Re – 2023: Parties shouldn’t sell Nigeria to highest bidder — Adesanya-Davies agrees and expounds

– PDP and APC Should Consider DIRECT PRIMARIES for Election of Presidential Candidates rather than selection

Ahead of 2023 presidential election, a “Nigerian women rights movement” under the aegis of “100 Women Lobby Group” on Monday, 31 January 2022 as reported by Friday Olokor in Punch Newspapers has called on political parties to liberalise the political space in the 2023 general election by ensuring that women get enough space in elective positions. “As part of the liberalisation, the organisation advised political parties not to ask for money from candidates seeking election or make it reasonable, if they should collect money because Nigeria cannot be sold to the highest bidder.

The Presidential candidate of Mass Action Joint Alliance MAJA, one of the Parties in Coalition of United Political Parties (CUPP), Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, a formidable personality and candidate in 2019 presidential election and a current PDP Presidential candidate expounds that, “women currently pay for the party’s “Expression of interest form” but not the “Nomination form” which is very exorbitant and this is a very welcome development. However, this payment could also be waved totally or reduced for the women, as well as, the youths so as to encourage them the more as being argued by the “100 Women Lobby Group. The Expression of interest form for both men and women for the presidential position for instance is N1M, in most political parties; and the women hardly get sponsors. It’s the men that pay for both “Expression of interest form” as well as the “Nomination form.”

In addition, may I also advice that, the People’s Democratic Party and All Progressives Congress (PDP and APC) which are the big and most viable parties should consider DIRECT PRIMARIES for election of Presidential Candidates rather than selection; so as not to allow “Parties sell Nigeria to Highest Bidder”, Adesanya-Davies asserts.

The 100 Women Lobby Group added, “Religious and traditional institutions should liberalize leadership structures to guarantee unfettered access by the female folk to leadership positions in their hierarchy, such that women can become Queens, Obas, Ezes, Emirs, heads of community associations, etc”, the organisation also said. While calling on traditional rulers to stop some practices which tend to limit the advancement of women in rightful positions, the movement said it would “send a petition to many stakeholders on the need to bridge the gaps in the collective efforts to increase the capacity of Nigerian women to move Nigeria forward in the political sphere.”

The national coordinator of 100 WLG and President of Change Managers Network, Felicia Onibon, said this during a press conference to disseminate the findings of its 2021 survey on the state of Nigerian women in political participation titled: ‘Improving electoral integrity and accountability in Nigeria project.’ The event was attended by the President, Women in Politics Forum, Ebere Ifendu; Consultant for Change Managers International Network, Ignatius Agu; Development Communication expert, Thomas Odemwingie; Board member, 100 WLG, Tayo Erinle and South East coordinator, Irene Ugbah.

According to Odemwingie, women should present themselves for elective positions because there is a party structure in Nigeria. He noted that any woman who wants to be President without a political party structure would be wasting resources and intellect. “Nigerian women deserve enough space in 2023. Political parties should reduce the financial demands on women seeking elective positions.

“But what we are saying is that political parties should not ask for such money (for forms) from anybody. Although asking for it is one of the ways of raising funds, they should be reasonable about it because we cannot sell Nigeria to the highest bidder who may be a thief or getting money from corrupt practices. Where are we going with that? Both men and women will suffer from it. “Although political parties have been collecting money for forms, it can be changed because such practices are not cast on stones.”

“According to her, from Independence, the issue of women marginalization and exclusion in political participation and decision making in the Nigerian space has been a source of concern to well-meaning and inclusion-minded Nigerians. She regretted that despite the huge contribution of women in national development in Nigeria, that had been well documented, there still existed low representation and participation of women in the political process.

Adesanya-Davies further explained that, the choice of candidacy should be dependent on what the individual intends to put on the table. For instance during my last campaign, I RELAYED SOME OF WHAT I INTENDED TO PUT ON THE TABLE, WHEN ELECTED AS THE NIGERIAN PRESIDENT IN 2019; when I was invited as the PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE of MASS ACTION JOINT ALLIANCE (MAJA) tagged: “PMA-CHOICE‘S CAMPAIGN 2019 PROMISES – DOWN TO THE SPECIFICS”:

1. I will form a UNITY GOVERNMENT with most of the 2019 Presidential Aspirants and Candidates towards rebranding of mentality, re-orientation and revamping of Nigerians.
2. I will restructure Nigeria through the PMA ADVANCED RESTRUCTURING AGENDA – “YES, Observe the ‘4 Constitution’, extend as ‘8 Constitution’ – ‘Give semi-autonomy to the federal units and align with GEJ NCC of 2014” – (THE PMA-ADVANCED RESTRUCTURING AGENDA) – PMA
3. I will empower the Nigerian youths by creating massive jobs, promoting massive mechanized farming, providing loans, and facilitating industrialization.
4. I will encourage and galvanize all universities with innovations by putting their productive innovations into budget.
5. I will immensely employ the use of technocrats both at home and in Diaspora.
6. I will support and encourage the media agencies as a media expert and journalist.
7. I will increase women’s participation up to (40%) forty percent in my government.
8. I will ensure that Boko Haram, as well as Fulani herdsmen violence becomes history, by liaising with international bodies, to enhance security, law and order.
9. I will set up a Constitutional Review Committee geared towards promoting a secular and multi-religious Nigeria to ensure peace and freedom.
10. I will eliminate every trace of the oil subsidy scam and make fuel price about N75 per litre.
11. I will provide free education at every level for the first three children (by the first wife) in a family.
12. I will pay Nigerian youths N15,000 monthly for working on farms, which forms part of our agrarian goals to diversify Nigeria’s economy, as there is dignity in labour.
13. I will increase minimum wage to N30,000 (N1,000 per day) as Nigeria is an Oil-rich nation.
14. I will correct and redress all issues of current lopsided appointments technically, as a detribalised Nigerian in order to eliminate tribalism and ethnocentrism in Nigeria.
15. I will pay every graduate salaries for the first year after their NYSC, as part of youth empowerment agenda.
16. I will provide free lunch for pupils in our primary schools every day – in a state by state project.
17. I will resuscitate our defunct refineries in my first year as President, and encourage building of more refineries by teaming up entrepreneurs, as the case of Aliko Dangote.
18. I will foster education and human capital development, being the informed academic that I am.
19. I will provide 2.5 million jobs every year, by creative diversification of our economy beyond the Oil.
20. I will stop allowances for medical care treatment abroad for government officials, with myself inclusive.
21. I will upwardly improve on civil servants salaries and review the allowances and salaries of politicians, with myself inclusive.
22. I will bring about drastic economic reform in such a way that $1 = N100
23. I will ensure that our pensioners can easily work out any modalities regarding their pensions and other benefits from the comfort of their homes.
24. I will boost power supply by tremendously leveraging on solar energy, in addition, amongst others.
25. I will not infringe on human rights and the Rule of Law.
26. I will facilitate drastic electoral reforms electronically and by other means.
27. I will deregulate the Oil Sector the more.
28. I will not only fight corruption, but also greed, nepotism and tribalism.
29. I will personally support and rescue and protect the girl child from molestation, abduction and kidnapping.
30. I will ensure that oil blocks are allocated in accordance with international best practices, and commence building of regional refineries.
31. I will ensure Nigeria’s withdrawal from unnecessary international organisations.
32. I will personally sponsor the “TOO OLD TO RUN BILL”, and one-term governance of FIVE YEARS ONLY.
33. I will ensure the drive of national ideology by all current political parties geared towards achievement of our national goals.
34. I will ensure that the out-look of Legislative and Judiciary Arms of Government conform to the Constitution.
35. I will exemplarily serve for only one term, during which time I will return Nigerians to being the happiest people on earth.
Finally, I and my professional team will always ensure continuity by not discarding or relegating to the background past government’s promises, progressive achievements and projects, as we continue with our literature review.

THE ABOVE LIST IS NOT EXHAUSTIVE. WE WILL CONTINUE TO ADD MORE AS NIGERIANS PUT FORWARD THEIR REQUESTS AND SUGGESTIONS AND MAKE KNOWN THEIR WISHES. SO HELP ME GOD!

It is an understatement to state that, Prof. Funmilayo Adesanya-Davies, PMA-CHOICE is known for her leadership prowess and competence, sound strategic mind, ability and skills, character, boldness, vocal audacity, will power, strong presence and personality. Prof. Davies demonstrates resilience as well as versatility, locally, nationally and internationally in her political interest, education, humanitarian activities and general experience in administration, in over three decades.

Speculations say, she might actually be the ideal candidate of the PDP and Nigeria people’s CHOICE for 2023, as the Nigeria first female president, as we all re- echo it!