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As preparations for the 2023 general elections hit top gear, two young Nigerians, Mrs Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi and Chukwuka Monye have declared intention to contest the presidential election.
TheNewsGuru.com (TNG) reports Mrs Okunnu-Lamidi is a 38-year-old female entrepreneur while Monye is a leading social innovator and change management expert for over 20 years.
Okunnu-Lamidi, Founder, Slice Media Solutions, while declaring her intention to contest the presidential election in Lagos State, said she had become the arrowhead for the intervention of her generation’s interests across the nation for politics and good governance.
“I seek to change the direction of our country, because time and chance will happen to all of us and the time for action is today.
“We need a better class and a better crop of leaders that are selfless, disciplined and bound with integrity, and above all, who love the country and are invested in her future.
“I am here to activate all people, the old, the poor, the rich; to unite around a common ideal on the basis of a consensus about a superior national development agenda,” she said.
According to Okunnu-Lamidi, her interests include 70 per cent youths who are often disenfranchised and have not taken their rightful place in choosing the government of Nigeria.
She expressed disappointment that Nigeria had missed important milestones in building the nation.
She said it was more pertinent that Nigerians must begin to think differently in the way things are done and the way they interact with each other.
She said: “We are all guilty for surrendering to temporary powerlessness, we can and must start to think differently.
“We sing often about our heroes past. These are people who entered the governance of Nigeria by design or by chance at very young age to take over from the colonial power that ruled Nigeria.
“This again is a generational inflection point for the nation.
“A nation desperate for leadership needs the young, the strong, those who have vision, those who have ideas, those who have a united Nigerian identity and a belief in this country.
“The people of Nigeria believe in Nigeria, they should not be led by leaders who don’t.
“We have to keep fighting for what we believe in, and above all, never lose hope. If you were waiting for a sign, this is it,” said Okunnu-Lamidi, who was yet to join any party.
TNG reports Okunnu-Lamidi is the daughter of former Federal Works commissioner, Femi Okunnu.
She holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business Management and Human Resources Management from the University of Bolton.
She also holds a Master’s Degree in Strategic Project Management (MSc) from Heriot-Watt University.
Meanwhile, Monye, on the other hand, made the declaration to contest the presidential election in his hometown, Onicha-Ugbo, Aniocha North Local Government Area of Delta.
While Okunnu-Lamidi seeks a political party’s nomination to contest next year’s presidential election, Monye’s declaration was more like that of an independent candidate as he did not affiliate with any known political party in the country.
He stressed that there was no better time than now to make the right decision to recover and reposition the decaying foundation of the country, adding that the future the youths seek is now.
Monye noted that his declaration to occupy the number one seat in the nation was remarkable.
He said that there were lots of questions waiting for answers, given the sacrifices made by the founding fathers, fallen and living heroes, who fought and are still fighting for the country to become great.
The aspirant noted that the poverty rate in the country was alarming, signifying that many go to bed hungry and without hope for the next meal.
He said that the focus of his vision was security, institutional reforms and jobs creation.
“So, I wonder if our founding fathers would be contented with the state of our Nation today. For over 60 years, Nigeria has been drifting from pillar to post with no clear vision or direction. Today, we excel more away from home than we do here in Nigeria.
“With dwindling pride in our heritage, our growing lack of patriotism can be linked to; abuse of public trust, poor leadership and corruption; this can be better.
“Growing up as a young boy, I remember vividly being told that we are the leaders of the future. We accepted this with all our hearts believing that the future was coming soon.
“However, overtime I realized that the future that we were promised appeared to be a date that will not be delivered. And so, I make bold to say to every Nigerian dreaming of a better Nigeria, that the future is not on a date on a calendar yet to be revealed. Believe me when I say, our future is now,” Monye said.
Monye added: “I have lived a life of faith; steadfast to God and in our human capacity to influence our destinies. So, much of who we are, depends on the choices we make.
“I believe that if together, we make the right decisions that employ all the human, mineral and natural resources that we have been endowed, we can see a better Nigeria in our lifetime.
“For this reason, I Chukwuka Monye, present myself to serve as the president of this great nation, Nigeria. I love Nigeria and I believe that Nigerians matter and deserves a better today.
“Come 2023, we must seize this moment to prove that our generation is ready to lead our nation to a promise land and that future we have waited so long for is now at hand. Our Future is Now.
“I am a Niger Delta, who is proudly Nigerian and a firm believer of ‘One Nigeria, due to the wholesome exposure to different parts and culture of the country where I met close friends from various ethnic background”.
In an interview, some of his friends and allies of the same philosophy from North and Southern Nigeria, lauded him for taking the bold initiative to declare his intention to run for president.
Alhaji, Rabiu Aliyu, an Educationalist; Mr Elvis Akpovi, Executive Director, Not Too Young to Lead Initiative; Dr Olori Boye-Ajayi, a Model and Mallam Nuhu Danladi-Teshi and others, lauded Monye for competence as a successful business and human manager.
They urged Nigerians, particularly youths to give their support to enable Monye realize his ambition and to bring his wealth of experience to bear come 2023.
They called him a Social Innovator, People Person, Excellence Driven and Community Oriented, believing he would work to ensure the realisation of Nigeria of our dream.