The presidential candidate of the National Recue Movement (NRM), Ambassador Felix Osakwe, has unveiled his party’s manifesto, stating that one of the key ideologies of the NRM is to provide what he terms “New, Exciting, Unhindered Opportunities” that focus on building human capital to grow the God-given skills of young Nigerians.

Ambassador Felix Osakwe stated this in Abuja, Nigeria’s capital, at the official unveiling of the “Raising Nigeria Again 2023 NRM Presidential Manifesto.”

The NRM presidential candidate further said that one of the ways the party would rescue Nigeria, if given the opportunity, is to set up a National Council of Parenting and Mentorship which would tackle the major root cause of societal problems as well as build character through the educational system.

‘We are going to reform the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) scheme by making the one year a valid work experience to tackle the issue of working experience for graduates to get experience.

‘If working experience is a condition for a graduate to get a job, while serving, they need to move from one region to another to acquire experience and to understand other cultures, have a better picture of Nigeria so that when they finish they have something to show as their working experience gained from these various parts,’ Ambassador Osakwe disclosed.

Security/ Safe Communities

Ambassador Osakwe advocated the setting-up of a database system whereby individuals in a community can easily be identified for  accountability to one another.

‘State police, street police and forest police need to be established in addition to federal policing system for a more robust amd effective coverage of the entire nation.

‘If suddenly you see a stranger and you are able to identify who is not a community member with the help of a database, it makes the job of policing easier.

‘We have many weapons in our hands on how we can fight insecurity, one of which is a serious dialogue approach between different religions, ethnicity, tribalism and sectionalism without suspicion and fear of one another with the help of traditional rulers.

‘Without dialogue and understanding we cannot win the war against insecurity in Nigeria. It is most important to unite the nation, bring back trust of one another.

‘I have so much faith in our military. The might of our military in Nigeria can not be underrated by any man; once the opportunity is given to them to do the needful, I can assure you, they will do beyond what you ask them to do.

‘Ask the military and the police to go out for peace-keeping, the report will say that they are one of the best. Once opportunity is given to them, they can do beyond our expectation,’ said the NRM presidential candidate.

Healthcare System

Ambassador Osakwe stated that part of the NRM’s agenda for the health care system is to build an inclusive untramodern health care system by designing a central digital health care management system whereby patients’ information is easily displayed for a more swift and efficient health care service.

‘If given the opportunity, I would recommend to the National Assembly to scrap the idea of identification systems that identify people by where they come from or religion and ethnicity rather than emphasizing being a Nigerian first before anything else.

‘The NRM is a movement that gives everyone equal opportunity,’ he noted.

The National Chairman of the party, Ambassador Isaac Ode, while addressing the gathering, stated that in recognition of the fact that every country belongs to the grassroots, the party identifies itself as the National Rescue Movement.

Earlier, the keynote speaker, Dr. George Ikpot, called for the setting-up of a committee to draft a proper constitution out of the manifesto, which he described as a well thought-out document.

He called on Nigerians to take ownership of the country and eschew the things that cause more separation rather than unity such as religion, ethnicity, and selfishness.

Edited by Amaka E. Nliam