It’s Bad That Nigerian Political Candidates In 2022 Are Still Promising Basic Amenities As ‘Good Roads’ – Sowore

The presidential candidate of the African Action Congress (AAC), Omoyele Sowore, has said it was unfortunate that Nigeria still grapples with fundamental issues of development and political candidates still make petty promises of what are not really campaign issues.

According to Sowore during an interview organised by the Africa Leadership Group, although the AAC did not have the kind of money other political parties had, it had progressive ideas required to turn around the country.

Sowore said, “In decent countries, citizens go for leaders who have record to show for their past and where records might be an issue; they look for leaders with intellect proven integrity and acumen to do what they need passionately.

“Elections are not won by the size of the treasury of a candidate alone, I won’t tell you; that’s not but elections are won largely in the socio-political conditions of people who want to see a difference in their lives.

“Our party doesn’t have N100million and I should also say this, the four people ahead of me in terms of name and recognition, I’m the only presidential candidate who was not a two-term governor of a state and who has no foreign account except in America where I have lived for 20 years but not any of those ones that are hidden anywhere.

“I have never been a Vice President of Nigeria before but nobody ascribes the popularity of ideas and ideology to how much we have to spend or how much we are planning to raise, the things people recognise is there’s a young guy; not entirely too young who’s passionate about changing Nigeria; who’s got ideas, manifesto and who has demonstrated verifiable records, having fought for the country he has always dreamt about.”

Sowore added that Nigerians should ask questions about ideas and not issues about the highest bidder or buyer in the 2023 general elections.

Speaking about his visions for Nigeria, Sowore noted that his projects for Nigeria would be driven by sustainability and technology, as well as powered by integrity and experience as a passionate Nigerian.

He said, “These visions we have compiled into what I can call a social contract with the Nigerian people and built a website around it and spoke about the ten most important things we want to do that are driven by sustainability and technology.

“Nigeria however with a former general also has been able to only provide 4,000 megawatts of electricity that can be transmitted; they have capacity to generate 7000 capacity and to transmit only 4000.

“This vision can also not be driven by just mere promises that we will give you electricity; sometimes I feel bad honestly that we are still promising good roads in 2022; things that a lot of countries take for granted, countries like Ghana.”

He said his administration if elected would invest aggressively in education.

“The most important thing is that I do not have any relationship – and I say this openly – with any of the godfathers, godmothers or god-systems, such that affects some of the simplest tasks to be undertaken for the development of Nigeria,” he said.