Sam Nda-Isaiah, the founder of Leadership Newspapers Group, the former Publisher of Leadership Newspapers and currently a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) gave an interview to Vanguard’s correspondent Charles Kumolu on a number of issues concerning present day life in Nigeria, political atmosphere in the country, his intentions and plans to run for the presidency and many more.
Sam Nda-Isaiah, the founder of Leadership Newspapers Group and currently a presidential aspirant on the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC)
Your decision to run for the presidency has attracted mixed reactions. In the mind of some people, you are probably acting out a script while others don’t consider you a serious aspirant. Are you really serious about running?
I don’t think anybody will say so. Maybe some people said so at the beginning but by now, I think it has become very clear to those people. Whose script are my acting? I am glad that you read my articles and I am sure that you and many of those who know me, understand my passion for this country and my desire to see it work. I don’t need to act a script. Before deciding to run, l had a good job which I was enjoying. I have always said that it is a better paying job than the presidency. Running for the presidency is not something I jumped into without giving it a serious thought. It is not a job to be enjoyed. It does not make sense to say that I am acting a script. I think some people always judge by their standards. If I did not see a path to victory, I would not waste my time by getting involved in the process. I had a job that I was enjoying and l believe it pays better than the presidency. The presidency appears lucrative for those who want to steal public funds.
Two prominent leaders in your party, Bola Tinubu and Gen Mohammadu Buhari, rtd, are being touted as possible presidential candidates. Don’t you think that their rumored ambition might affect your chances?
Buhari has not said that he will contest even though that it is most likely that he will. For Asiwaju, there was a rumour that he will contest but that has died down. Everybody has a strategy. I have the one that will give me victory. I think that everybody that intends to contest in the APC should have his own strategy. I don’t think that anybody will be a threat to anyone. I think that anybody that will win would be someone with superior advantages because there is going to be primaries. It is not as if somebody is going to be imposed on the party. And if there is going to be consensus, it is going to be a real consensus. Such consensus will have the blessing of everyone.
Would you support Buhari if the consensus favours him?
By the constitution of the party, even if there will be a consensus, there will still be primaries. Consensus does not overrule primaries. I am in this race to win. So far I am the only person who has declared publicly and I don’t think I will be the only person ultimately. And I am doing all I need to ensure that we win.
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