Babakudu 2019

On 1st May 2018, I lifted a persistently troubling heavy burden off my chest. After consultations with a few friends and family members, I decided to offer myself to seek nomination of my Party, APC to contest in the upcoming 2019 elections to represent the good people of Niger South at the Senate of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.

I have always felt, like all well meaning capable Nigerians should, that I have an obligation to offer to serve my people with my God given talents, which have been nurtured both by the opportunities offered by my community and Government. For me, this is pay back time. I hope that I would have the opportunity to offer my depth of experience, quality of expertise and strength of integrity to contribute to building a better society. These are especially required at this very moment of our nation building, given the myriad of challenges we currently face.

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I have been concerned about the quality of our politics and especially the quality of our political leadership at various levels over the years. Just as our agriculture has remained largely subsistent, so too our politics and policy making have been within a framework of "subsistent politics". We need to move from subsistent politics to politics of ideas, politics of development and nation building. The City State of Singapore is an excellent example of how a committed, knowledgeable and pragmatic leadership can truly transform a nation, even one that is barren of natural resources. Immediately post independence, Nigeria was widely ajudged to have a better chance than Singapore, and indeed many other Asian Countries, of becoming a great nation. What followed is now history... Can we turn the tide? I don't know, but at least we can try, and I want to be part of the solution, if given the opportunity.

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I am offering many years of senior corporate and public sector leadership experience and high level of policy literacy that is appropriate for the Senate, in addition to coming from a family lineage with a very long history of credible public service and leadership. There is no doubt that I feel adequately resourced and prepared to serve my constituents at this level.

 

To be clear, I am offering to represent and serve my constituents. This itself is an indication of my total commitment. Note that I did not claim the usual political-speak smokescreen of "my people asked me to come and serve or lead them". While a few friends over the years have encouraged me to seek high political office, it's nothing close to "my people asking me to come and serve"! Indeed, most of "my people's" reaction, I suspect, would be "Santuraki, we know you, can you cope as a politician?" We shall see how it goes!

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I plan to run a clean campaign, based on issues and ideas that optimize the policy and execution choices that leadership makes for the enduring benefit of the majority of its people in democracy. These are central to political leadership. I may sound idealistic and naive for Nigerian politics, but bear with me and let's try to change the "reality of the game", as we often call it, for the better.

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I am in this race to win, but not by all means. Indeed, by offering to serve I already feel victorious. This is because, whatever the outcome of this endeavour, it would on record that, while I complained a lot about the challenges we face as a nation, I tried to do something about it by offering to get involved at the political level. From my leadership experience in both the corporate and public sectors, I can confirm to you that true political public service leadership offers the highest potential leverage for impacting and improving people's lives. It amazes me, therefore, when some of our leaders waste this tremendous privilege and opportunity by their conduct in office.

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I encourage you to get involved too, any which way you can. The things at stake are too important to be left to professional politicians and those who see politics as a means of livelihood,..even sometimes a first real formal job, rather than a platform for contribution and service. It's our current circumstances and more importantly, our children and grand children's future that they are shaping. Shouldn't you be involved?

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These are my motivations for throwing my hat,.. and with it my heart, in the ring. Again, I suggest that you should be involved too!... by voting, by volunteering, by supporting candidates of your choice who share your convictions, and any other which way you can! If I do, I am available to advance your values and I humbly request for the privilege of your endorsement and your support.