The Publisher of Ovation International magazine, Mr. Dele Momodu and a former Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa have notified the PDP of their intentions to run for the 2023 presidential election under the party’s platform.
The two aspirants disclosed their intentions when they presented their letters of intension to the party National Chairman, Sen. Iyorchia Ayu, on Thursday in Abuja.
Ayu while receiving Momodu’s letter, assured all aspirants that the party had no preferred aspirant, saying Nigerians would determine who would be the party’s candidate.
“PDP is a great party that is why people like you have not just joined the party but want to contribute your services to the country.
“We know the work you have done in the media over the years, you are certainly a respected media personality in the country.
“You tried your hands in politics in the past and I hope that you will continue to support the party.
“You must work hard to build the party because for you to run for office, you must have a strong platform, a united party, a strong platform, a focused party with which you can go into battle.
“There will be a level playing field for all aspirants. We do not have any special aspirant. We do not have a preferred candidate.
“It is the party members who will decide and if at the end of the day, the party members vote for you that you are the one they want, we will queue behind you,” Ayu said.
Momodu reading his intention letter to journalists, shortly after the submission, said that after due consultations with his family, friends and some stakeholders, he arrived at the decision to contest the 2023 presidential election on the platform of PDP, if selected as the party’s candidate.
He added that the move was his personal decision, although he had received advice, encouragement and support from diverse quarters since he started his consultations.
“I therefore offer myself to the PDP as the best aspirant to turn the fortunes of our esteemed party and our well- endowed country around. In this regard, and with a deep sense of humility and profound respect,
“I urge the party not to consider picking its candidate based on the usual considerations which had spectacularly failed our country in the past.
“The mood of the teeming youths, and indeed every patriotic Nigerian, who we need to come out en masse to vote for our party, aligns with this view.
“It is for this reason, that I invite our great party, PDP, to accept that it must search for a veritable flag bearer with the requisite leadership and visionary qualities that Nigerians now earnestly yearn for.
“I am convinced that the time has come to seriously challenge and dislodge those politicians who have held our country to ransom by kidnapping, hijacking and destroying the future of our younger generation and generations yet unborn,” Momodu said.
He added that he was better prepared now than at the time of his first “foray into the fray” in 2011, adding: ” am fully ready and certainly capable for the onerous tasks and responsibilities ahead.”
Momodu promised that he would not be harassed, bullied or intimidated by anyone who felt he or she could buy Nigeria with cash fraudulently taken from Nigerians.
He pledged to follow the best traditions of his heroic mentor, Chief Moshood Abiola, who had wanted to banish poverty in Nigeria, but was disallowed from achieving the laudable objective.
Momodu said that Nigeria urgently required reconciliation and forgiveness and a closure of the nation’s ugly past.
Fielding questions on his view on consensus candidate, Momodu said that it was possible, but no aspirant would be better than him.
He said the PDP needed a candidate who could not be bullied, who cut across party lines and could ignite the passion of Nigerian youths , which he represent.
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He said that he was proud to join PDP in the presidential race because “it is the only other option,” he said.
On his part, Ohuabunwa also speaking with journalists said that running the office of president was not by age but management, experience, sound health and adequate planning.
“This office of president is a serious office. You must have experience in managing many things at the same time.
“I have the experience. I have been trained. I may belong to the older group but my Spirit, my heart is of a young person,” Ohuabunwa said.
He said that if given the opportunity, his administration would set Key Performance Index (KPI), review it every quarter and enthrone competence among others.
“I am coming to lay the foundation for proper unity of our nation to create a level playing ground where every child born in every part of this country will have the same opportunity like the other child to achieve his potentials the way it happens in the United States of America.” (NAN)
