By Emmanuel Oloniruha
Presidential Candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Dr Esther Okereke, says if elected the next president, people at the grassroots will feel the impact of good governance.
She also promised to give adequate attention to the provision of basic infrastructure such as roads and railways.
Okereke who stated this when she featured on the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Personality interview on Sunday in Abuja, said that her presidential ambition was rooted in a firsthand understanding of the struggles faced by ordinary Nigerians at the grassroots.
She stated that unlike many political elites, she experiences daily realities faced by the citizens traveling by roads as she visits local markets and access community healthcare services.
She said that NRM has established a robust organisational network across all 36 states, the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), 774 local government areas.
According to her, the party is rooted across the 176,000 polling units nationwide in terms of mobilisation of voters.
“I am called the grassroots candidate because I use the same roads, go to the same markets and visits the same hospitals as average Nigerian. I feel what they feel.
“We have built structures in every ward and polling unit across the country to give power back to the people,” she said.
Addressing the state of national infrastructure, Okereke criticised the poor condition of inter-state roads, describing it as a major impediment to economic growth and human safety.
Sharing a recent personal experience traveling by road for a family funeral, she lamented how dilapidated highways subject citizens to severe hardship and unnecessary risks.
“Building quality roads across all 36 states is not rocket science; we see infrastructure development happening in the FCT, so it can be replicated nationwide,” she noted.
“Neglecting basic infrastructure and economic empowerment keeps citizens vulnerable so that their votes can be bought for minor handouts during elections.
“When people have good roads, steady power, housing, and food security, no one can buy their dignity or recruit their children for political thuggery,” Okereke added.
The presidential candidate urged Nigerians to hold leaders accountable using their Permanent Voter Cards (PVCs) rather than accepting short-term financial inducements during elections.
“Are you tired of the promises? Are you tired of the failed system? If you are tired, you would vote for NRM, you would vote Dr Esther.
“What Nigeria needs is not another manager, we need rescue. We need to restore, we need to rebuild Nigeria.
“If you’re not tired of joblessness, darkness, dilapidated hospitals, bad roads, keep your vote, hide. But if you are and you are ready to rebuild Nigeria, to rescue Nigeria, this is the time to bring out your weapon, which is your PVC,’’ she said.
Okereke advised Nigerians to collect whatever any candidate or political party is sharing, but vote for accountability and competency.
“It’s not about gender, it’s about the person that you would vote for and tomorrow you will say, please, account for us what you are doing with our collective resources.
“If you vote Esther Okereke through the NRM, you would ask me and I will answer, because I wouldn’t be just your leader, I would be your servant, because that is what I am vying for.
“I am contesting to be your servant, to serve you, to be your voice at the decision-making table. If you want a representative, you would vote me.
“Collect the rice, collect the money, collect the plastic plate, they are sharing. Collect whatever it is they are sharing, it’s your money, it’s your right, collect it, but vote for accountability, and that is me, Esther Okereke,’’ she said. (NAN)
OBE/FEO
========
Edited by Francis Onyeukwu
Comments