A presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress, Alhaji Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, in this interview stresses the importance of protecting the democratic right to assembly while urging the electorate to choose the best and brightest candidate capable of effectively governing Nigeria, noting that effective leadership is essential for national progress and stability. Linus Aleke brings excerpts.
Why do you want to be President of Nigeria?
The answer is straightforward. By 2019, it had become increasingly clear to me that Nigeria was heading in the wrong direction. The signs were visible across virtually every sector. A country that once projected strength and stability across Africa, contributing troops to United Nations peacekeeping missions from Congo to Liberia and Sierra Leone, and supporting liberation struggles in Southern Africa, was gradually descending into violence, instability and uncertainty.
For someone who experienced Nigeria’s golden era as a student and young professional, watching the country deteriorate in that manner was deeply painful. Nigeria is a nation of about 240 million people with no history of natural disasters. We possess approximately 88 million hectares of arable land, abundant sunshine and rainfall, maritime access to the world, and a vibrant population that has always celebrated unity in diversity. Yet, despite these enormous advantages, we have consistently underperformed because of governance failures.
