By Ishaya Ibrahim
With the exception of Dr. Nnamdi Azikiwe, known for his eloquence and depth of knowledge, Abubakar Tafawa Balewa, nicknamed the golden voice, and the humorous Olusegun Obasanjo, Nigeria’s highest political office holders aren’t the delight of many television viewers.
Fela Durotoye, a newcomer in the 2019 presidential race, introduces oratory to the mix in the 2019 electioneering.
After more than a decade of giving motivational speeches on good governance, Durotoye, 47, says he is throwing his hat in the ring.
“In line with our values one of which is to ‘be a role model worthy of emulation’, I had to decide to get involved in the political arena rather than staying on the sidelines and only challenging others to go in,” he said.
Durotoye is a business consultant, leadership coach, and public speaker, skills he garnered from his vast academic qualifications.
He had his first degree in Computer Science at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Masters in Business Administration and Master of Philosophy Degree in Strategic Management.
He is also a graduate of the Kennedy School of Government at the prestigious Harvard University (USA).
On his tweeter timeline, Durotoye relives the problems facing Nigeria.
In one of his tweets, he says the health sector requires a state of emergency, painting the gloomy statistics of one doctor to 6,000 patients instead of the global standard of one doctor to 600 patients
“Nigeria is not working for that doctor and definitely not working for those in dire need of health CARE,” he said.
But Durotoye must know that fantastic ideas alone don’t win elections. He also must know that the political platform a candidate is flying is as crucial as the capacity of that candidate. Oddly, he chose the Alliance for New Nigeria, a party that is not known on the streets of Nigeria.
But this might be Durotoye’s grand plan for the much talked about merger, alliances, and coalitions which opponents of both PDP and APC are sketching, spearheaded by Obasanjo and former Education Minister, Oby Ezekwesili.
Durotoye himself offers the hint that he might eventually join other like-minds in this project to send Nigeria’s many veteran politicians who have recycled themselves in political offices since Nigeria’s independence into retirement.
“It is my hope that as I step unto the political scene, many more of our brightest and best will arise to heed our nation’s clarion call to contest for elective offices, win the elections, and most importantly collectively deliver good governance to our nation,” he said.
As 2019 draws near, many eyes are on this new generation politician.
