From Victor Osula, Abuja
The the coalition of political parties on the platform of the Third Force Labour Party, LP, has released the team list to drive what it calls issue based campaign in the 2023 polls.
Sounding optimistic, the party also said the names on the list are future Ministers should its candidate in the presidential election, Dr Peter Obi, who is contesting on the platform of the Labour Party, win the upcoming presidential election on February 25, 2023.
Policy coordinator of the group, Professor Patrick Utomi on Friday, said, “In consideration of the troubling state of governance in Nigeria, the Big Tent coalition of Political Parties, social movements and civil society that constitute the Third Force for national retrieval and transformation, is inaugurating a national Policy Review and Future view Team.
“This is to enhance the functioning of Democratic Institutions and to begin to restore legitimacy to government at a time when Governors are pointing to large areas of ungoverned spaces, ways and means money creation that has repeatedly violated the law and set the country on the course of surging inflation, Oil theft and the production of Oil at close to half of our OPEC quota has driven up the misery index from an already negative pole position of the poverty capital of world.
“The team of policy players we unveil today, Friday, which holds it first meeting next week, and whose engagement in policy contestation will shed light on why the promise of Nigeria has become blighted will henceforth suggest how policy can move Nigeria from the obsession with the sharing of hardly existent revenues to production. Such production we expect can result in a demographic dividend from our youth bulge.
“In assembling this group of citizen actors for the people, primary consideration has been given to competence, passion, inclusion, and commitment to the unity and security Nigeria and advancing the wellbeing of the people, in the firm believe that a new Nigeria is possible and can be achieved now.
“In addition to this team, we are pleased to announce that we have set up a college of spokespersons from every state of the Federation, and the six zones, plus Abuja, to deepen the communication to the grassroots, of the work of the policy teams as they propose alternatives to extant policies in other to see a shift from revenue bating and conspicuous consumption emphasis to a production culture that will lift up the quality of life of Nigerians,
“This shift in emphasis which will dramatically shrink poverty, and put the Nigerian economy in a place where SDG targets are advanced will form the core of the new orientation. Prescriptions will have to include practical , immediately implementable decisions that can stem the rot and reverse Nigeria’s slide.
“These spokespersons who will also communicate the efforts of the Big Tent for Peter Obi Campaign, as the Labour Party candidate leads the college of leaders working together to win the 2023 election so Nigerians can take back their country through what is truly a government of the people, for the people and by the people.
He said that due care has been taken to have a team that includes very experienced older leaders, creative and highly exposed younger people, women, the physically challenged and patriots from all parts of Nigeria. They are also drawn from the academic community, policy arena, domain of praxis, civil society, and politicians active in the field.
The policy Review and Future watch team includes:
Power: Dr. Jerome Okolo and Professor Auwal Aliyu, Agriculture: Prof. Murtala Sagagi and Soji Apampa, Constitution
Reform: Dr Muiz Banire SAN) Chidi Odinkalu. and Dr Hakeem Baba Ahmed. Law and Order: Rtd IGP MD Abubakar Augustine Edet,; Economy and Finance: Ituah Ighodalo,, Dr. Emeka Okengwu , Remi Babalola.
Transportation: Dr. Chris Asoluka, Gbenga Ajayi, Defence: General Henry Ayoola (Rtd), Dr. Sadiq Gombe, Health: Dr. Lorieta Oduwa Ogboro-Okor, and Pharm Ifeanyi Okeke; Establishment and Pensions: Prof. Lilian Oby Orogbu. Amb Hassan Tukur. External Affairs: Amb. Joe Keshi, Ms. Bilkisu Magoro. Education: Dr Usman Bugaje , Mrs. Halima Dada-Abubakar, Dr. O. J. Yakas. Youth Development: Naseer Sidi Ali.
Information and Culture: Dr. Tanko Yinusa. Femi Joshua. Rashida Abubakar Women’s Development: Ms. Temidayo Nike Oriola. Madam I Usman. Petroleum Resources: Nuhu Yakubu, Tonye Princewill. Economic Planning. Dr Bongo Adi
Water Resources: Danladi Ndayebo, Atinuke Odjenima . Constitutional Reform : Bar Alfred Oloko, Wale Okuniyi, Bar. Dele Farotimi Public Works: Dr. Engr. (Mrs) Halibat Adediran , Engr Ashana Mundi
Blue Economy Development.: Prof Chris Ekong. Aviation: Chibuzor Nwachukwu; International Trade, Industry and Investments Prof Osita Ogbu Humanitarian Affairs.Lolo Kadafa
Mobilization for Self Help: Aisha Yesufu Environment. Prof Chukwumerije .Mrs Ifechidere Kanu Labour: Comrade Precious Adewusi Hauwa Yabani ! Interior: Akin Osuntokun, Science and Technology; Saminu Turaki Communication: Hadiza Saidu, National Integration; Najatu Mohammed. Police Affairs: M D Abubakar.(IGP Rtd) Youth Entrepreneurship:
Ms Sarwi Rahaman, Dr Chidi Okpaluba. Housing: Salamatu Yaradua.
Senior Advisors : Prof Atahiru Jega, Dr Oby Ezekwesili, Femi Falana(SAN) Olutola Mobolurin, Prof J Isawa Elaigwu
Utomi said; “In accepting a Coordinating role for this policy team I have canvased an economic strategy based on incentivizing the States and Local Development Areas currently called LGAs to scale up local factor endowments in Agriculture to be aggregated in Wholesale produce markets in the economic geopolitical zones for processing in industrial parks to be set up in each zone which will the focal point for limited Industrial Policy to enhance competitiveness on global value chains we must aim to dominate with our latent comparative advantage on those endowments we select to anchor our great surge forward.
He urged the Law and Order, Constitutional reform arrowheads and legal defense team led by Mrs Boma Alabi (SAN) “to never loose sight of the fact that the Rule of Law and Property Rights are Anchor Institutions on which the goals of progress are founded.”
