging and swimming.
His decision to contest the presidential seat is a reflection of his doggedness, willpower, hope and, more importantly, determination for a generational change. A change in the crop and generation of leaders: youthful leadership.