2023 Presidency Re: Matters Arising and Setting the Pace! -By Constance Ogban

– Adesanya-Davies PMA – CHOICE answers Nigeria’s questions posited to Bola Tinubu

There is currently a growing heated debate on who will take over from Buhari at Aso-Rock to become the next President of Nigeria come 2023. Presidential candidate of MAJA in 2019 presidential election, currently a PDP PRESIDENTIAL ASPIRANT for 2023 elections, Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies answers some of Nigeria’s questions posited on the social media to Bola Ahmed Tinubu and her self. She remarks “All these are quite very simple questions that even every Nigerian politician with political aspiration, not mere political ambition should be able to gladly and willingly respond to, and answer with all sincerity and integrity without declining or any form of sentiments, resentment or defensiveness. There is no need hiding one’s identify from the people you intend to govern and hold such a topmost position, except one has a skeleton in his cupboard.”

Excerpts:

Introduction and Background:

You have all the constitutional, fundamental and God given right to aspire to be the president of Nigeria but before we get into trouble by what we wish for, please can you help us out with these questions?

1. Where were you born?

I am from IRA palace, Kwara state Nigeria, a Princess and my mother is from Esha’s compound, the late Esha of Erin-Ile in Kwara state. I was born at Iree Baptist hospital, Iree.

2. In what State of Nigeria are you married?

Ogun state, Nigeria.

3. What is your real name you were born with?

Mercy Olufunmilayo Salako- Davies. My nick name is PMA – CHOICE.

4. Who is your biological mother?

Late Mrs. Susannah Mofoluwake Salako (Nee Adepoju).

5. Who is your paternal grandmother?

Late Mrs. Rachel Aina Salako
(Nee Onifade) from Offa, Kwara State.

6. Who is your father?

Late Deacon Isaac Popoola Salako. He is from Ile-Oba, IRA, Kwara, State.

7. Which Primary, Secondary and Universities did you attend and when?

St. John’s Anglican Primary School, Sabo-Oke, Ilorin 1967- 1974.
St. Clare’s Grammar School, Offa, Kwara, State and
Queen Elizabeth School, Ilorin, Kwara State. 1975 – 1980.
University of Ife-Ile – B.A 1985.
University of Ilorin, Ilorin M.A English Language – 1987.
University of Port Harcourt Ph.D and PGDE – 2000.
North Western Christian University, USA. Honorary D.D and Professor of Divinity. 2014.

8. Have you ever dealt in any illicit white powdery substance or drugs in Nigeria or in any other country before?

Certainly and emphatically NO, thanks.

9. Did you cover up your age or precisely how old are you?

I was born on October 15th, 1962 and as such will turn 60 years this year to be precise.

10. What is your profession?
I am an academician. I specialise in Linguistics and Communication Arts. Whoever has communication skills have it all in the field of administration.

11. Any other rank or assignment?
I am by the grace of the Almighty God the current Country President and Chairman on Board of the National Executive Council of United Nations Positive Award Centre (UN-POLAC) International Peace Advocates.

12. How rich are you, are you richer than a State?

No please, I. am a Civil Servant, a University Don, who has lectured for over thirty- five years with a lot of research, administrative and mentoring experiences.

13. Is it true that you said you don’t believe in a United Nigeria some years ago?

I believe in a United Nigeria with true federalism through restructuring and also support regionalism to enhance and advance the nation to her fullest capacity. That is why my AGENDA is known as the “PMA – ADVANCED RESTRUCTURING AGENDA” It’s Real Change for Real People!’

14. Is it true in 2011 you said that President Buhari is unfit to govern Nigeria?

Yes, I have always believed President Buhari is too aged, sick, weak and unfit to govern Nigeria and he has an islamic-fulani
non-Nigerian agenda to disunite the nation and will unfailingly fail and disappoint Nigerians at the long run.

15. Is it true you have lobbied for a political position before?

Yes, I contested for the presidential position in 2019 election, then I was in PDP as an aspirant and I moved to the MAJA Party to secure a ticket. However, I have since returned to PDP in 2020.

16. How old are you honestly?

I am fifty-nine (59) years old and would turn sixty (60) years on 15th October, 2022 by the grace of God.

17. Your health condition?

Good, commensurate with my age, lifestyle and discipline, I thank God.

18. Do you nurture any form of hostilitity against any Nigerian tribe or religion whether majority or minority?

None please, I am from the North Central, Kwara State “State of Harmony” where we are half Christians and half Muslims. I am of Yoruba extraction in the West, and married there and I have lived and worked in Port Harcourt Rivers State, South-South, Nigeria for over 30 years, you can as such see and infer that I am a detribalised Nigerian and a true democrat.
However, I dislike how the Christian community is being sidelined and marginalized by the current administration; as well as the treatment being metted out to the Christians and the kidnapping and massacre of Christians especially in Northern Nigeria in the name of Jihad in a secular state. This cruelty is quite annoying, disturbing and disgusting.

19. How will you manage your home front with the leadership position if you become the president?

That would be no problem at all. My man is busy and not dependent nor controlling and my three children are all grown-ups and graduates out of home working. So there is little or no family runs in that sense of home front management, thank you for caring.

20. Do you think that women are ripe enough to assume the topmost positions in Nigeria politics?

Certainly yes, amongst others, take for instance, the likes of late Dora Nkem Akunyili OFR (14 July, 1954 – 2014) who was the director-general of National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control; the former co-odinator of Nigeria’s economy and now the current Director-General of the World Trade Organisation, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, and even I myself, a lecturer of 35 years in the university. We’ve long been ripe enough to assume the topmost positions in Nigeria politics and are more than capable and ready.

21. There are lots of challenges confronting this nation, both internally and externally. How are you going to tackle these issues?

That’s a major question, thank you. Yes, lots of challenges confronting the nation especially as regards insecurity via criminal activities of the bandits, terrorists, kidnappers and other unscrupulous elements in the county. They invade communities, markets, churches and schools and kill, maim, destroy and kidnap without much resistance by the current government.

No much help from the developed world and the United nations either as they seem to be more occupied and busy with COVID-19 than pay attention to the daily destruction of lives and property on-going in Nigeria. However, with God, all things are possible, I already have a road-map for Nigeria, with an agenda in my manifesto which cannot be summarised in few lines here. What I call “The PMA advanced restructuring agenda,” thus, people can always Google it, as I have it published online already.

22. What is the level of awareness for a woman to become President in Nigeria?

There are several Women for Women groups already set up in the past, and He for She groups, as well as Youth for Women groups. We are already mobilising them while creating other new ones such as National Coalition For Female Presidency In Nigeria, NCFPN. Once we are able to improve on this awareness, we shall definitely be successful because women votes accounted for about 47% during the last election.

23. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation. Don’t you view that your religious faith can stand against your aspiration as president?

All Nigeria’s former presidents have always been of a given faith irrespective of their religious, tribal and political persuasions. This cannot be of any difference. Nigeria is a multi-ethnic and multi-religious nation, and that is why we are so blessed and would remain blessed by the almighty God. Therefore, my religious faith is an added advantage to my aspiration as president of Nigeria.

24. How would you source for funds for this campaign, because politics in Nigeria we know is all about money?

I believe in being thrifty and it is not a do or die affair. One can only source funds and spend only what one can afford, cutting your cloth according to one’s cloth and size. I have always depended on good-will and well wishers rather than cash. I look forward to a time when money-bag politics and vote-buying will end in Nigeria.

25. What are your plans for Nigeria IF God allows you to get there.

My AGENDA is named “PMA – ADVANCED RESTRUCTURING AGENDA”.
As an academic, Nigeria will witness functional, effective, efficient, accessible and affordable education, as well as better governance, delivery of dividends of democracy, massive employment, accelerated economic development, improved health delivery, massive human capital development, massive infrastructural development, aggressive fight against corruption, improved welfare for Nigerian workers, and the masses, when I, PMA – CHOICE, becomes the president of Nigeria. As a detribalised Nigerian, services of technocrats shall be fully utilised to its maximum.

26. How do you intend to defeat Atiku Abubakar in a PDP primary?

If PDP could adopt Direct primaries through electronic voting, I shall win him; now that the 2021 electoral Bill has been amended and Party primary could be conducted through direct, indirect or consensus methods.

A direct primary is used when voters decide their party’s candidates. In an indirect primary, voters elect delegates who choose the party’s candidates at a nominating convention. I look forward to this great decision by PDP to adopt Direct primaries.

27. How do you think the Women folks can mobilise for this female presidency?

I will say that from now onwards, every woman should endeavour to speak to at least fifty (50) women to vote for A WOMAN PRESIDENT” in Nigeria. Tell FIVE (5) WOMEN daily from now till 2023 elections. They should be reminded, Martin Luther King Jr. said, “Your happiness starts from you and not from someone else.” Then all the Nigerian YOUTHS and all the “He for She” and all the MEN should campaign as well as vote for the first female president in Nigeria in 2023. This could and would be the only functional approach.

28. Your major National Award or Honour?

We would recall that towards 2019 elections, National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) had endorsed my Presidential candidacy on the 8th day of June, in Port Harcourt and at the same event, I was awarshed with an Award of Excellence in Service and Outstanding leadership; with the inscription on the plaque “In recognition of her consistency, steadfastness, developmental strides, motherly disposition and mentorship towards the students community and society at large.” I once again say thank you to the Youths and Students community as I continue to enjoy their unalloyed and massive support.

29. Politics in some circles is regarded as a dirty game, how are you going to manoeuvre the storm of playing politics in the midst of die-hard politicians?

I am not new to the terrain; my political journey started with the Accord Party in Kwara State in the 80s before I later joined the People’s Democratic Party in the 90s. This informed my declaration to contest the 2019 presidential election under the People’s Democratic Party. But I later moved to Mass Action Joint Alliance where I emerged as the party’s flag bearer for the 2019 election. It’s been so far so good, I am currently back to PDP, my former party, where I intend to still contest for the presidential election of 2023. I have my own godly style and cannot be discouraged or intimidated by the said die-hard politicians.

30. Your last words please!

May I conclude that I have a dream, that one day, a woman will emerge as the president of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, and the dream is now! This is because, if Nigerians elect a female president, it will be a turning point in the nation’s history. It will also be an honour to have Nigeria’s first female president. If Nigeria can give women a chance to rule, I am sure we will never regret it.

AGAIN, MAY I CONCLUDE THAT I HAVE A DREAM, THAT ONE DAY, I WILL EMERGE AS THE FIRST FEMALE PRESIDENT OF THE FEDERAL REPUBLIC OF NIGERIA, AND THE DREAM IS NOW !!!

Conclusion
The minute you publicly decided to contest and tell Nigerians you are interested in being the president, you owe it to us to clear these grey areas please.

Thank you madam,
Yours truly.

Professor Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, a linguist and educationist, has served as a university lecturer and administrator for 36 years. She is also a consultant, researcher and activist. A frontline politician, she is a presidential aspirant on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP aspiring to be the President of Nigeria.