Nigeria’s first Prime Minister, Sir Abubakar Tafawa Balewa
The son of Nigeria’s First Republic Prime Minister, Dr. Abduljelil Tafawa Balewa, has declared his intention to contest the 2015 presidential election but was, however, silent on the party he intends to use to actualise his ambition.
He said having consulted widely he was convinced that Nigerians had been yearning for a new leadership capable of fulfilling the high expectations and aspirations of the greater majority of Nigerians.
Speaking with journalists on Sunday in Abuja, the medical doctor said he was fully prepared.
While attributing his presidential ambition to the prompting of those he described as “well-meaning elder statesmen from across the geopolitical zones of Nigeria,” Balewa insisted that he was prepared to take up the challenge.
He said, “My entry into politics would add some values to Nigerian democracy given the finesse, candour and pragmatism, which I will be infusing into the system based on my experience. My closeness with President Goodluck Jonathan has made my attempt to lead Nigeria more interesting. However, my ambition is not a do-or-die affair. Jonathan is a pragmatic politician who has always welcomed free and fair contest.”
“Some political parties have been talking to me. I have more than two of the parties including the major ones showing interest. It would be unfair for me to start dropping names, more so, when consultations were still ongoing on the next line of action.”
Balewa’s son said although he had spent a long period of time in the United States and Britain in quest of knowledge, nonetheless, he had gathered experience in the local politics of Nigeria.
When asked whether he had the financial muscle to withstand the financial pressure of a presidential contest, Balewa, who said he had never been a pauper, insisted that good Nigerians would support him fully.
No comments:
Post a Comment