Worried by widening gap of ethnic boundaries in Nigerian politics ahead of the 2023 general elections, the Director-General of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) Global Campaign Council, Comrade Abdul-Azeez Suleiman, has counselled Nigerians to do away with tribe-based politics, stressing that the country needs a President of Nigeria, not an ethnic leader.

He noted that the country needs a President who can deliver on his mandate in ensuring peace and security of Nigerians.

Comrade Suleiman who was recently unveiled by the party as the Director General of its 2023 Presidential Campaign Council, spoke at his maiden media parley at the ADC global campus at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), Abuja on Wednesday.

He emphasised that the ADC campaign focuses on unity, peace and security.

“We are campaigning for unity, we are campaigning for peace and security, we are campaigning for reintegration.

“I have been saying that we should make deliberate effort to stop thinking of a regional or tribal president, when are we going to have a Nigerian president for goodness sake” he lamented.

He noted that after sixty years of independence Nigerians are still talking of an Igbo, southern or northern president, saying that this time around, Nigerians should vote for a credible President of Nigeria.

He said his campaign team has developed a winning strategy not only to penetrate the North but to deliver Dumebi Kachikwu as the next Nigerian President.

“Fortunately, one party, the ADC, has opted for neutrality, justice and equity in chosing all its candidates for the 2023 general elections; by choosing its Presidential candidate, Mr. Dumebi Kachikwu, a young entrepreneur and social crusader from the South-South or the Niger Delta.

“Dumebi is not in anyway tainted or dented. ADC listened and chose generational shift and someone who has not been part of the corruption in our governments. ADC cares. Yes we listen and we care.

“By this, the ADC has not only presented the alternative vehicle for unification of the country, but also avail Nigerians with a candidate that is for all intents and purposes, represents the organic link between the old generation and the emerging new generation which is the natural and legitimate claimant to the task of reshaping the society everywhere.”

According to the campaign DG, with the right political will and quality of leadership, such as presented by the African Democratic Congress, the ADC, Nigeria can stop the current general and pervasive insecurity resulting from widespread communal conflicts; we can bring lasting peace to the South, East, West and Northern parts of the country by finding solutions to the Fulani and his cattle, to the divisive regional tensions, unnecessary separatist agitations, as well as stop millions of our children living wretched lives in the search for education, and wasting the greatest asset of the nation, which is its human capital.

“Consequently, our people have been left in the doldrum for too long and the country rudderless.

“The systemic corruption insecurity and rent collection syndrome has resulted to our dear country being the poverty capital of the world and our intelligence and defence institutions stripped naked. Nigeria has become one of the most unsafe nation with the blood of the innocent flow like rivers. Life is unbearable in the country because leadership has failed.

“The ADC’s primary mission is to change the current Nigeria’s political culture from one that serves only the leaders, to one which creates leaders that serve the people.

“Today, not all Nigerian leaders are committed enough to work to solve the nation’s basic socio-cultural problems, its regressing economy or address its precarious future.

“Many of our leaders today will prefer to leave the bulk of Nigerians in poverty, fighting each other, so that they can continue to manipulate them during elections, but not showing real commitment to reducing youth unemployment, insecurity and poverty, and have failed to deal with Nigerian problems, not to mention international issues”, he said.

Further stressing the need for a campaign devoid of religious and sectional interests, Comrade Suleiman said that no one wins a religious or ethnic war, just as no ethnic group can dominate another forever.

For the ADC, only an atmosphere of peace can attract investors.

“Certainly, no one in their right senses would want to invest in an atmosphere of rancor, and uncertainty.

“Finally, I wish to remind us that unity is the foundation of our corporate existence; diversity is part of our DNA and hardwork, honesty and service to God and the community are the virtues that have been bequeathed to us by our great leaders of the past.

“No one wins a religious or ethnic war; no ethnic group can dominate another forever, and no benefit comes from fights and conflicts over what God has blessed us with: our population, our land and its resources and our values.

“Conflicts and disagreements have very little or no utility value, therefore, we must learn from the mistakes and miscalculations of those that have posed as Nigerian leaders throughout its independent existence if we’re to avoid the costly adventures that created the current level of disunity and disharmony among our communities.

“The ADC in this regard, represents a bell sound for Nigerians, particularly the youth, to resist the temptation to live in perpetual blame of past leaders; do better than them by learning from their mistakes with the conviction that the past cannot be entirely remedied, but a future can be built on a Strong foundation that benefits from a flawed past.

“Let’s look ahead while being conscious of the present, and drawing inspiration from the fact that us, and only us, can make Nigeria better or worth”, the ADC Director General said.

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