A New Nigeria is Emerging

Tunde Bakare

I woke up on the 1st of January to the news that Pastor Tunde Bakare, the fiery Lagos Preacher and the uncompromising non conformist has finally heeded the call of God and the great people of this country to run for president. He has since clarified his bold decision and declaration in his 14th of January State of the Nation Broadcast with a tempered explanation of a man of destiny with no personal agenda or ambition, but a consuming passion to see a nation that works in his lifetime. Tunde Bakare is a man of many parts that is hated vehemently by those who hate him and is loved beyond measure by those who love him. One thing is common to his haters and lovers, he cannot be ignored.

Whether in legal practise where he learned from the likes of Gani Fawehinmi and Rotimi Williams or on the pulpit where he has personalised the name “fiery preacher” or in his engagement with civil society where he headed the Save Nigeria Group that rescued Nigeria time and again from the brink of constitutional crisis or in the political class where he has engaged with several government for the benefit of the people without compromising his stand, or campaigning as vice presidential candidate to the current Nigeria President in 2011,Tunde Bakare stands has a shining light in a dark and dingy dungeon called Nigeria as it is presently constituted. What gladdens my heart more is his unveiling of “Nigeria of my dream” that shows the possibility of what can be done if and when the likes of him mount the saddle of governance in Nigeria.

He has attracted the best, brightest, fittest and most competent to draw up a plan to fix the problem. He is not an arm chair critic, but developmental personae. His congress of professionals both at home and in Diaspora is a crystal clear picture of the future where merits will trump mediocrity and every Nigerian will be judged by their capacity and competence.

Worthy of note is also his restructuring agenda and his 10 year developmental plan to create 6 Dubai’s from Nigeria within an ecosystem of healthy competition between 6 regions where each grows at his own pace with the FCT as the seventh regional development hub. He also mentioned that he could be President without election which is not practical in our electioneering process and sounds like the words of a mad man, but what is also evident is that there is a method to his madness. Whether he contests in 2019 or 2023, as he did not tell us when, his role is indispensable in shaping the destiny of our nation.

The best of men are men at their very best and he no doubt has numerous shortcoming which may become more evident as his participation in nation building and politics increases, but regardless of his weaknesses, he is one of the few good men who has the best interest of Nigeria at heart and who should be supported by fellow compatriots within and outside of the country. May his tribe increase in our political space and national conversation. May his destiny be fulfilled and may Nigeria become a great nation in his lifetime. Run, Bakare, Run.

DONALD DUKE

Donald needs no introduction to Nigerians as a governor who bestrode our political space with clear vision and impeccable execution. His dream to make his state the tourism hub of Africa is unrivalled in the history of our nation. He was in a hurry to accomplish great things; he was well ahead of his contemporary in the way he communicates and acts. TINAPA among other audacious projects conceived and executed by him is a testament to his capacity and capabilities. Recently after the declaration of Tunde Bakare, He also threw his hat into the ring with a subtle declaration that if the atmosphere is conducive, he will contest as president. There is no doubt that he will have some political baggage having governed a state for 8 years in a dark era , which I guess is the reason for his conditional subtle declaration.

Donald Duke will be more subjected to scrutiny than the likes of Tunde Bakare due to his political exposure, but he is undoubtedly one of the forces of good we have in this country. He no doubt has the pedigree to be President and to shape our nation for good as he did in Cross River state. Donald should be rallied around rather than vilified. Donald is one of the best and brightest that this country has ever produced and he is qualified to govern our affairs at the highest level. He was governor until 2007 and has assumed a statesman dispositions ever since. He is exemplary in his personality and humble in his approach. He does not display the paraphernalia of his office in power or out of power. He keeps a simple profile of a man with no inordinate ambition, but a man driven with a quest to contribute his quota at the highest level.

Donald, the atmosphere is being purged from the forces of retrogression. You are one of the few good men our nation deserves and demand. Your subtle declaration will gain grounds and reach its crescendo at the appointed time. Don’t despair, we are incurable optimist in the reality of a new nation and your role is already mapped out for you whether the forces of evil like it or not. Stay focused Donald as you continue to prepare to mount the saddle of leadership in our nation as opportunity is around the corner.

Nigerians wants to be engaged to know your plan like you detailed in your 2007 Presidential declaration. Times have changed and maturity would have clarified some of your position which makes you better suited now than then, so let’s hear you loud and clear as the forces for good continues to permeate the atmosphere of politics in Nigeria. It’s a new day in our nation. Our best days are ahead. Run, Donald Run.


El Rufai

The short man with a giant heart. The quantity surveyor and lawyer with a witty mind and the tongue of a ready writer. Nasir from his days at the Bureau of Public enterprise, to the minister of FCT and now the governor of Kaduna state is one of the most controversial politician that has bestrode our political canvass. Like Tunde Bakare, those who love Nasir, do so with passion and those who can’t stand him, are hoping he does not wake up the next day, even as I write about him, I know the reaction already from both sides of the aisle. What cannot be ignored about him is his consuming passion to live a mark in every assignment given to him and his daring approach to do what is unpopular as long as it is the right thing to do.

He revolutionized BPE attracting the best and brightest while confronting the political class of the time, he changed the face of FCT to align with the original plan accusing the senators of demanding for a bribe at his confirmation, Kaduna state is becoming the new Lagos as a result of his pragmatic approach to leadership and governance. He is setting the pace for others to follow without considering political expediency. How do you sack 21,000 teachers in your first term if you are thinking of the 2nd term? Politicians think of the next election, statesmen think of the next generation and that is what Nasir is doing.

Nasir has served under the most hostile environment and has stuck to his conviction with courage of steel. He has planted himself like a tree in the midst of noises with a clear voice and has refused to move or bend to political expediency. His stubborn approach is most visible to the public; he however is a team player for those who has worked with him. He listens and learns from those around him before making tough decisions. He is not your most likeable person in the room, but he can get the job done if that is all you care about. Nigerians are yearning for those who can get the job done regardless of our perception of their personality. Good Values, Good Governance, Good Roads, Schools, Hospital, Jobs, constant power supply among others as displayed by Tunde Bakare in his “Nigeria of my dream” is what the nation desires and what Nasir embodies.

Nasir has many glaring weaknesses having participated in our nascent political dispensation in the last 19 years in and out of office, in power and in the opposition, but he is no doubt a patriots and performer of the highest order in a nation in search of its true identity.

Nasir has not declared that he wants to run and he is unlikely to declare due to his unflinching loyalty to his benefactor, President Buhari which is another virtue that he possesses, the ability to stick to your principal when you know that they are doing the best they could. He did the same for President Obasanjo in his 4 years as FCT Minister, the ability to work with imperfect men with your eye on the main goal which is welfare of the people and the development of the nation. Run Nasir Run.


Fela Durotoye

The motivational speaker, leadership coach and nation builder has finally morphed from the sidelines of being apolitical to full participation in the process. As reported by Sahara Reporters in his last public event, TeamFD Volunteers, and his recent numerous appearances in various media outlets Fela Durotoye is also in the process of declaring his intention to run for president. Can he become our own macron or not? I doubt that, but time will tell. He has trained bankers, help state government in policy formulations and inspire several young people to participate in nation building.

Fela is a consummate gentleman with a burning passion for a New Nigeria. He has traversed the majority of the Nigeria campuses with his clear message of a new Nigeria founded on new values that he christened “10 Values of the New Nigeria” which are as follows:
Make a Positive Impact on everyone you meet and everywhere you go
Be a Solution Provider and not a part of the problems that needs to be solved
Be a role model worthy of emulation
Be the best at all you do particularly the things that you are naturally good at
Do the right things at all time regardless of who is doing the wrong things
Value time and make the best of it
Care and show respect as you care through your words and actions
Consciously build a great legacy starting now, today and everyday
Live a life of integrity and honour
Make your family, nation, your continent and your God proud. Be someone’s claim to fame
Fela does not only mouth those words, he strives to embody them. He practises what he preaches.

Fela’s chances are nil or negligible at best as a political neophyte with many of his followers, but I decided to add him, not just for his audacious intention, but an applause to the number of good people emerging from the shadows of running commentaries to getting their hands dirty in the murky and dirty waters of politics which can only be made clean when clean people get engaged and involved. He and his constituency will learn a lot in the process and who knows? Run, Fela Run

I will add to my collection of few good men and women in days and months to come. In the mean time, the few good men and women must run together harnessing their strength and dropping their personal ambition if any for the collective good so that the NEW NIGERIA will win the next election if any and beyond regardless of who becomes the President or rally around the old, honest and plausible next president in a restructured federating unit. They must become arrow heads around the arrow if the new must emerge from the shadows of the old. When the righteous ARE in power, the people rejoice!!!

Donald Duke it is for me.

El Rufai on that list is a shithole

El Rufai is like a hitman who gets things done. However, he's not so good as an all emcompassing leader. He'll do well as a minister or agency head. But not president.

El Rufai

theSpark:
El Rufai is like a hitman who gets things done. However, he's not so good as an all emcompassing leader. He'll do well as a minister or agency head. But not president.

True... Elrufai is more of an executioner than an Administrator. Nigeria will be more divided under his rule. Its a No no for me.

Elrufai is a NO NO on that list. Until he's ditched, they're jokers

I hope we can all be in agreement to make a positive change in this new dispensation and vote for the right person that will serve the people.