Despite widespread belief that incumbent President Bola Tinubu may face no internal challenge within the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 elections, an international entrepreneur from Edo State, Mr Stanley Osifo, has declared his intention to run for the presidency on the platform of the party. Osifo, in an interview with OLADIPUPO AWOJOBI, described himself as a patriotic Nigerian driven by a strong passion to make the country one of the greatest nations in the world.
He said his commitment to enhancing development and delivering quality service to Nigerians, Africans, and the global community remains the key motivation behind his aspiration. According to him, his convictions and vision for national growth have consistently propelled his efforts toward the advancement of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. Excerpts:
What have you been doing so far on your ambition to be the Nigeria’s next President
I have been going round to let my people know that I want to contest. I have been to the wards and many parts of Nigeria to tell the people that I am interested in the presidency of the country and I believe that I will get there.
Let’s talk about security, what will you do differently?
In the area of security, I know that the country is doing its best, but we will do more to ensure that we eliminate the enemies of the nation. A lot has been done in this area and stakeholders would be engaged on what should be done to achieve better results.
We will talk to the leaders in the local settings and we will communicate with those that are involved. What we should also note is that we need to know exactly the cause of insecurity and we will address them and tackle them once and for all.
I believe that we can rejig our security strategies and apply intelligence to be able to nip the issues in the bud. There are so many things that we need to overhaul. It is not just about change, the change that we have been talking about has not been achieved yet.
Nigerians want something new and that is what I want to bring about in Nigeria as a young person along with other young people in the country. The whole world knows that Nigeria is well endowed and that the country has no business with hunger.
So, how do you think you can get the APC ticket?
My campaign structure is composed of teams and members that are working to bring new ways of getting issues tackled and ensure that solutions are provided to Nigeria’s myriad concerns. Our campaign is primarily focused on two germane areas; economy and security.
I am an astute believer in noble and diligent lifestyle. I am a great mastermind of positive endeavours. I am inclined to harnessing available resources into productive enterprise. I am a promoter and supporter of human synergy and empowerment. I am an easy going man with flair for positive living and impact.
What are the areas you hope to emphasise?
We will focus on many areas, but we are aware that economy encapsulates all human activities. There is no sphere of human existence that is devoid of economic element, be it health, education, transportation and so on.
A sound economy is the harbinger of wealth. Similarly, every society seeks peaceful and harmonious living. A secure society is the foundation for sound economic structuring.
Insecurity destabilizes and reduces economic and societal progress. These two areas are parts we must focus on to ease the current tense, fragile and torturous situation many Nigerians and Nigeria currently face.
We will tackle challenges that are facing Nigeria and Nigerians through fight against poverty, hunger and high cost of living, political metamorphosis, economic development and health facility and management development.
We will focus on water resource provision, agriculture and rural development, mines and steel development, education development, security and regional intervention and federal character principle prioritisation, special intervention programmes, power development, transport development among others.
There will be deliberate, intentional and strategic fight against poverty, hunger and high cost of living in Nigeria, and the purchasing power of our currency will be strengthened by policies and structures that we will push forth. Poverty levels will be diminished.
We will deal a devastating blow to hunger with functional macro and micro undertakings in different sectors of the economy. Agriculture is a part of many areas we will employ to launch an attack on hunger. We will work on our political system to metamorphose into acceptable, fair, free and democratic dominated enterprise.
The voice and will of the people of Nigeria must prevail in every political, governance and leadership consideration in the country. Democratic government of the people, instituted by the people and working for the people will be the hallmark of our national political stand.
What other areas will you focus on?
We will engage in the development of contemporary technological and scientific models for adoption in Nigeria’s advancement and growth in sectors across board. We will carry out fiscal and monetary policies that will metamorphose Nigeria’s economic system. We have noted the various issues facing the country and its citizens. We will work hard to stop increasing debt burden on Nigerians and Nigeria.
We are prepared to provide solutions to issues. The National Health Act is one document my administration shall improve on and implement, and we would endeavour to match and surpass grants from global bodies like UNFPA, USAID, UNICEF to tackle health challenge areas that the bod- ies focus on in Nigeria. There will be injection of funds for strategic joint venture investment in Tertiary Health Institutions with Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA).
We will ensure provision of funds for health emergencies and contagious disease outbreaks (e.g meningitis, measles, yellow fever, monkey pox. Polio eradication will be pursued with vigour. Training will be funded for health practitioners on emerging and developed health studies to keep them up to date and prepared to handle latest health matters. On water, most parts of Nigeria lack potable water, and our administration will embark on direct and partnership interventions in providing potable water to different parts of the country.
Dams and irrigation projects will be rehabilitated for the value that they provide to key sectors of the economy especially electricity generation and agricultural yield. Water economy (marine/ blue) will get attention to maximise derivable income and val- ue creation. We will make effort at improving rural roads and water sanitation programme. We will promote and develop value chain in agricultural commodities.
Agriculturists will be encouraged to develop Grazing Reserve in indi- gent communities. Agribusiness and market development for agricultural inputs and outputs will get attention. Food production and strategic reserve will be enhanced through provision of preservation, conservation and storage facilities to reduce wastages of agricultural produce.
Youths will be encouraged and supported in Agribusiness. We will promote agriculture in Nigeria in the area of preservation and storage of food. I have done my own little re- searches and found out that agricultural products were being produced in large quantity in Nigeria. But the truth is that most of these products are perishable and they are getting damaged.
We hope to set up preservation facilities, storage facilities so that whatever is cultivated is kept for a long time to avoid wastages. You have something like tomatoes if you don’t use it in time it would get spoilt. But if you have facilities for preservation, you can keep it for a longer period. Then you will have a lot of food and the cost of the good would come down.
When farmers are able to get value for their products, cost of farm products would come down and more people would go into farming and there would be more production of crops to feed the nation. The mining industry globally contributes largely to economic output of many nations in the world.
The mining capacities of countries sometimes are used in determining whether they are developed or developing. We will strengthen the laws and regulations that relates to mining and production of mined resources to boost fast development of Nigeria.
The steel factory in Ajaokuta and others will be audited to strengthen functionality and effectiveness. Miners in Nigeria will be supported to increase employment generation, value yield and income for the federation.
To expedite investment from private sector and foreign investors in establishment of industries and promotion of trade, we will establish Free Trade Zones in all states of the Federation working closely with States and Local Governments.
These Free Trade Zones will accelerate export of products and imports of raw inputs that are not readily available in Nigeria, adding that they shall embark on feasibility studies, master planning, engineering design, EIA and other pre-development costs in creating viable industrial parks.
Also, transport infrastructure and commune facilities will be given attention, and we will involve private participation in metamorphosing the transport industry in Nigeria. Air, land, and water transportation variables will be in utility to ease the distortion poor transport structuring has created in the economy.
On science and technology development, we will drive and accelerate scientific and technological enterprise for optimal use and productivity for Nigerians. We will create technological town similar to Silicon Valley and inspire innovations, technology and venture capital through support and partnerships.
But do you think all these things are achievable?
Why not, we have enough resources in Nigeria and nothing will stop us from harnessing the nation’s economy to ensure that we achieve the best with our resources.
Nigeria has the potential, and I believe that I am qualified to drive the economy of the nation and improve her security architecture from 2027.
Do you believe in godfatherism?
I have no godfather and I believe that I can do without one. I believe that a young man can become the president of this country without a godfather. The major problem we have had in Nigeria is about godfatherism. So, I don’t believe in it.
