Election 2023: People To Watch

Alex Otti Is Running On Labour’s Stripes

Dr Alex Otti is well regarded in business circles. He is an economist and banker who has managed some tier-1 banks and only recently set up his own bank, Signature Bank, a full service deposit money bank.

Speaking of his motivation to open his own bank, Otti said: “The journey began in 2017, driven by a yawning gap we identified, a vacuum created by repeated unresolved complaints, poor responsiveness, and unsavoury customer experience encountered regularly from the banks we did business with. It came from a yearning for simplicity and ease of doing business and a less than adequate attention to the dynamic needs of the customer, not just within Nigeria, but across continents. For example, paying your child’s school fees, trading with partners overseas, settling bills without leaving the comfort of your home and making payments seamlessly. Interestingly, even as banks’ strategies, products and service offerings multiplied, the changing demographics and dynamics had customers increasingly yearning for more and demanding simpler and more flexible digital solutions. Welcome to the brand new world of artificial intelligence, robotics and 3D Printing! In fact, welcome to the world of Innovation, Convergence and 4th Industrial Revolution! In all these, what customers demand is not far-fetched. What they expect from their bank is not too tall an order. What customers across different business segments are looking for is a bank that fits their aspirations, their personal stories and their lifestyles. In other words, customers want a bank that puts them first.”

That message of putting the customer first is what Otti has taken to politics since he launched his unsuccessful bids to govern his home state Abia. Now he is looking up with hope, since he is on the ticket of the rave of the Labour Party, which is largely driven by the Peter Obi presidential momentum. He is the Governorship candidate of the Labour Party and comes well prepared having previously run on the ticket of the All Progressives Grand Alliance in 2015, losing to the outgoing governor, Dr Okezie Ikpeazu of the PDP. He caused a stir when the Appeal Court declared him governor in that election before the Supreme Court overturned it. He ran again in 2019 against the incumbent and lost.

A poll by ANAP Foundation projects Otti to win the poll. According to a statement from the foundation, “The results showed a significant lead for Otti with 20 percent of voters proposing to vote for him if the governorship election were to be conducted today; nine per cent propose to vote for Uchenna Eleazar Ikonne (PDP) who fell in second place and Gregory Ikechukwu Charles Ibe (APGA) was third with four per cent of voters proposing to vote for him.” If it does turn out it will be a significant outcome in a state ruled by the PDP since 1999. If Otti had name recognition, like he does, the Peter Obi presidential momentum has given the Labour Party wings on which he may well fulfil his dream. Among others, he has promised to fix Abia infrastructure and economy. He will be helped by the generally poor performance of the PDP especially under the current governor Okezie Ikpeazu who has failed to pay the salaries and pensions of civil servants and is judged a failure among his contemporaries in the southeast. Images of filth and bad roads in the state complete a picture of non-performance.

RIVERS STATE:

Siminalayi Fubara Powers On The Wings of Excellence

Sir Siminalayi Fubara, the governorship candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, is the man to beat in the Governorship Election in Rivers State. Though his name as the anointed candidate of Governor Nyesom Wike came to many as a surprise, Fubara has for many years cultivated the grassroots that is necessary for acceptance as candidate. A community-oriented man without airs, he is well connected at the grassroots and plays well at the top, which is why it was easy to sell his candidacy. Since he won the primary, Fubara has taken his manifesto across Rivers State. If there is one thing that stands him in a good position, it is the performance of the incumbent PDP administration of Governor Nyesom Wike, which has been praised by friends and foes as stellar. Massive investments in infrastructure along with a strong security-focused policy has endeared Wike and the PDP to Rivers State people. This is what Fubara is riding on and why he looks to be in pole position to win the Governorship Election come March 2023.

Born in Opobo town, Opobo/Nkoro Local Government Area of Rivers State, Sir Siminalayi Fubara started his educational career at Opobo Primary School, where he completed his First School Leaving Certificate in 1986. He proceeded to Comprehensive Secondary School, Opobo town, obtaining the West African School Certificate in 1992.

An accountant, Sir Fubara studied Accounting at the Rivers State University (formerly Rivers State University of Science and Technology) from where he graduated with a Bachelor of Science Degree. He also has a Master of Science Degree in Finance (2016) and Master of Business Administration (2013) both from the University of Port Harcourt Business School, as well as a Postgraduate Diploma in Accounting from Enugu State University of Science and Technology.

He started his career in 2003 as Principal Accountant with the Rivers State Post Primary Schools Board. He became Chief Accountant of the Ministry of Works in 2005 and in 2006, was deployed to the Office of Accountant General as assistant to the Accountant General of the State. He was appointed the Director of Finance and Accounts at the Government House from 2015 till his appointment as Permanent Secretary in charge of Government House in March 2020. He held that position till December 2020 when he was appointed Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance and accountant general in December of the same year. He served in that position until May 2022 when he resigned and contested the Governorship ticket of the PDP, which he won.

The PDP candidate is a Fellow of Nigerian Institute of Management (NIM), Fellow of Association of National Accountants of Nigeria (ANAN) and member, Chartered Institute of Forensic and Investigative Auditors (CIFIA). He holds the prestigious traditional chieftaincy title of Amaopu-Senibo of Opobo Kingdom, where he has worked with local outreach groups on poverty alleviation, skills acquisition, scholarships and other empowerment programmes. He is a Knight of St. Christopher (KSC) in the Order of the Anglican Communion. Sir Fubara is a recipient of a string of awards for his role in youth empowerment and peace building in Rivers State.

ADAMAWA STATE:

Will Hurricane Binani Give Nigeria Her First Female Governor?

When Senator Aisha Dahiru Ahmed, also known as Binani, beat six male political heavyweights to win the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket in Adamawa State, it was a shock win to those who do not know the Adamawa born Amazon.

Binani, with a name that resonates with political hurricanes, scored 430 votes to beat former EFCC chairman and ACN presidential candidate Nuhu Ribadu, who got 288 votes and a former governor, Muhammadu Jibrilla Bindow, who was hoping to win and run for a second term, who came third with 103 votes. Other candidates had less than 100 votes each.

Her victory was challenged by Ribadu at the High Court who won a short victory before it was restored to Senator Binani by the Appeal Court. She is the only female candidate of the two major parties running for governor. If she wins, she will continue in the track of Mama Taraba, the senator who was declared winner of the Governorship race in Taraba in 2015 but was ruled out by the courts. Binani has a rich political history as a fighter in a region which is seen as male-dominated. But, her candidacy has been backed by the first lady, Mrs Aisha Buhari who also hails from Adamawa State. Despite that, nothing removes from her victory in the primary, which pundits credit with her earthy politics, especially as one with a connection with her roots.

Aishatu Dahiru Ahmed Binani was born on 11 August 1971 and is a serving senator of the All Progressives Congress representing Adamawa Central senatorial district in the 9th Assembly. She had earlier served as a member of the House of Representatives representing the Yola North/Yola South/Girei federal constituency on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party in the from 2011 to 2015, before she defected to the APC. Aishatu holds a Higher National Diploma in Electrical Engineering from the University of Southampton.

AKWA IBOM:

Umo Eno’s ARISE agenda

A pastor and entrepreneur, the election of Umo Eno as Governorship candidate of the ruling PDP in Akwa Ibom state did not come as a surprise to many, especially after incumbent Governor Udom Emmanuel had anointed him as his successor early in the year. At that time, Eno was the State Commissioner for Lands and Water Resources. When the primary election results were announced on 25 May, he secured a landslide against other aspirants, confirming his adoption by the party. He received 993 votes from the 1, 018 delegates accredited for the exercise. While one of the aspirants Mr Luke Oniofiok has congratulated him, another defeated aspirant Akan Okon took his case to the Federal High Court, Uyo. INEC has since affirmed Eno as the party’s candidate, giving him the bounce to launch his ARISE agenda.

Unveiling his 5-point agenda at the Uyo Township Stadium launch event of his campaign, Eno said if elected his administration will focus on Agricultural revolution, Rural development, Infrastructural maintenance and advancement, Security management, Educational and Economic management (ARISE).” He said: “Through our agricultural revolution we would ensure that there is enough food for our people at affordable prices. We would tap into our comparative advantage in this area and create wealth for our people.”

While commending Governor Emmanuel for the confidence reposed in him to fly the PDP flag, he said he will consolidate on the achievements and projects of the current administration. Among others, he will build a cargo terminal for Ibom Air to commence cargo flight in the West Africa region. “This election is beyond rhetoric and fake promises but pragmatism, capacity and making hard choices. It is your choice to have a proven leader who has created jobs for many years for our youths versus those who only use the youths for thuggery and violence to suit their selfish purposes.”