Our Time Has Come to Rescue Nigeria
By Dele Momodu
Our National Chairman,
Members of the National Executive Committee (NEC),
Other Party Officials,
Our friends and supporters,
Members of Team Dele Momodu,
Gentlemen of the Press,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
Today marks a historic moment not just in my political career but in my life as a whole. God indeed works in mysterious ways. Tomorrow, December 19, 2010 will mark my 18th anniversary of my wedding which uncharacteristically was attended by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN who was never known to socialize. Is it not strange and amazing, that today I am standing to declare for the political party founded by this great Nigerian? More still, is it not stranger that the National Chairman of this party fought one of his greatest battles as a lawyer for the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti who lived very close to this venue on Gbemisola Street some years ago?
The story of my life is not complete without its constant romance with the supernatural. I was born in a church and named Joseph. I dream big. And it was my dream of a better Nigeria that propelled me into taking a plunge into the murky waters of Nigerian politics. I had looked all around me, I had written thousands of essays, I had been involved in social activism from my undergraduate days, yet I noticed that things were going from bad to worse and our country was sliding perilously. There was no question in my mind that Nigeria has all it takes to be among the leading nations of the world. Our land is overflowing with milk and honey but there is little or none for the ordinary Nigerian to drink or lick. Our political landscape is littered with misfits. For a country that has produced some of the brightest brains on the face of the earth, it was both a physical and psychological torture to watch the nation fail in the hands of our "professional politicians."
I stand here today, grateful to God that a day like this has come. For me, this marks the beginning of a new order of things in our collective struggle to rescue Nigeria. My mission as a technocrat in politics is to rekindle our hope in the possibility of a new Nigeria that works. Today, I stand here knowing that my story is a part of the larger Nigerian story and that the need to build a new country out of the present rubbles must not be considered a personal ambition but a national assignment by every one seated here today in this room and the many more millions of Nigerians out there.
My decision to join the National Conscience Party (NCP) is based purely on principle. I am not looking for a job. If I wanted a job in government, then I would have rushed to the PDP where they share all the jobs. Today, I am happy to be welcomed home by my brothers and sisters at the National Conscience Party (NCP). This, for me, is a homecoming and together, I believe we can write the next great chapter in the Nigerian story. Nigerians have been crying and calling for change but in 2011, they have been confronted with the challenge of choice. One big question that has been on the lips of Nigerians is "We want to vote in 2011 but where are the credible alternatives to the current set of politicians"? Nigerians do not have to look too far. With a credible political party like the National Conscience Party (NCP) and Nigerians like me who have been welcomed to its fold, I am convinced we can make Nigerians believe again. Those who say Dele Momodu is not experienced enough to be the president of Nigeria are far removed from reality. It is only in Nigeria that we hear people say a customs officer can run for president, a police officer can run, everybody including illiterates can run but a man who was teaching A levels 28 years ago, a man who was private secretary to a Deputy Governor 27 years ago, a man who was a major contributor on the very influential opinion page of the The Guardian newspaper 23 years ago, a man who was the founding editor of Leaders & Company 18 years ago, a man who was thrown into detention in 1993 by the Babangida government, a man who was forced into exile 15 years ago and was able to build a global brand from scratch under such tragic circumstances cannot run a nation where most of its past and present leaders have never done anything tangible for a living.
By Dele Momodu
Our National Chairman,
Members of the National Executive Committee (NEC),
Other Party Officials,
Our friends and supporters,
Members of Team Dele Momodu,
Gentlemen of the Press,
Distinguished ladies and gentlemen.
Today marks a historic moment not just in my political career but in my life as a whole. God indeed works in mysterious ways. Tomorrow, December 19, 2010 will mark my 18th anniversary of my wedding which uncharacteristically was attended by Chief Gani Fawehinmi, SAN who was never known to socialize. Is it not strange and amazing, that today I am standing to declare for the political party founded by this great Nigerian? More still, is it not stranger that the National Chairman of this party fought one of his greatest battles as a lawyer for the late Fela Anikulapo-Kuti who lived very close to this venue on Gbemisola Street some years ago?
The story of my life is not complete without its constant romance with the supernatural. I was born in a church and named Joseph. I dream big. And it was my dream of a better Nigeria that propelled me into taking a plunge into the murky waters of Nigerian politics. I had looked all around me, I had written thousands of essays, I had been involved in social activism from my undergraduate days, yet I noticed that things were going from bad to worse and our country was sliding perilously. There was no question in my mind that Nigeria has all it takes to be among the leading nations of the world. Our land is overflowing with milk and honey but there is little or none for the ordinary Nigerian to drink or lick. Our political landscape is littered with misfits. For a country that has produced some of the brightest brains on the face of the earth, it was both a physical and psychological torture to watch the nation fail in the hands of our "professional politicians."
I stand here today, grateful to God that a day like this has come. For me, this marks the beginning of a new order of things in our collective struggle to rescue Nigeria. My mission as a technocrat in politics is to rekindle our hope in the possibility of a new Nigeria that works. Today, I stand here knowing that my story is a part of the larger Nigerian story and that the need to build a new country out of the present rubbles must not be considered a personal ambition but a national assignment by every one seated here today in this room and the many more millions of Nigerians out there.
My decision to join the National Conscience Party (NCP) is based purely on principle. I am not looking for a job. If I wanted a job in government, then I would have rushed to the PDP where they share all the jobs. Today, I am happy to be welcomed home by my brothers and sisters at the National Conscience Party (NCP). This, for me, is a homecoming and together, I believe we can write the next great chapter in the Nigerian story. Nigerians have been crying and calling for change but in 2011, they have been confronted with the challenge of choice. One big question that has been on the lips of Nigerians is "We want to vote in 2011 but where are the credible alternatives to the current set of politicians"? Nigerians do not have to look too far. With a credible political party like the National Conscience Party (NCP) and Nigerians like me who have been welcomed to its fold, I am convinced we can make Nigerians believe again. Those who say Dele Momodu is not experienced enough to be the president of Nigeria are far removed from reality. It is only in Nigeria that we hear people say a customs officer can run for president, a police officer can run, everybody including illiterates can run but a man who was teaching A levels 28 years ago, a man who was private secretary to a Deputy Governor 27 years ago, a man who was a major contributor on the very influential opinion page of the The Guardian newspaper 23 years ago, a man who was the founding editor of Leaders & Company 18 years ago, a man who was thrown into detention in 1993 by the Babangida government, a man who was forced into exile 15 years ago and was able to build a global brand from scratch under such tragic circumstances cannot run a nation where most of its past and present leaders have never done anything tangible for a living.
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