With Nigerians seeking for the true change as we head to the ballot as a nation, come 2023, Nigerians yearn for a dynamic and new crop of leaders that will take the country out from the woods.
Apparently, Nigerians seems to have had enough from all familiar names and faces vying for the elated office of the President.
So far, there is a long list of over 35 aspirants who have indicated interest, including the likes of the national leader of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Vice President Yemi Osinbajo, Rivers State Governor Nyesom Wike, former Vice President Atiku Abubakar, former Senate President Bukola Saraki, Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello, Transportation Minister Rotimi Amaechi, the list goes on.
However, our focus is to bring to light underdogs that could be considered by Nigerians to shock the heavyweights.
PRINCE ADEWOLE ADEBAYO ESq
Presidential aspirant under the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Prince Adewole Adebayo, is one of the few Nigerians that towers and ticks all the boxes.
With no history and trace of godfatherism, the renowned lawyer has worked his way to the top despite not holding any political office in the past. Baring this in mind, he has created a lot of jobs, especially in the media industry and has empowered several other Nigerians in his capacity. His political ideology of a detribalised and working Nigeria can however, be determined from MKO Abiola, the substance of democracy in Nigeria as an idol.
This is what he said of the political hero, “For I knew MKO Abiola personally, let me remind my peers: MKO was Africa’s Pillar of Sports, Mandela’s Hero, Castro’s buddy, Global Black Icon, President of presidents, Midas of Money, Accountancy Genius, Borderless Tycoon, SDP Candidate, Martyr of Democracy!”
Adebayo has proved that he has been there and understands history as a young Nigerian after he recalled his role in the emergence of the late MKO Abiola as the winner of the ill-fated 1993 presidential election.
“I remember when we used to run around in Lagos for MKO Abiola. We were young activists pasting posters, doing seminars,” he said in a short video posted alongside one of his tweets. This is the first time he will be indicating interest in the elated office.
ADEBAYO Esq, from a royal home in Ondo State, is 50-year-old. He is well-educated and has the right internal and global connections, and enormous wealth of experience to draw from, that will help him lead the country.
OMOYELE SOWORE
Omoyele “Yele” Sowore, 51, is a human rights activist, former presidential candidate under African Action Congress, and founder of online news agency, Sahara Reporters.
Sowore ran for president in 2019, as the candidate for the African Action Congress (AAC), which he founded in 2018. Of 73 candidates, President Muhammadu Buhari won 15,191,847 of the total votes, while his closest opponent, Atiku Abubakar, had 11,262,978 votes. He received a mere 33,953 votes.
His style is to get power through activism and revolution. “I’ve been an activist since I was about nine or 10 years old. I grew up in a village in Ondo state, in the southern tip where the Niger-Delta region started. This was invaded in 1980, and a lot of atrocities were committed against the villagers. As I was sitting there, scared of dying, I knew that if I grew up I would become an activist, and take my revenge against the police and the state,” he once told The Africa Report.
However, the Sahara Reporter publisher has been at loggerhead with the Federal Government and dipped in a number of controversial court cases which has kept him in Court for several months.
KINGSLEY CHINEDU MOGHALU
Kingsley Chiedu Moghalu is a political economist, lawyer, and politician.
Having contested the 2019 presidential election under the platform of the Young Progressive party (YPP), he has disclosed that he will be pursuing his 2023 presidential ambition under the African Democratic Congress (ADC) party.
The campaign of the former deputy governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) has been based on security and the economic wellness of the country.
On top of his plan for Nigeria, he said, “Security for all Nigerians and Nigeria’s territory; War against poverty: skills, jobs for our youth, and an innovation economy; Accelerated education and healthcare reform; Good governance: inclusive, transparent, effective, and accountable.”
After the 2019 election, Moghalu launched To Build A Nation (TBAN) as a citizens movement in advocating for electoral reform – specifically the electronic transmission of results and diaspora voting.
TEIN T.S. JACK-RICH
He is the President/Founder of Belemaoil Producing Limited, the first indigenous oil Exploration and Production Company in Nigeria to emerge from an oil Producing Community in the heart of the Niger Delta.
As a philanthropist driven by his values to give back to the society, he has through his Foundation, awarded scholarships to hundreds of students, some of whom have graduated from schools in Canada, Ghana, Ukraine, UK, USA, Malaysia, Nigeria, North Cyprus, and the Philippines.
The well-educated entrepreneur hopes to file his wealth of experience into the Nigerian system to awaken the country’s economy.
KHADIJAH OKUNNU-LAMIDI
Khadijah Okunnu-Lamidi is the first woman to declare interest in 2023 presidency.
Okunnu-Lamidi stressed her confidence in playing a leading role in writing a new history and restoring hope for Nigeria.
Khadijah, 38, from Lagos is the youngest of the aspirants. She is a media personality and daughter of former Federal Works Commissioner, Lateef Olufemi Okunnu.
The hardworking aspirant got her first job at age 16 at The Motherless Babies Home Lekki, where she was introduced to community influencing. Now, she is the founder of Slice Media Solutions.
The media personality said: “I believe in the possibilities Nigeria holds; that is why I have taken this first step, not because there are no fears, but the will to bring about the Nigeria we all wish, hope and believe we can make a reality together.”
