Hayatu-Deen returns nomination forms, advocates competency over zoning

By Jude Opara

Presidential aspirant on the platform of the African Democratic Congress (ADC), Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has backed the decision of the party not to zone its presidential ticket, insisting that competency should be emphasized over zoning.

Hayatu-Deen who spoke to newsmen on Wednesday after submitting his nomination forms to the party said the mood of the country today suggests that credible and committed people should be encouraged to office, irrespective of the part of the country they come from.

The seasoned banker further said if given the opportunity to fly the party’s flag in the general elections, he would base his campaign on the firm grounds of poverty reduction, tackling the spate of insecurity and reducing the cost of living, as we as ensuring that children were sent back to school.

“We face enormous problems in this country, pertaining to high inflation, the cost of living, hunger, poverty, disease, children out of school, health facilities that are dilapidated, and an enormous amount of insecurity.

“If I’m lucky to get the nomination and go on to contest this election, I’ll be waging a campaign that is focused on alleviating poverty, eliminating insecurity in this country, reducing the cost of living, and putting our children back to school, and giving our people prosperity and a world in which they can live comfortably and raise the quality of life for all Nigerians.

“So competence should be prioritized over zoning? Competence is exceptional at this point in time, because anybody who is going for the office of president is actually going there as a quintessential Nigerian, and not because I come from Borno or from Imo or Anambra.

“I think what is required here is competence and distinction in terms of one’s ability to provide leadership to every single individual in this country. The 230 million people deserve a leader who is a unifier, not a divider, who is very competent, who understands this country, its opportunities and problems, and who also understands what the world is all about and Nigeria’s place in it”.

Hayatu-Deen who explained that election time is to give the people the opportunity to choose their leaders, said he is fully confident of giving his best if given the opportunity to serve.

“The pinnacle of this office is the office of the presidency and I can tell you with full confidence that I am fully prepared to contest this election. I’m certain of myself and I’m very, very confident about the kind of campaign that I’m going to run. I’m confident that I will make this campaign and win it”.

On the mode of primary election he would prefer when the exercise gets underway later in the month, the aspirant said that decision is left for the party to decide, adding that he would be ready to participate in the process whether it’s the direct or the consensus option.

He added that once someone takes the oath of office as president, he will be duty bound to work for the Nigerian people, wherever they may come from and regardless of their background.