Former World Bank Vice President for Africa, Obiageli Ezekwesili has announced her bid for President in Nigeria.
The former Nigerian minister is also the co-founder of a group that raised awareness about the kidnapping of over 200 girls by Boko Haram in 2014.
The “Bring Back Our Girls” campaign attracted global support to put pressure on Nigeria’s government to secure the release of the girls from Chibok.
Ezekwesili in a statement on Sunday declared her intention to run for President in next year’s presidential election.
She said in the statement that “I want to run for, and win, the 2019 presidential election to serve and put the citizens first by mobilizing and taking decisive actions on a number of big ideas that will help all of us build an exceptional nation”.
“Governance keeps worsening. So we the citizens have decided to get into the political arena to make things right,” Ezekwesili said.
Ezekwesili, 55 doesn’t mention whether she intends running on the ticket of any party. She will be unable to run on the ticket of the two biggest parties, the ruling APC and opposition PDP.
The ruling party has already picked President Muhammadu Buhari who is seeking re-election.
Opposition PDP on Sunday also picked former vice president, Atiku Abubakar as its candidate for next February’s election.
Ezekwesili served in Nigeria’s government between 2000 and 2007, as minerals minister and later education minister.
Source: Africafeeds.com
