Mohammed Hayatu-Deen won't step aside for any rival in the African Democratic Congress presidential race. Speaking recently, the ADC aspirant insisted he remains committed to contesting the 2027 primaries.
Nigeria urgently needs "competent and visionary leadership," he said. The country has endured nearly two decades of economic decline, rising insecurity, and widespread hardship.
When asked about competition from heavyweights like Atiku Abubakar and Rotimi Amaechi, Hayatu-Deen held firm. He noted that every Nigerian has a constitutional right to pursue elected office.
"This is a very serious undertaking, and we are at a defining moment in our country's history," he told reporters. The time for half-measures has passed, he suggested.
He traced Nigeria's troubles back to 2007. Since then, weak leadership has worsened inflation, joblessness, insecurity, and the collapse of education and healthcare systems.
Rwanda and Ghana offer contrasting examples, Hayatu-Deen observed. Both nations recovered from crisis through disciplined, focused governance.
"I believe I have the experience, ideas, and practical capacity to help turn this country around," he stressed. His platform prioritizes prosperity and welfare for all Nigerians, cutting across region, ethnicity, and faith.
Asked whether he'd stay in the ADC if he loses the primary, Hayatu-Deen proved unwavering. Political loyalty matters deeply to him.
"Whoever emerges as the candidate will have my full support," he declared. He pledged to work alongside that person and the party machinery to secure victory in the general election.
Party supremacy must override individual ambition, Hayatu-Deen argued. That's where the ADC's strength lies heading into 2027.
Opposition parties should explore cooperation where it makes sense, he added. Together, they can provide genuine alternatives to voters.
"Democracy is about offering people choices," he noted. "Politicians are elected to serve citizens, not themselves."
Low political awareness weakens ordinary Nigerians' ability to hold leaders accountable, he observed. That pattern must break, he said.
