Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa

Mazi Sam Ohuabunwa Wednesday took his presidential ambition consultation  to the  Peoples Democratic Party, PDP Caucus in the National Assembly where he declared that  he is aspiring to serve as  Nigeria's President to fill  the leadership gap that is lacking in the making of a new Nigeria. 

He pointed out that, there is urgent need to reinvent Nigeria to make it globally competitive, and make it works for all. Marketing his qualifications for the job,  the former chairman of Manufacturer Association of Nigeria, MAN, opined that he emerging from wealth creation sub-sector and global leadership participation in the private sector,  his administration will create enabling environment for job creation, thereby creating youths empowerment, and bringing poverty ratio to barest minimum.

"The old Nigeria is no longer working. We want a country that can work for the North, South, East and West. A country that can work for the poor, and for the rich. The one that works for the strong and the weak; the male and the female; for the able and for the disabled. It is a Nigeria that we will collectively call our own". He said.

Ohuabunwa,  the convener of the New Nigeria, argued that he has reached a stage in life where the life-long burden of living in a fatherland where bad governance is endemic, must be exposed.

"So ladies and gentlemen, this burden that I have been with and has refused to go, is the reason you're here this evening.

"I have come to conclusion that our country is not short of knowledge. What is wrong with Nigeria is the ability to implement. This is because, there is lack of visionary leadership in certain aspects of our national endeavor in constant manner for many years. We seem to be a country that moves two steps forward, and go backward, four steps" he noted.

He stressed that what Nigeria needs now is : "Leadership that is enlightened; leadership that is competent; leadership that is visionary; leadership that is of good character; and leadership that is courageous." 

Responding, Senate Minority Leader, Senator Enyinnaya  Abaribe, thanked the Presidential hopeful for showing up. He said that, it is great privilege for Nigerians and the PDP to have the calibre  of Ohuabunwa, coming to lead the country, adding that his class are not found in any political party. "We have heard you. We are impressed with your credentials, and your passion to make Nigeria better than it is today. That is what each and everyone of us want. We wish you well and tell you to continue to match on" he said.

Abaribe lamented the leadership backlash of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC, saying that with the likes of Ohuabunwa, hope beckons for Nigerians as they won't afford to vote APC to power again.

Amongst other heights attained, Ohuabunwa had been  President, Nigeria Employers Consultative Association, NECA, President, Nigerian-American Chamber of Commerce, NACC, as well as Chairman, Nigerian Economic Summit Group, NESG and Chairman of Organized Private Sector, OPS. He was actively involved in the fashioning of Vision 2010 and 2020 documents.

Apart from his private sector's excellence, he has actively involved in the public sector administration both at the state and federal levels, having served as chairman,  Governing Councils of several state's institutions as well as board member of Federal establishments. Some of these include;  Nigeria Extractive Transparency Initiative,  NEITI, National Health Insurance Scheme, NHIS, National Manpower Board, NMB, National Institute for Social and Economic Research, NISER, Board of Pharmacists Council of Nigeria.