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Harry Akande, the
former Board of Trustees chairman of the All Nigeria Peoples Party
(ANPP), has declared his intention to contest in next year’s
Presidential election on the platform of the party.

Mr. Akande made the
declaration during a tour of some northern states, saying there is
increasing pressure on him to run for the plum job. He said he will no
longer ignore the pressure.

Last month, the
billionaire businessman lost in a bid to become chairman of the party
during its national convention on September 19. He lost to the current
chairman, Ogbonnaya Onu by 1479 to 3945.

Race to win

His entry into the
race brings to three the number of ANPP members wishing to vie for the
presidency. The others are the governor of Kano State, Ibrhahim
Shekarau and Bashir Othman Tofa.

“People requested
me to run presidency, the overture is high and I don’t think I will
keep off from the will of the people. I will be running for presidency
to win election, and not to posture or put my name on the list,” Mr
Akande told party faithful in Katsina.

“Gone are the days
when people say that what is important is to participate at the
Olympics and not winning the medals. That is simply a case of wanton
waste of resources and energy, as well taken failure as a norm.” Mr
Akande noted that his entry into the race was premised on his
commitment to women and youth development in the country.

He pledged to
manage the resources of the nation prudently, adding that Nigeria could
rank among the best countries in the world if it finds a man who can
provide the right leadership.

The politician said
he is still in love with the ANPP despite his failure to become
chairman, stressing that “the party belongs to the people and those who
have the interest of the people at heart must resist every attempts by
some few individuals turning it to their personal political
instrument.” He added, “My advocacy and struggle in the party is to
establish that ANPP belongs to the people and the real people must be
given the right to choose their leader. Consensus is no more a
contemporary language in politics, election is the hallmark of every
good Democracy.”