Joining The Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN) by Fela DUROTOYE

Over the last few days, I have been overwhelmed and pleasantly surprised by the wave of support that followed my decision to actively participate in the political process by joining the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN).

While I am honored by the goodwill of many who feel the time has come for visionary candidates with no ties to the past and who are not beneficiaries of selectocracy to lead us into a New Nigeria, I am also grateful to those who may doubt in the ability of one man to make a difference.

Some have said “Fela should first contest as a LGA Chairman and work his way up, give it a few years before contesting for the Office of President.”

I hear you.

I understand your concern and I’m not oblivious to the huge challenges that lie before us.

But this is not about Fela Durotoye becoming President.

It’s about triggering a landslide of good people into & within government at all levels who will take the best decisions on behalf of everyone.

This is why I set up the RUNNING FOR A NEW NIGERIA MOVEMENT.

Perhaps I would be better served, focused on building my business, raising my family, not having my integrity questioned, enjoying the illusion of comfort and security that my gated community offers while turning a blind eye to the despair and frustration I see in the tired eyes of Nigerians everywhere.

But I can’t pretend I don’t see.

That’s why over the last 13 years, I have dedicated my life to building the people that would build the nation as well as funding many nation building projects at great personal cost.

As I have said on several platforms; the ordinary citizens of a GREAT nation will always be treated better than the great citizens of an ORDINARY nation.

This is what drives me.

To build a nation where we are all GREAT CITIZENS of a GREAT NATION holding our heads up with pride even as Africans and African Americans across the world were proud to be portrayed as “Wakandans” in the last Marvel movie, Black Panther.

The way we felt about Wakanda, that’s how we can feel about Nigeria.

That’s what a desirable nation looks like.

That’s the vision of Nigeria I’ve been sharing for the last 13 years.

I’m not fighting for any ambition, I’m representing the possibilities of a generation.

Representing you.

I can not and will not sit idly by and comment about the problems we face as a nation, thereby creating more problems.

I choose to be a solution to the problem.

But I can’t do it alone.

I need you.
To run with me.
Either by voting or being voted for.

Ask yourself; am I handing over a nation that my children would thank me for or blame me for?

I’m proud to say that our generation has raised the bar by asking the right questions, where being young is not enough to win our votes, or having experience is not enough of a track record to deliver on the challenges of the 21st century.

All I ask is as tough questions are daily being asked of me, ask them also of EVERY CANDIDATE who is running for elective office across all levels.

I ask that as you question my record, question the record of EVERY CANDIDATE.

As you question my motives, question the motives of EVERY CANDIDATE.

As you inspect my record and see how I have served my nation without holding political office, I would ask that you inspect the record of EVERY CANDIDATE and see what they have done BEFORE and AFTER they held political office.

At the end of the day, I may not earn your vote, but the greatest gift to our nation would be that the best and brightest persons will emerge as candidates accross all the elective & legislative offices in 2019 and beyond. True leaders (not rulers) who would be able to deliver a promise of a New Nigeria across all levels which may even one day surpass the fictional country of Wakanda.

Is that not a noble cause?

FD.