The candidate of the Accord Party for the Oyo South Senatorial District in the 2023 elections, Kolapo Kola-Daisi, has said one of his intentions for contesting the seat is to give adequate representation to youths whom he says are very critical to nation-building.

Kola-Daisi, who spoke during a media parley where he discussed his mission for venturing into politics, noted that he would change the narrative of empowering youths and women, saying politicians must learn to move away from mere distribution of motorcycles, dryers and deep freezers, to distribution of things that would meet more of their needs and impact them better.

He noted that youth empowerment and economic emancipation of the country would be his priority if elected as a senator, Kola-Daisi said the country had to get to the level where the needs of the people were tailored to the solutions and empowerments they are provided with.

He stated: “One thing we have noticed is that our people have not really seen adequate representation in the Senate. They don’t know what their senators do and they don’t see them. I have promised them regular engagement to know what the issues are, what ideas they have and we want to propose laws that have direct impact on the people.I tell my constituents that a vote for me is a vote for effective representation and I will be accessible, accountable and responsible.”

While saying that he would also ensure that bills aimed at empowering youths were adequately and quickly passed into law, Kola-Daisi disclosed that he had experience in fund raising, mentoring and working with young people to help them achieve their goals, saying those are some of the things he planned to do when he began to serve the constituents.

The 44-year-old chartered banker, in addressing the issue of his stint in partisan politics being very short, said politics is one of those paths one takes without necessarily having to rise through the ranks, asserting that although a lot of people believe that one has to have been successful in other aspects of life before going into politics, there is the law called not-too-young-to-rule.

He said: “The age limit to be president, according to that law, is 40 years. So, if there is a law in the country that says you only need to be 40 with only secondary school certificate to run as president, then at 44, why should I be thinking that I need to start in a small position before I run for Senate?

“If you look across the world, particularly in Europe, you will see that presidents and prime ministers are very young people. The French president, Emmanuel Macron, got to power at 39 years. We have one of the youngest female prime ministers in Finland in the person of Sanna Marin. She got to office at 33 years. These are leaders that are not only young but have done very well where they have been tested,” Kola-Daisi explained.

He asserted that he had the requisite experience, having been in employment since 2000 and having worked in various capacities in the financial sector, saying he would be 64 in 20 years and would be part of those who would suffer the consequences if he made a wrong decision, as a senator.

Kola-Daisi said: “When it comes to politics, experience counts and experience outside politics also counts. I don’t believe I should have started from any other position. What you should be asking me is why I am not running for president.”

He admonished the people to vote out politicians who are not performing for the sake of the advancement and development of various constituencies, saying all politicians who canvass for votes but disappear for the the next four years after being voted in, only to reappear when it is time for another election, should be voted out.

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Nigeria needs value-driven leaders with a conscious commitment at all levels to create a corporate culture that optimizes financial performance, ethical practice, social contribution and environmental impact for the growth and development of the country.

This assertion was made by the International Consultant, Global Intellectual Consult Ltd, Prof. Mike Ikupolati while speaking on the need for leaders at all levels and especially the political leaders in Nigeria to imbibe the culture of Value-driven Leadership, in Abuja, Nigeria’s Capital.

According to him, “No Nation can develop beyond the leadership capacity available in the Country”.

“Human capital is a key requirement for development in this era of globalization and knowledge drives economy. Leadership is not about yourself but about the people you lead. If your leadership does not have positive impact on the people you lead, then you are an irrelevant leader that is obsolete on the stage’.

Speaking on the forth coming elections in Nigeria, Prof. Ikupolati urged citizens to look at the abilities of a new leader using two basic mandates of leaders.

“Value-driven leaders must be able to deliver on their Constitutional duties such as, protection of lives and Properties of the people or citizens they lead, Installing and Maintaining the Rule of Law in the society, Defending the fundamental Human Rights of the people, Providing the basic and necessary infrastructures needed to guarantee the wellbeing of the people, Good roads, well equipped Hospitals, well-funded educational institutions, Agricultural tools and seeds, etc. and accountability and transparency in governance,” he said.

“Following the constitutional duties are the campaign promises made to the people, Party Ideology observed and respected, Decisions in the interest of the greater good of all and respect for people’s sovereignty.”

He noted that at this critical stage of our lives in Nigeria and the complexity of the current political landscape, it is important to understand the criteria for selecting good leaders.

“The commitment of a leader to performance cannot be overemphasized. Leaders must communicate their manifestoes or in organizations their goals and objectives to their followers, every leader should be able to correctly direct the implementation of their programs with the courage to keep moving in the face of opposition, criticism and hard times until the needed growth and development is delivered to the people”.

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A group of Women lawyers in Kano state have declared support for the Presidential candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Asiwaju Bola Tinubu and the state APC Gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nasiru Yusuf Gawuna.

This is contained in a statement issued by the Chairlady of the Group, Barrister Nafisa Abba Isma’il Esq. in Kano on Monday.

According to Barrister Nafisa Isma’il, the 250 women lawyers made their position known when they visited the Tinubu Campaign Office in Kano under the leadership of its North West Director, Bappa Babba Danagund.

They said they decided to support Tinubu and Gawuna after assessing all the Presidential candidates and Kano gubernatorial candidates and found out that the duo are the best among all the candidates.

The group described Tinubu as the best Presidential Candidate in view of his antecedent in Lagos, his human development policies and his relationship with the judiciary.

“We believe that looking at his antecedent in Lagos, it’s our hope and believe that he will make the judiciary great. For this reason, we believe Tinubu is the right person to support and vote for.

“When judiciary is allowed to work and get adequate funding, then there will be no corruption in the country’s judicial system as judges will stand up to their feet and do what is right,” Barrister Nafisa said.

She thanked Dan’agundi for providing the platform to meet with Tinubu when he visited Kano recently in addition to arranging a special meeting with the State APC Gubernatorial candidate at the Presidential Campaign Office.

The leader of the group told the Director that the group had started mobilisig women lawyers in the entire north west geo-political zone with a view to bringing them on board for success of the party in the forthcoming general election.

In his remarks, Dan’agundi thanked the women lawyers and urged them to mobilise their members in the entire northern and southern parts of the country for the victory of party in the upcoming general elections.

The Director further commended the group for endorsing Ahmed Bola Tinubu and the Kano APC Gubernatorial candidate, Dr. Nasiru Gawuna and urged them to continue to work together for the victory in State and country at large.

Dan’agundi, who promised to ensure good working relationship with the group, urged them to guide and enlighten other APC members on the dos and donts of the Electoral Act

“We sincerely appreciate your gesture and support because it’s the first of its kind in the whole federation.

“The first time a teeming populace of women lawyers coming together to endorse a particular candidate. This is quite encouraging and we’ll never let you down,” said Dan’agundi

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As the All Progressives Congress, APC, campaign train for Cross River State in southern Nigeria hits Obanliku local government area, the traditional rulers have assured the governor, Professor Ben Ayade of their votes at next month’s general election.

The chiefs led by the paramount ruler of Obanliku, Dr. Amos Iten prayed and blessed the governor, Professor Ayade, who is contesting for the northern senatorial seat against the incumbent Senator Jarigbe Agom Jarigbe of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP alongside other candidates.

Iten, who was speaking at a consultative session with the governor and other APC candidates from the district, assured Ayade of their support stating, “power comes from God and God has destined you to return to the senate, no human being can change it. You have been there (senate) before and we all can attest to what you did for northern Cross River. My son was one of the beneficiaries of your scholarship programme as a senator. We are here for and will do the needful to return you to the senate.”

The monarch further stated, “we have kept our drums and other musical instruments ready to celebrate your victory and swearing-in as senator. Obanliku is a local government that does what it says and when we tell you we have accepted you, just know that you have been accepted.”

Eulogising the governor, the paramount ruler recalled “Ayade started doing good even before he went to the senate. All we owe you is prayers, we pray that God’s wish should materialize. We are waiting for your swearing-in day and that of the governorship candidate of the APC. We will be by your side, give you our votes and sing congratulations in the end.”

Strategic victory
Earlier, the governor told the excited crowd that Obanliku was too strategic to the state and his government to be ignored as sons and daughters from the area were serving in his administration and holding juicy positions.

According to him, he was in the process of upgrading the iconic Obudu Cattle Ranch Resort, establish industrial scale potato farm among others in Obanliku.

The governor further noted, “we are installing another batch of solar lights in Obanliku. We have two sons of Obanliku, who are grade ‘A’ commissioners in my administration. I sent several sons and daughters of Obanliku abroad for university education even before l went to the senate.

“I looked at the temperature climate of the ranch and put a potatoes factory to be able to grow and export Irish potatoes and process it into French fries. We do not have commercial production of potatoes in Nigeria. So, l thought that Obanliku is the best place for the crop after doing soil analysis,” he also hinted.

The governor informed the traditional leaders and people that the all candidates of the APC running for president, senate, governorship and other offices have the capacity and competence to deliver democratic gains.

In his words: “I want to say something to you about Senator Bassey Otu, he is a good man. If he was not a good man, he will not be my candidate. We are supporting Senator Otu to be governor because fairness, justice and fair play demand that the southern senatorial district of our dear state produces the next governor because the north and central had their turn. Besides, Senator Otu is qualified and competent; he has a track record of service delivery.”

The consultation with the traditional rulers later snowballed into a rally held at the Obanliku local government council secretariat in sankwala attended by a mammoth crowd of party faithful and supporters of the APC.

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