Presidential candidate of the National Rescue Movement (NRM), Dr Esther Okereke, has said she is not soliciting votes with empty promises, but came with realistic blueprint policy to rescue Nigeria from systemic failure.
Okereke, one of the only two female presidential candidates in the 2027 general elections, stated this when she featured on personality interview series of the NAN on Sunday in Abuja.
She said that her emergence as the party’s flagbearer represents a hope that “it is time for Nigeria to be rescued from systemic failure’’, that had held the country down for decades.
She stated that the number of candidates, 18, contesting the presidency showed that Nigeria needs a rescue, saying in Abia, there are fewer governorship candidates because the incumbent is performing.
“For over 20 years, some sets of people had done the same thing repeatedly and getting the same result, which is the same result of systemic failure, that is why we’re here on a rescue mission.
“If Nigeria is doing well, we wouldn’t have up to 18 candidates running for the office of the presidency,’’ she said,
“With my framework and blueprint, I didn’t just come with promises; I’ve come with a plans—with the six-pillar plans to rescue Nigeria, with the ESTHER agenda to rescue Nigeria,’’ she said.
She explained that the E in her blueprint stood for `Energy, Education, Economic Renaissance;’ S for Security and Social Welfare and T for `Technology, Transformation and Transparency;
She also stated that the H represents “Healthcare and Housing’’; E- for Enterprise and Employment,’’ and R- for “Resuscitation, Recovery and Reorientation.’’
Okereke said that in terms of energy she plans to generate 20,000 megawatts, while also providing befitting education facilities at all levels, saying it’s doable.
“It’s not rocket science. We start with having mini-grids here and there and leave the national grid to breathe while empowering it for more. Then you have the mini-grids to supply to communities.
“We have dilapidated schools where children are meant to be learning; they (students) are sitting on the floors to learn.
“It amazes me that we still have that at this time when it shouldn’t. The people need just these basic amenities. It is not charity; it’s their right,’’ she said.
Okereke added that her blueprint also offers measures to prioritise social welfare and address the challenge of insecurity affecting the citizens and economic development of the country.
Under the technology, transformation transparency’ policy, Okereke said that NRM would roll out 500,000 tech jobs for youths every year to address unemployment, while also addressing corruption.
“We talk about transparency. By the time you eradicate corruption, you have transparency. That’s what technology will do.
“Most of the things we will do would have to be with technology. You don’t just remove corruption; you kill it with technology,’’ she said.
The female presidential candidate also promised to address issue of house deficits, especially for the low- and middle-class citizens.
She explained that she proposed a N500,000 minimum wage because the Naira has lost its value and the current minimum wage could not meet the needs of workers.
She recalled earning a salary of N2,500 in 1997 in Abuja and how she was able to meet her needs as well support family members.
“I set aside N500 for my daily running, my transportation to work and everything, then the N2,000 goes for my family support.
“If I tell you the things I bought with that, you would be amazed; a bag of rice, bag of beans, tubers of yam; I still transport to Niger and then still give pocket money to my younger ones and still give N700 to my mother.
“My transport to Bida through and fro was N80 that I usually budget,’’ she said.
She said that with proposed N100,000 new minimum wage it would be difficult to fight corruption.
Okereke said that with N500,000 minimum wage workers could conveniently subscribe to low cost housing units, while government roll out the Electronic vehicles and CNG buses, accessible through dedicated card to curb corruption in the system.
“This card is attached to everybody’s allowance. At the end of the month, you deduct the monthly transportation subscription. Connect their unified utility bills, and then you deduct.
“ At the end of the month, by the time you finish with this deduction, you’ll be having at least N300,000 left for people to go home with and plan their future,’’ she said.
Okereke described her economic blueprint as practicable and not rocket science, citing Singapore as a country that developed her economy from noting by harnessing its areas of strength.
In 1965, when Singapore was expelled from Malaysia, they had nothing: no natural resources, no mineral resources, no oil, no gold, nothing. Not even a good land to farm agriculture.
She said what the country did was to identify its port and trading hubs and developed them to be the best.
“Another thing they started producing was what everybody needs, not just what one region or one country would need, which is electronics.
“We have all the natural resources you can think of, the mineral resources you can think of. We have oil, we have gold, we have lithium, we have whatever, name it. We have all of this. We have cotton, we have cocoa.
“Importantly, what do we have that we are forgetting that is our liquid gold? That’s our people our youths, our women. We do not value them. No dignity at home. That is why they are leaving abroad,’’ she said.
She added that through her policy on entrepreneurship focusing enterprises and employment creation, 500,000 jobs would be created annually for the youths through technology to keep them busy.
“When you bring them in, invest in human capital development, you would see what our youths can offer to our Gross Domestic Product (GDP).’’
On` Resuscitation, Recovery, and Reorientation’, Okereke said that under her watch, Nigeria embassies would not just be about issuance of passports, they would also be involved in re-orienting Nigerians in the diaspora about the country.
“Now, you talk about the recovery. All of our stolen wealth, we will recover it and put it in the National Recovery Infrastructure Fund, where we will use that same fund to build most of the infrastructure that is needed:
“The good roads that we’re talking about, the mini-grid. There’s a lot we would do with our recovered funds.
And that’s the ESTHER agenda,’’ she said.
She said that with her experiences in the real estate, hospitality, sports, entertainment, and productions with close to 200 staff members in different sectors, she had what it takes to transform Nigeria.
I won’t re-introduce fuel subsidy if elected president – Okereke
Meanwhile, Dr Okereke said that if elected, her administration will not re-introduce the fuel subsidy.
She said that her administration, would instead ensure that savings from its removal directly benefit all Nigerians rather than a privileged few.
The female candidate said that while the removal of the petrol subsidy has already taken effect on Nigerians, the critical challenge lies in transparency and the proper channelling of the accrued savings.
Okereke said that her focus would be on making the economic gains felt by all Nigerians including those at the grassroots.
“The deed has been done. Let’s tell ourselves the truth. My problem is where is this subsidy money going to? That’s where the corruption comes in.
“It is not just about the subsidy itself, but ensuring that the proceeds serve all Nigerians.
“Focus on letting the people get the money, enjoy that subsidy removal. Let it favour all. Let it serve all, not just one-sided, not just the few that is benefiting from it. It should benefit all,’’ she said.
Asked if what she would meet in reality did not meet her expectations, Okereke said that would not be an excuse, saying life itself survives on challenges.
“When life hands you lemons, you make lemonade with it. You don’t dwell on spilled milk; you work with what you have and make a change,’’ she said.
Okereke who expressed concern over the nation’s rising debt profile, said that Nigeria has all it takes to be the true giant of Africa, not just living in past glory, but in current reality.
She emphasised the need for the country to harness her available resources, including the funds from subsidy removal to impact on the people and for development, rather than borrowing.
“I see other countries doing so much. I said we have all it takes for us to be the giant of Africa that we are, not in past glory, but in reality, in presence. We have all it takes.
“We have removed subsidy, yes, do something with it. Let’s make sure it gets to the grassroots. Let’s make sure it gets to everyone. It is our oil, so it is your money. You should receive it.
“Put it to use. I saw Uganda doing things. I saw Kenya doing things. I saw Ghana doing things. I saw Malawi doing things, why can’t Nigeria do something,’’ she asked.
Okeke reaffirmed her commitment to fiscal responsibility, block revenue leakages, and redirect public funds into sustainable development projects that improve infrastructure, social welfare, and economic opportunities for ordinary Nigerians.