The Publisher, Ovation International Magazine and Boss Newspaper Online, Chief(Dr) Dele Momodu has revealed the substantial reasons propelling his readiness to contest for presidency come 2023.
Momodu disclosed this during an exclusive interactive session with press men on his presidential ambition.
His engagement with journalists goes thus.
“Signs that the 2023 Presidential election will be interesting and shocking, is already in the air. Indications that the primaries itself will produce a popular candidate, for each of the political parties, is already very obvious because most of those that have declared their interest to contest the forthcoming presidential election, are popular candidates.
“But most interesting of all, seems to be the recent declaration of Businessman and Publisher of Ovation International Magazine, and Boss newspaper online, Chief Dr Dele Momodu.
“Momodu is not new in politics. He actually said on a recent television programme that he started politics as far back as 1982.
“I started politics in 1982 at the age of 23. I was the secretary of the then Deputy Governor of Ondo state Chief Omoboriowo. In 1988 when I came to Lagos, my first job was with Chief MKO Abiola, who later contested the 1993 Presidential election.”
While the 2023 aspiration to be the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, is not Momodu’s first attempt at political power, the popular publisher had in 2011, taken a long shot at the presidential seat as a presidential candidate of the National Conscience Party (NCP).
But why is Momodu coming out now to seek again for the Presidential seat?
He replies, “I cannot continue to wait, watch and grumble. That is what most Nigerians do these days anyway. This is the time for Nigeria to get it right, and I am offering myself because I am competent to do so, and I have the capacity to do so.
Filled with conviction of purpose, Chief Dr Momodu says he has no cause to be intimidated by any of the heavy weights that have already declared same intention to be president of Nigeria come 2023, and he is also not bothered about the profile of those that may also choose to join the race in the near future.
“I am about the most popular Nigerian politician on the internet with overwhelming followership. I have the Midas touch. Presidential election is about content and we already have the kind of content that we need to win the election.
“I don’t want to sound immodest but I will have support across the parties. Already I have a huge youth base. I have been telling the youths to go and register online and the numbers today is impressive. It keeps rising and rising. Many will be shocked at the outcome of this forthcoming election.
“I am youth friendly. I am a friend of everybody and I am not afraid to speak to those in power or criticize them.”
But what gives Momodu the confidence that side by side, he will be able to win the political juggernauts who have over the years mastered the art of elections?
“Like Chief MKO Abiola, I am bringing hope to the people. You must give the people hope. Buhari has dashed our hopes! And I am confident of winning the coming election because I am deriving my support and power from the people. The people have already given me their support. I have invested in people like Chief MKO Abiola was doing then. I must confess that I have everything I need!
Chief Dr Dele Momodu also spoke on funding of his campaign.
“Nobody spends his billions of money on election campaigns. Though Donald Trump was a billionaire, he had a showbiz personality too. When he came out to contest for the presidential election in the United State of America, despite his billions, he took donations to fund his campaign.
“If the party gives me the ticket, which I am sure they will, mine would be one of the best funded election campaigns.
“I am a global brand.”
Momodu whose father died while he was but a little boy, had his mother, a trader to fend for him and the family.
“My father died early,” he confided, “but my mother had always been my spiritual fortification. We attended an Aladura church. I was actually born in a church. My mother was a prayer warrior. She lived a life of prayer.
“Before she left me, I was beside her on the bed as I cried, she said Ekun yi o wa po ju, Jesu yi o wa pelu o. Meaning that my tears was much, but Jesus will be with me after she’s gone; Those were her last words to me.”
So this time around in a bid to clinch the presidential ticket during the primaries and strut away to contest the main presidential election, Chief Dr Dele Momodu has pitched his tent with the popular Peoples Democratic Party, also popularly known as the PDP.
“I joined the party two years ago but declared formally last year. But meanwhile, I have been working with PDP for many years now. I am better prepared now. The first thing is to convince the party that you can win an election, and you will get the ticket. Every party wants someone who can help them win the election. I have a systematic approach to winning the election, because now I am ready.
“I was a presidential candidate in 2011 in a fringe, local party without capacity. I joined the wrong party then.”
Momodu who has travelled to all the continents of the world and met most world leaders, reiterated that this is another chance for Nigeria and Nigerians to get it right politically, by choosing him that is ready and accomplished to run the affairs of the country come 2023.
“Late Chief MKO Abiola joined the election race few months to the election,” he asserted.
So, in a simple but memorable occasion, Momodu made his declaration to contest at the national headquarters of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), after presenting his letter of intent to the National Chairmen of the party, Dr Iyorchia Ayu.
Afterwards, he said of Ayu, “he is a cerebral gentleman.”
Momodu said that he is in the presidential race, “in the main opposition party so as to play an active role in saving the nation from the unpleasant grip of the All Progressives Congress (APC).”
“Most of the past presidents of Nigeria were not prepared for the work. Meanwhile, it is impossible to be a president of a country as big and diverse and complicated as Nigeria and not be prepared for it! And we have had leaders who are not accomplished.
“I am accomplished and I urge Nigerians to choose me, and let’s get it right in 2023,” he added.
