Eunice Atuejide of the National Interest Party (NIP) on Friday in Abuja formally declared her interest in running for the Nigerian presidency in the 2019 general elections.
Mrs Atuejide is the founder of NIP.
A mother of five children from Enugu State, she said the country needed “level-headed people who will not focus on any group or vested interests but who will pursue our National Interest with all the tools available to them.”
The University of Ibadan graduate, who accepted that she was gripped with the “fear of the unknown”, promised a transparent and accountable administration if Nigerians elected her into power.
“Have we stopped to look behind the curtains to see what is keeping us at a standstill in Nigeria? It is not just the lack of education, blueprints or leadership. We need level-headed people who will not focus solely on any group’s vested interest.
“In offering to lead the country, my administration will not focus solely on the interests of any person, tribe, religion or ethnic group. No side is superior to another side. Nigeria will have a transparent and accountable government. This will be a government where every public account can be scrutinised and our funds followed up by our people.
“I disagree with the notion that Nigeria is too complex; that our people are too difficult to govern, that our democracy will not work. I disagree,” the 39-year-old said.
NIP acting National Chairman, Azeez Oladapo, said the objectives of the party included “finding quality leaders within the age range of 21 to 45 years to entrust with the continued development and sustenance of Nigeria”.
Born and raised in Lagos State, Atuejide is a legal practitioner, businesswoman and an entry-level politician.
NIP is a technology-driven political party designed to conduct all intra party elections, congresses and party primaries online.
Another lady, US-based hospitality manager, Nike Roberts, had earlier declared interest to run for the presidency of Nigeria on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2019 presidential election.
Addressing supporters recently in New York, Roberts promised not to accept any donation from corrupt Nigerians to fund her campaign.
A GoFundMe account was opened in May with a goal of $100,000 to fund her campaign.
