2027: Male Leadership Has Failed Nigeria — NRM Presidential Candidate Esther Okereke

The presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Esther Okereke, has urged Nigerians to consider voting for a woman president in 2027, arguing that the country has been ruled by men for decades and the time is now overdue for a change.

Okereke said so while talking on Channels Television’s Sunrise Daily to talk about her election plans ahead of time for the 2027 polls.

She argued that her candidacy should be judged on the strength of her governance plan and not whether she is a woman or a man.

“I’m not here for gender politics. I’m here with accountability. I’m here with a blueprint, a plan, a framework to rescue,” Okereke noted.

The presidential hopeful urged voters to question why they must continue to allow men to rule them when what the people are voting for is not working for them after more than two decades in office.

“Do you think a man who has failed for over 20 years should continue? If you don’t think so, then give this woman a chance,” Okereke said.

A historic but male-dominated race

Nigeria has never elected a female president before. Yet for the 2027 polls, the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) cleared 18 presidential candidates, including two women – Esther Okereke of the NRM and Ada Okwori of the National Democratic Party (NDP).

They are set to face-off against tougher oppositions like President Bola Tinubu of the All Progressives Congress, former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar of the African Democratic Congress, and former Anambra governor Peter Obi of the Nigeria Democratic Congress.

Power and insecurity as priorities

Okereke stated that one of the first issues she would address if she won the presidency was the unreliable power supply in Nigeria.

She argued that the frequent load-shedding was affecting businesses, especially small and medium enterprises, which were unable to operate at full capacity and thus unable to compete effectively with their counterparts in other countries.

According to the presidential hopeful, the regular power failures also hindered the adoption of technology and smart monitoring systems.

Okereke also prioritised insecurity, arguing that it was a major disincentive for Nigerians living abroad to return to their hometowns or invest in the country.

The NRM presidential candidate argued that restoring security in the country would encourage Nigerians in the diaspora to invest in their home country as partners instead of Nigerians who come back home through charity.

Okereke criticized the practice of repairing roads only for the people in authority to come.

She argued that the maintenance of public infrastructure should be treated as a routine and not an activity that only takes place when governors or the president are about to arrive.

“Our conscience must be a constant reminder that public offices in Nigeria exist to serve the people,” Okereke said.

Grassroots partnership and social services

Okereke noted that her campaign was based on a grassroots structure that saw Nigerians as partners and not voters.

She said she would continue to answer their needs even after elections and that the people should hold her accountable for their needs, noting that the answers they got from their leaders were not satisfactory.

“You don’t just need the grassroots for votes. You need them for partnership,” Okereke noted.

The presidential candidate argued that her proposed governance plan would focus on providing more housing and health services, particularly at the grassroots level.

She noted that the healthcare system required more attention to ensure it provided adequate care to Nigerians.

Okereke’s campaign has so far focused on a nationwide organisational structure that reaches Nigeria’s 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory, and the 774 Local Government Areas in the country.

Source: premiumtimesng.com