- Anyim fits the mould of a Nigerian President in his 60s with friends in all the nooks and crannies of the country as envisaged by IBB
By Ishaya Ibrahim, News Editor
As the 2023 general elections draw closer, one of the frontline aspirants on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), Anyim Pius Anyim, has intensified his consultations with critical stakeholders across the country.
On Thursday, Anyim, former Senate President travelled to Minna, Niger State, to consult with former Heads of State and elder statesmen, Generals Ibrahim Babangida and Abdulsalami Abubakar.
The former Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) disclosed that he visited both leaders on December 2, to inform them of his decision to contest the 2023 presidency, and to seek their blessings, in a post on his verified Facebook Page.
Anyim wrote, “Today, I was received in a private audience by two of our nation’s esteemed leaders and patriots. I met with former President Ibrahim Babangida and former Head of State, General Abdulsalami Abubarkar.
“I consulted with them on my intention to contest for the presidency of our beloved country. Both leaders are rich in vision and deep in grasp of our history. They were generous with their wise counsels.
“I am further emboldened in the conviction that I can make significant contributions in our collective quest to consolidate democracy, build a stronger and more united Nigeria.
“I feel very enriched and invigorated. Long live Nigeria.”
Anyim took the bull by the horns when he declared on the grounds of the PDP National Convention in Abuja on Saturday, October 30, that he will contest for the presidency in 2023 whether the party zones the ticket to the South-East or not.
He said the party’s National Convention signaled the commencement of political activities in the PDP, adding it was a good time to indicate interest.
According to Anyim, “Posters of my presidential bid and agitations by groups for me to contest flooded the social media in 2020 and I disassociated myself from such calls.
“I felt that it was too early for such declarations to enable the present administration to concentrate on governance.
“Such calls resurfaced in the early part of 2021 and I chose to be quiet over the issue.
“We presently have less than 18 months to the next elections and I feel the time was ripe to indicate my interest.”
In an exclusive interview with TheNiche on November 17, Anyim said his presidential aspiration is accepted across Nigeria.
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Anyim also gave reasons why he wants to be the next president of Nigeria.
Hear him: “I decided to contest the 2023 presidential election not because I am from the Southeast but because, first, I am a Nigerian politician who has been in government and who understands what the problems are and so can find solutions to them. I am also that Nigerian Politician that is at home in every part of the country – North, East, West and South.
“I think for 2023, Nigerians should look forward to the best that can refocus the country, reposition the country and build consensus and heal the wounds.
“I have been in government and I have been around for some good number of years. I have followed the political processes in the country and I have played active roles and I believe that most Nigerians know me very well.
“I aspire to be president of Nigeria because I believe that by my experience, what I know about Nigeria, my very deep knowledge of the country, I will be able to run an inclusive government that will build consensus, restore peace, refocus Nigeria and make the country a place that all of us will be proud of.”
Continuing, Anyim Said, “So, I believe that the challenges of today are actually a matter of leadership and I will provide that leadership. I will give every segment of this country comfort. I will provide a leadership that will understand how to wield our diversities into an asset. I think that management of our diversities is actually central to the success of the country and I have interacted with various segments of the country. I have participated in running government that affected every part of the country and I know the needs of our diverse groups and I know how to put it together and do a policy thrust that will build a Nigeria of our dream.”
Babangida had suggested during an exclusive interview with Arise Television on Friday, August 6, 2021 that the next president of Nigeria should be in his 60s.
He said the presidential hopefuls he had in mind were persons in their 60s with contacts across the nation and who had been traversing the geo-political zones marketing their acceptability and capacity.
“If you get a good leadership that links with the people and tries to talk with the people; not talking on top of the people, then we would be okay,” he said.
“I have started visualising a good Nigerian leader. That is, a person, who travels across the country and has a friend virtually everywhere he travels to and he knows at least one person that he can communicate with.
“That is a person, who is very verse in economics and is also a good politician, who should be able to talk to Nigerians and so on. I have seen one, or two or three of such persons already in his sixties.”
Anyim fits that mould. Born on February 19, 1961, he is just 60 years. He became a Senator at 37, and made history two years later when his colleagues elected him Senate President at the very young age of 39 in a chamber with older and more experienced politicians.
At the age of 41, he voluntarily did not seek re-election to the Senate.
Under President Goodluck Jonathan, Anyim served as the Secretary to the Government of the Federation.
