By Oluwatope Lawanson
A 38-year-old female media entrepreneur, Mrs Khadija Okunnu-Lamidi, has declared her intention to contest for the 2023 presidential ticket on the platform of the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
Okunnu-Lamidi made her declaration at the party’s secretariat, Legacy Place, Sabo, Yaba.
Okunnu-Lamidi said she decided to join SDP, given its credential as a party that promotes social welfare, open to the voice of the youth, women and other sidelined Nigerians.
“I took this decision to choose the party because we wanted to first establish our own identity and our ideological message.
“We believe in one Nigeria and in the opening of its space and resources to all Nigerians. This is the key to economic inclusion and national security. Our campaign is something of an insurgency.
“We do not have sacks of free money but we have thousands of volunteers, millions of supporters and mandate of the people,” she said.
Okunnu-Lamidi said she is aware of the various challenges facing the country, adding that she is prepared to put in her best to ensure a better welfare for the citizens.
“No doubt, the challenges may be new, but as an aspiring leader, l will engage Nigerians on the instruments which will be used in mending the country which will be innovative.
“The instrument will be dependent on honesty and hardwork, courage and fair play, tolerance and curiosity, loyalty and patriotism. These values will remain forever true.
“I have a desire to create a new beginning for Nigeria and all Nigerians and this cannot be done without the support of the masses,” she said.
The National Chairman of the SDP, Mr Supo Shonibare, said he is pleased to have the presidential hopeful, Okunu-Lamidi as its flag-bearer.
“Our covenant and essence of organising SDP to be the alternative to the two big parties, APC and PDP, is propelled by the need to enable a change from the national leadership that our country has had to endure for the past 23 years of civilian leadership.
“SDP is a progressive party with its convention which as the name rightly suggests, is dedicated to enabling a fairer social democratic economic nation within our policy.
“With policies involving a fairer society for the elderly and the poor, our revised proposed manifesto will be considered by the national executive committee for the next few days during a meeting in Abuja,” he said.
(NAN)
