Why I Am Running

I am not here to outspend anyone. I am here to outthink them, for the sake of the people. True leadership demands thoughtfulness and vision.

-Francis Onyema

The urgent challenges of our contemporary world, marked by rising insecurity, hunger, disease, climate change, and natural disasters, cannot be solved by politicians who simply buy their way into power. What we need are critical thinkers, bold ideas, and practical, people-driven solutions.

My background as a Political Scientist has prepared me for the task ahead. I understand the complex challenges of leadership and development in Third World nations like ours, especially in a global system where the progress of one nation often comes at the expense of another. The development of some countries has long relied, and continues to rely, on the underdevelopment of others.

I have always maintained that Nigeria’s problem is not just a failure of leadership, but a failure to understand our exploitative relationship with the rest of the world. It becomes a leadership crisis only when those in power either do not understand this imbalance or choose to ignore it for selfish gain.

As an ordinary citizen, I have made concerted efforts to propose policies to the National Assembly aimed at improving the well-being of Nigerians and strengthening our national security and economic independence.

One such bill focused on auditing health infrastructure, personnel, and records to ensure strict compliance with standards and to strategically improve the health sector.

Another proposal, aimed at bolstering our border security, was outrightly rejected by a Senator of the 9th Assembly for being “too capital-intensive.” But my question remains: Is there a price too high to pay for the security of lives and property in Nigeria?

Ironically, the administration of President Bola Tinubu has embarked on a N15 trillion coastal highway project in a country still plagued by widespread insecurity.

When the proposed Amotekun Bill was being debated, I was consulted by a Senator from South West Nigeria on whether or not to support it. I was clear and direct; security outfits like Amotekun would never effectively address the issues of insecurity, even in the regions where they are established.

I warned that the creation of Amotekun could inspire other regional security formations that may not emerge through proper legislative processes and potentially deepen regional mistrust and mutual suspicion.

I also made it clear that the most viable solution to the challenge of insecurity across the federation was to pursue a deliberate policy of de-escalation of arms. Amotekun, on the contrary, places weapons in the hands of individuals who may not be professionally trained or adequately disciplined to bear arms. In a fragile state like ours, this approach risks compounding the same problem it seeks to solve.

In the end, the Senator chose to go against my advice and supported the Bill. That moment confirmed what I had feared: that the current ruling elites are not genuinely committed to making decisions or implementing policies that serve the well-being of ordinary Nigerians.

These experiences, as well as my deep understanding of the politics of development and underdevelopment, inspired me to run for president in 2027.

I strongly believe that the destiny of our nation lies in the hands of ordinary people, especially those driven by a genuine passion to participate in governance and contest for political offices based on the strength of their ideas to address the challenges facing their immediate communities.

Hence, I am not only running for president but fully prepared to lead a national reorientation to inspire Nigerians to elect leaders based on convincing plans to address our collective concerns, rather than empty rhetoric or political showmanship.

The common belief is that the ruling elite has weaponized poverty to serve their selfish interests. While this is true, I strongly believe that, more than anything else, the poverty of thought and the lack of reorientation have been deliberately exploited.

Our flawed electoral process is one of the major challenges we face as a nation. The ruling elite continues to manipulate uninformed Nigerians to perpetuate themselves in power for selfish gain. An enlightened citizenry would change this narrative and inspire a new generation of leaders who truly understand the essence of governance. It is my modest vision to make Nigeria work for everyone.

I am in this race not to outspend anyone, but to outthink them. Not to rule, but to serve. Not to follow the path of least resistance, but to challenge the status quo and offer real solutions to real problems.