Mrs Oby Ezekwesili, leader of the pressure group, Bring Back Our Girls has joined the list of those vying to occupy Nigeria’s highest public office come 2019.
The presidential candidate shared the news on her personal Twitter page over the weekend, stating that she now hopes to topple incumbent President Muhammadu Buhari as well as defeat former Vice President Atiku Abubakar whom many see as the main opposition candidate.
Our party primaries held today, and I have humbly accepted the nomination. Click on the link below to read my convention acceptance speech on "Why I am running for President of Nigeria."https://t.co/q4s79SkINj#Hope2019 #Oby2019 #Oby4President2019
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) October 7, 2018
A political past and an uncertain future
Mrs Ezekwesili served under erstwhile Nigerian President, Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration as the Minister of Solid Minerals (2003) and Minister of Education (2007). She has not had any more concrete political experience since then.
Her political party – the Allied Congress Party of Nigeria, ACPN – is one of the least popular in Nigeria. As a matter of fact, doubt hangs in the air as to whether she has the political and financial clout needed to win the crucial election.
But can she save Nigeria’s economy?
This is the important question, seeing as key economic indicators show that the economy is gradually falling apart. Indeed, Nigeria needs a president who has a clear-cut agenda on how to revamp the failing economy, create jobs and save millions of people from abject poverty. Is Madam Ezekwesili the one?
One thing is certain, and that is the fact that she has the antecedents in development economics. She is a professional accountant and economic policy professional who has even served as a one time World Bank Vice President for Africa. In other words, she understands the need to transform the economy and actualise developmental goals.
Ezekwesili has also been very critical of the present administration’s economic policies. Recall that she recently blasted President Muhammadu Buhari’s incessant loan deals, especially the recent $382 million loan from China which she described as a bad move.
However, Ezekwesili’s campaign seems to be less focused on the economy
Having followed Mrs Ezekwesili’s campaign so far, it is obvious that she is just preoccupied with dismantling President Buhari’s administration whilst preventing Mr Atiku from ever overseeing Nigeria’s affairs. According to her, both candidates are in the same party.
Atiku and Buhari belong to the same party. That party is called #APCPDP. pic.twitter.com/civbNoL1rH
— Oby Ezekwesili (@obyezeks) October 8, 2018
She has, however, not highlighted what exactly her economic agendas are. Perhaps, as her campaign continues to gather momentum, we will get to see.