Why Nigerians Must Trust Me, By Okotie, At Campaign Launch

Date: 3/11/2007

ONLY the government of Reverend Chris Okotie has the capacity to resolve all the energy and the Niger Delta crises once and for all, so declared the presidential candidate of Fresh Democratic Party, FPD, yesterday in Ajegunle, Lagos.

Speaking in pidgin English apparently to appeal to his audience made up of young people with some elderly persons during the flag-off of his presidential campaign in Ajegunle, a suburb of Lagos, Okotie said "every other name you hear today in the political horizon represents division.

"The people can trust me. A Rev. Chris Okotie's government would resolve the current energy and the Niger Delta crises once and for all, irrespective of religion and ethnicity, because they people can trust me," he said, adding that his government would immediately establish an independent power producing company to augment what the Obasanjo administration had managed to achieve in eight years.

Addressing the crowd that also included several musicians including Sunny Neji, Wadada, Blackky, Benita Okojie and many more, the erstwhile pop star promised to rejuvenate the music and movie industry in such a way that the entertainment industry will generate enough foreign reserve and give employment. He believes that there is no reason Nigerian sports men and women should go over to foreign lands when we can encourage them to maximize their potentials here in Nigeria.

Describing Nigeria's current politicians as 'Go Slow Be', the preacher turned politician promised to continue with the deregulation programme of the current government but, unlike the present administration, his government would introduce a human face to the well intentioned reform programme.

"It does make any economic sense for government to give Nigerians motorcycles (okada) if they will not get fuel to power those motor bikes for economic gains," he declared amidst shouts from the audience at the Maracana Stadium.

Nigerians have suffered for far too long amidst abundant human and material resources, he declared, pointing out: "Wen una vote for me and get to Aso Rock in May this year, I promise una here now that I go build hospitals, schools which go be free for every citizen because Nigeria get the money!"

Okotie, who is also the chairman of the party, then presented the party's flag to Lagos State gubernatorial candidate, Mrs. Uche Ibukun Ohimai, who immediately promised to ensure that formative education in the state is free.

The lady behind Chris Okotie...

The lady behind Chris Okotie...
'He's the best thing that has ever happened to Nigeria'

•Miss Sola Salako Photo: Sun News Publishing

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Miss Sola Salako is the National General Secretary of the Rev. Chris Okotie-led Fresh Democratic Party, (FDP).
In an interview with Daily Sun in Lagos, the FDP scribe debunked the impression that women in politics are always corrupt, wayward and irresponsible, saying the generalisation is unfair and unfortunate.

The lady, who says she is in politics to serve, is of the belief that the presidential candidate of her party, Rev. Chris Okotie is the best thing that has ever happened to Nigeria, enthusing that he will make the desired change.

She also spoke on other issues of national interest.

Excerpts
Politics
I believe everybody is a political being. And personally, I have been a politically conscious person. I have always been a political commentator. But now when the opportunity has presented itself for me to practise what I have always been complaining about, I decided to utilise the opportunity to do something about it.

Motivation
The motivation is simple. There is need for change in this country. I am a columnist and I write about consumers and the way they are treated in this country. And I write about the need for change.
So, if you are a Nigerian with a vision and focus for your life, you would know there is need for change in Nigeria. And we have all along been sitting down waiting for those in government to do the right thing and they are not doing the right things. And a lot of people are suffering because they are not doing the right thing.

That motivates me to stand up and do something. I cannot just sit down to see that happen. So, whatever I think I can do in my own little way, I am ready to contribute my quota to it.

Women in politics
It is what people have made women to be in politics that they are now. Women also are naturally political animals. We are the people who do something on behalf of somebody else to make life better for them. I have seen where women are just in position of responsibility and they have proved their mettles. This is because women know how to do things and get them done.

But luckily women are already coming into politics. The more we see women in the public making things happen, the more encouraging it would be for other women to come into politics.

African culture
You see, we may not necessarily be in the forefront. I am not contesting for any position right now, I am working to support a man who is contesting for a position. And I can do that very well. Women are not looking forward to be in charge. We are just looking for a way where we can be in position of responsibility to make things happen so that other people can do their job well.

So, I don't think whether they are in position of authority or that they are in forefront matters.

Women governor
If someone can come up and if the society can give us the opportunity to have a woman president or woman governor, why not?

I am not a gender focused person. I don't think of people in terms of their gender. I think of them first in terms of their personality and in form of their character before I think of them in form of their gender.
And I have not experienced gender discrimination in politics as a person because I am working with a person who is gender blind.

Alleged irresponsibility of women politicians
You can't just generalise. Okay? It depends on the person you are dealing with and what is that person's character and what is that person's personality and what is that person's focus in life.
I don't think anybody could look at me and think I am irresponsible. I have been a responsible woman and anybody who knows me knows I am very responsible.

And if I am to ask, why should you be irresponsible as a woman in politics? This is something that needs to be done and we just have to get it done. Is it irresponsible women that go to work in banks? Or women who work in whatever places they go to work?

Elective office
If the situation presents itself, maybe I will consider it. It is not something that I am looking forward to but I am more motivated to serve. That is all.

I just want to help to make a difference in the environment in which I live because I believe that is the way God has made every woman. We are supposed to make a difference at whatever level we found ourselves.

So, if the situation comes up that the only way I can make a difference is to contest for public office, maybe I would do it. But right now I am making a difference by helping to put together this political party and helping to make this political party work so that Nigerian people would taste what is true democracy.

Monetisation of polity
I am not comfortable with monetization of the polity. For me, money has never been a motivation for me personally. I am always motivated by what is right. In this situation, that is what should motivate you whether you are paid for it or not, it is not necessary.

And I don't see why anybody can use money to convince me to do something. I can't understand why should that be! I don't believe in money politics.

I believe God has endowed me with enough intelligence, with enough ability to be able to make life better for so many other people who are not as blessed as I am. That is the only motivation. Things should be done right whereby everything is fair and just. And everybody would be able to say, okay, I have got all what I can get in this environment.

But when you oppress people because you want to feel big, it is contrary to human nature. So, that alone is enough motivation for me.

Nigerians know what is good and what is wrong. What they need is a little persuation. But Nigerian people are cynical because the people that they have trusted have failed them.
You cannot live your life on what has happened to you in the past. You just have to make up your mind to say I am moving forward, I am going to make a wiser decision now. I am going to watch properly before I leap.

Rev. Okotie's aspiration
Thank God you can see that more credible people are coming out. So, anybody who knows Rev. Chris Okotie, who goes through his life and realises that he leads an upright life as much as it affects everybody around him, would know that somebody worthy is in the race.

People would now say, okay, this man can make a difference. People that have been giving you money, you look at their lives, they would have proven to you several times that they are not people to be trusted. Nigerians are getting wiser. And that is all we need.

We just have to explain to people and convince them that they need to get wiser and they are really getting wiser. And they have to believe that God can effect a change for them because it is not something any of us can do by ourselves.

Nigeria of my dream
Nigeria of my dream is a Nigeria where every Nigerian, just by the virtue of being a Nigerian, you matter. You know how it is in America where anywhere you are in the world, if there is any crisis and you stand up and say you are an American, the whole of American government is, in fact, behind you.

That is Nigeria of my dream.
Nigeria of my dream is Nigeria which I could be proud of and say I am a Nigerian because I will know that by virtue of being a Nigerian alone, the whole nation is behind me. And I will be very ready to do anything for my nation.

And to achieve that, Nigeria must first take care of me, provide for me, must think I am very important and must treat me like an important person. I am a consumer advocate and that is what I do as a right. Every consumer has a right to be treated well. And all of us are consumers. Whatever you are consuming, be it government, human relations or whatever, we have a right to be treated well than how people treat us now.

So the Nigeria of my dream is where that green passport is what you carry with pride because you know you are being taken care of and there is provision for your child, there is provision for your future and there is structure that works.

NIGERIA'S PRESIDENCY - PASTOR OKOTIE TO THE RESCUE? by Alfred Obiora Uzokwe

 I was a 2nd year student at the University of Nigeria, Enugu campus in 1978, when Chris Okotie joined the school to study law along with the likes of Jide Obi (the former musician) and Tagbo Ike (now a trial attorney in Enugu). While some of Chris' classmates like Tagbo Ike immediately started showing signs that gave a glimpse into their passion for law, nothing in Chris Okotie's demeanor or disposition revealed any such passion for jurisprudence; his interest seemed to lie elsewhere. The lanky and very dark six footer was very soft spoken, with a disposition that sometimes came across as shyness.

In the student common room right opposite the cafeteria we called "old ref", was an old church organ on the mezzanine floor level. When other students came in there to unwind, have some snacks and socialize, Chris Okotie would quietly go up to the mezzanine floor and start playing the organ and singing away. He had a sonorous if not velvet voice that seemed to effortlessly glide from one musical scale to the other, rising in crescendo and going down in diminuendo at the right time. I admired that talent and I was amazed at his piano playing and singing abilities not knowing that he was also an accomplished guitarist!

Not many in the campus thought too much about all these until some time in 1979 when Chris seemed to disappear from school for quite sometime. Rumor was rife about his disappearance; some said he had withdrawn from school because he could not handle law studies while others surmised that he had gone to London to record music. The latter surmise did not seem very realistic considering the fact that at that time, the only college music group that had successfully transitioned into the national scene was a music group called "Ofege" of St. Gregory Lagos.

Chris shocked the entire campus and the nation when in the summer of 1979, he released a popular album aptly titled "I Need Someone". By the time school restarted in September of 1979, he had become a national star and music lovers (including me) saw him as a trailblazer. Some of my musically-inclined classmates like Emeka Nwandu, Chudi Anisiobi, Arinze (we called him Ari Arc) and Edozie Ifeanacho had started sharpening their music skills in readiness for going national, they even formed a campus band called TIXIE and performed on campus. I had commenced guitar lessons then under the tutelage of Emeka Nwandu and even before I could perfect my guitar playing skills, I made a demo tape and went to Odion Iruoje of EMI records at Oregun. Why not? I thought, afterall Chris had blazed the trail and we could all now follow. Jide Obi had gradually started working on his own musical ambition which later culminated in the release of the album entitled "Tonight" under Tabansi records label.

Anyway, as Chris hit the national scene, he earned himself a high profile in the school environment and the nation at large and would always be seen on campus ground cruising around in a reddish brown Honda he had acquired with an inscription on the license plate that read "KRIS". He later moved into the hostel I was staying in called IJ or Kenneth Dike hostel and Tina who later became his wife, was a regular there.

Chris shocked the dickens out of many when he suddenly left the country with Tina and came to the States; that was after we had all graduated and left Enugu campus. It was said then that he had abandoned music and I was wondering if the guy was crazy to abandon his claim to fame? But one day in either late 1986 or early 1987, on a Sunday morning, I was driving through Surulere Lagos near Akerele street when I saw signs that read: "Expect a Miracle" all over a building that seemed like a public hall. All manners of young men and women were trouping out of the hall. When I asked what was up, I was told that Chris Okotie was holding his church service there. I was surprised because for one thing, I did not know he had returned from the USA and secondly, I was unaware of the fact that he had become an ordained minister of God. It surprised me that someone with his proclivities would want to be a registered "man of God" with its attendant headaches. He however went on to establish a viable ministry with a substantial followership in Oregun, Lagos.

Late last year, Chris announced that he had separated from Tina, his wife of 20 years. When I heard this, I once again wondered how he was going to weather the storm of controversy that usually surrounds the divorce of a minister? I also wondered if this would affect the allegiance of the members of his church to him. Apparently as before, he once again scaled those problems in flying colors because even though a lot of questions were asked, it never seemed like he lost his follower-ship.

Just a couple of days ago, Pastor Chris Okotie, the founder of the Household of God Ministries announced to the Vanguard newspaper and the nation that he was going to run for the presidency of Nigeria come 2003! This has generated a new round of discussions about what he might be up to. Some dismissed it as " a punch drunk dream", they say he is not ready for prime time. Personally, I would say, never put anything past Chris Okotie because he would commit all necessary resources to get at his objectives. In the past, anytime people discounted him, he always had a way of rising to the challenge. Just when we thought he had left the music business and his claim to fame had vanished with the wind, he became a pastor, commanding the allegiance of thousands of UPPITY Nigerians. A guy we all perceived in 1978 as soft-spoken almost bothering on shy, turned into a verbose, dynamic speaker who mesmerized his congregation every Sunday with his sermons laced with highfalutin language.

I am happy to see that a fellow lion (University of Nigeria alumni) has such bold aspirations and I doff my hat for Chris for even having the temerity to nurse that type of ambition. It is certainly his prerogative and I wish him well. I must however caution that the duties of the presidency of Nigeria are very different from the duties of a pastor. When asked by Vanguard papers what gave him the impetus to aspire to the presidency, he said he has done well shepherding people in his ministry and would replicate the same success as the President of Nigeria. I beg to differ here, in a church ministry, the congregation swallows hook line and sinker what the pastor says because it is the right thing to do. The presidency is not the same; people would question your actions, motives and results, and ask for your ouster if there are shortcomings. That is not the same in a ministry where the congregation is even ready to forgive the most egregious sins and stick up for the pastor. This was evident in the case of Pastor Jimmy Swaggart whose ministry stuck with him until he proved that he could not jettison his unsavory proclivities.

Also, Chris' penchant for public display of his wealth would be viewed with contempt in Nigeria's political scene. As a nation where many are still suffering under the heavy burden of poverty and hunger, if he wears those Armani suits twice, eyebrows will go up.

So what kind of President would Pastor Okotie make?

With Pastor Okotie at the helmsmanship of Nigeria, we would have to buckle up and be ready to get into the funky era. He likes to shatter institutionalized beliefs and go the modern way, sometimes too modern. In his church, women attendees enter the church without hats as is uncharacteristic of Nigerian churches. Men wear hats into the church unlike what we were told that it was a sign of respect to God for men to have their hats off in church. Women wear spaghetti tops and very short skirts and you could even sometimes see one of the men leading his praise worship ministry with his hair braided like a lady, yes you heard right, braided. Of course by Western standards, this may not mean a thing, but it is certainly generating discussions in Oregun and Lagos as a whole. I guess therefore that in the same spirit, if he becomes the President, he would declare that all bets are off and the era of laissez faire government would earnestly commence! Like what you are reading so far? Buckle up, there is more….

He likes to dress flamboyantly in designer suits and shoes, riding in flashy cars and the likes. So as the President of Nigeria, when he goes to State visits outside the country, we would have to contend with the fact that a separate jet has to ferry his extensive wardrobe like that of Imelda Marcos of Philippines. Also, I envisage a situation where during White House reception in his honor as our President, he would excuse himself at least three times during the ceremony in the Rose garden to change into fresh clothing. Sound far-fetched? Well, it happened during the Karis award ceremony/church service in Lagos tagged G.R.A.C.E early last year. The ceremony was used to honor Nigerian labor leader Michael Imoudu and five others; before the ceremony was over, Pastor Okotie was reported to have changed his clothing three times! At first he wore a four-button navy blue suit and later changed into a knee-length seven button tuxedo. For the finale, he changed into a five button cream suit. Even by western standards, for a Pastor, that was a little too much considering the fact that some of the poor people who also contribute to the coffers he was dependent on for his ostentatious living, were present in that ceremony. It seemed more like a fashion show for the venerable minister than what it should be.

As soon as he gets into the office of the President, he would release money for the construction of architectural marvels all over Nigeria as he did his church in Oregun Lagos. This will keep architects and engineers happy because work will be in abundance and money will trickle down to everyone. He would establish minimum acceptable levels of aesthetics for buildings designed for construction in Nigeria. I would intensify my building design work and ensure that the aesthetics of my designs, give the Nigerian landscape an "out of the world" look and appeal.

He would be quick to call to order Nigerians who in his opinion do not take the moral high road. He recently did that to his fellow Pastor, Oyakhilome. According to Pastor Okotie, Oyakhilome was fellowshipping with Pastor Temitope Joshua whom Chris feels is not a man of God because according to him, Joshua did not derive his powers from God.

If his political opponents criticize him, he would go to the police and lodge complaints that they are out to get him. This happened when Pastors Oyakhilome and TB Joshua responded to him in kind after he had criticized them. He sent a letter to the police chief that he had information on a plot for his elimination by his foes.

His address to the nation or interviews with the press will be filled with highfalutin language and most Nigerians would need the help of dictionaries to decipher what he is saying. The address would start with something like this " Good evening fellow Nigerians, according to the philosophy of existential presupposition, …cuculus non facit monarchum…we would build domicilliary edifices for all Nigerians…." Many a times, his sermons at the Household of God church sound like that. Even when he talks to the press, sometimes they have to ask him to explain some of the words he uses and he would aptly respond " it is in the dictionary"

He may decide to use his music to win acceptance by addressing the nation through his song. Why not? He has the voice, he has the talent and certainly a lot of UPPITY Nigerians will love it and would come to his aid in a heartbeat!

Pastor Okotie would release funds for the acquisition of luxury and flamboyant cars for the Presidential fleet and order a redecoration of the presidential jet. This will be in line with the fleet of flamboyant cars he currently drives around Oregun Lagos. His followers have no qualms about that, Infact some have been quoted as saying that he displays his wealth "in a godly manner"

If every other thing fails, Pastor Okotie would bring about a miracle; the miracle would change the hearts and minds of all Nigerians to become good citizens, be disciplined without corruption and nepotism, attend to their civic duties, eschew jumping of queues in banks or petrol stations. Inotherwords, he would do through miracles, what Buhari and Idiagbon tried to accomplish forcefully through the War Against Indiscipline (WAI) program.

On a serious note, I have learnt never to underestimate Chris Okotie, he knows how to marshal out the necessary resources to vigorously pursue his goals; what still remains to be seen is what he would do when politics and dirty tricks (as Ross Perot would say) commence during the electioneering campaign? Does he have the intestinal fortitude to handle critics considering that at that time, everything he has ever done would become fair game for criticism: his divorce, his flamboyance, his penchant for public displays of wealth, his grandiloquence and other issues?

Also, Pastor Okotie must understand that 2003 would be an issues dominated campaign, no more free passes for politicians. Anyone aspiring to elected office MUST demonstrate excellent knowledge and mature understanding of the issues and problems facing Nigeria. The person MUST outline viable proposed solutions and tell the nation why he/she feels that those proposed solutions would work. We would no longer allow the idea of " vote me in first and then I would learn what the problems are later" That has been the bane of Nigeria as a nation and we must exorcise the demons that have encouraged us to allow such things to characterize our polity. He must be ready to submit himself to townhall meetings where ordinary Nigerians would ask questions on issues that perturb them and he must offer viable answers that show seriousness. As I stated earlier, it is the prerogative of any Nigerian under our democracy to run, but they must now meet out litmus test if they want to be elected.

HERE I STAND!

PRESIDENCY 2007: Why we will win, says Chris Okotie,

PRESIDENCY 2007:  Why we will win, says Chris  Okotie,

CHARISMATIC preacher, Reverend Chris Okotie may not have won the last presidential elections in 2003 but his informed, intelligent arguments during the presidential debates won him millions of admirers across the country, especially the youths, who see him as a role model. This was evident when he flagged off his campaign for the 2007 presidential elections recently, most youth organisations in the country were ably represented at the Lagos Sheraton launch. If that was indicative of his popularity, then, this chief campaigner for generational shift in governance is a man to beat. Noting the upbeat mood around his campaign organisation, we asked him about his chances, he said he was sure because professional election riggers would be disgraced, stressing that he would not be intimidated by the entry of IBB, Buba Marwa, Atiku Abubakar. "They are ordinary men like you and I," he intoned. Excerpts...  During the just concluded PFN biennial conference, you tended to accuse the Church of not doing sufficiently enough to make this country attain nationhood. What informed that? Well, we have discovered that a lot of Christians are not very well informed as to God's mind concerning nationhood. They do not understand their involvement in the political process, their responsibility towards God and to the nation and that is why it was necessary for me to speak on that topic. Particularly the fact that it was an assembly of ministers so that they would in turn take it to their congregations and then the world will spread and we will be better prepared in 2007. Was that because of your experience in 2003? It appears that the major problem you had then was the Church. Many church leaders were questioning your claim to be called by God... It was just the fact that they did not understand that a minister could become a politician. When we met at the highest level of the PFN, it was a split decision, because there were some people, the older pastors, who felt that we should give the president another opportunity to right the wrongs, and maybe, accomplish some of the projects that he had begun. And there were others who had a contrary view. So, at the end of the day, we didn't have a consensus. The younger pastors, mainly were with me and the others were sentimental about it, and I understood. But it wasn't a question on the fact that they didn't want me to do it. It was the fact that some of them didn't understand if it was possible, if it was biblically acceptable that a pastor would take that position of responsibility. But we've gone far beyond that because they now know clearly that David was a minister, yet, he was king. Solomon was a minister, yet he was king and Jesus will always be the high priest of God and when He comes, He is going to be a politician. He's going to be a world leader. He's not going to be preaching any gospel. We've gone beyond that now and for the first time, our house is together. How are you going to contend with  people like Pastor Chris Oyakhilome and Prophet T.B. Joshua? I can assure you that if you were to take somebody to those names and ask them if Rev. Chris Okotie can lead this country, their answer will be in the affirmative. Because they know me and they know that I was not antagonising them for personal reasons. And I am very persuaded that they will tell their congregations to vote for me. What have you learnt from the experience of 2003? Number one, that most of the leaders in this country are not really leaders. They are just men who have found political visibility like co-incidence of activities and they do not care about this country. What you have is a family political dynasty; I become governor, I arrange for my son to become governor, my son arranges for his son to become governor and it becomes a political tree. Not because you're qualified, not because you love Nigerians, not because Nigerians desire you. So, I discovered that it was just a game and that most of the people that we talk about and hear about are the ones poisoning the water from which the flock will drink.  And that experience further strengthens my resolve to deliver the Nigerian people because now, I know from experience that that's the way it is. Not just reading about it, but I've met these men one-on-one and I realised that they have nothing to offer this country. It's just a game of intrigue, how much money you have, what is at stake for you financially, what you are there to gain. The Nigerian people do not appear in the list of priorities. Having that in mind, how are you going to tackle these problems to ensure that  you winn the  2007 presidential election? I have a Godfather, my Father is God and He is the only true Godfather and He works with me in this matter because He loves the Nigerian people. But the thing about it is that every system of oppression has been dismantled by the Almighty God. He made man a free moral agent and as long as you tamper with his free will, you antagonise the divine will. In 2007, things are going to be different because the Nigerian people will be ready. They say you can fool the people most of the time, not all the time. So, Nigerians know what it is now and they've been looking for a leader that will lead them to that place of emancipation because there has been no trusted leader. I mean, think about all the names that have been touted. Who amongst them has any credible political credential to lead Nigeria? There's none, and I do not mean to disrespect them. But the truth of the matter is that when Chris Okotie emerged in 2003, people went to vote, they did. That's why the election was rigged. The poor people knew in 2003 that there was nobody else but myself because they had sampled opinion around the nation and they knew that the nation was ready for a change and the only viable candidate that they could trust was myself. So they panicked and that's why they did what they did. This time around, we are prepared for them and I say it responsibly. If any one tampers with the electoral process, it will be equivalent to saying you do not want Nigeria to exist any more because we are not going to sit back and say, for the sake of our democracy, for the sake of this and that. You believe in democracy. Do you believe in the democratic instruments on ground today? I believe in those instruments, but they are not properly located and the configuration is not right. As instruments themselves, they are necessary and viable in a political process but it's just the way they are being handled. For instance, in the last election, we had ballot boxes that were so mobile. So, in 2007, we are going to have the kind of boxes that are going to be stationary. We are going to change the format to ensure that we don't have a repeat of the vandalism that we saw in 2003. There are some things that need to be changed, turned around. The composition of INEC, for instance, and the source of revenue and things like that. Those things have to be changed because somebody has to be established to monitor the election. So, it's just the composition of INEC. In Sociology, it is called a quango. A quango is a body set up by the government to administrate, oversee and hear out public service and it gets its finance from government. It is appointed by government. Once you have a quango overseeing a political process, it's not going to work. What nature of changes are you envisaging? Number one, the organisation will represent the Nigerian people. It will not be appointed by government. As long as they are appointed by government, they will do the bidding of the government. That is natural and normal. So, we are going to make sure that the composition of INEC/the people who are in INEC, are independent people, selected or elected by the people. This time, it has to be appointed in such a way that they are not appointed at state level as we have this confab. Not anything in the sort. Different interests in the country will be represented by those interests electing their own representatives. Number two, INEC will be positioned in a place where they do not need governmental authorisation to do whatever they want to do. That is very important, because a lot of times, they say they are handicapped because money has not been released for this and for that. So that before the process begins, that money is already deposited in an account with signatories that will come out of this group that we are talking about. And so, we'll have the kind of oversight from international communities at fixed places where you have fixed ballot boxes so that when elections are done, they are counted right there in the presence of the people. You are not going to take it to another place because you can't move it. There are people who are already calling for parliamentary system of government because they believe that the presidential system is too expensive and because of that, some peple are deliberately cut out of the process. Do you subscribe to that? I do not subscribe to that view. I believe in the presidential system, because it was patterned after the scripture and the Bible says so in the book of Isaiah, that the Lord is our judge, which speaks of our judiciary; the Lord is our lawgiver, which speaks of the legislature; the Lord is our King which speaks of the executive. Then He says He will save us. So, it's the tripartite dispensation of the Almighty God,  as judge, lawgiver and executive that will determine the salvation of the people who serve Him. And I think that's what we have here. What is going on is that we do not have people who understand political modality. So, many times, what you are supposed to benefit from a system is overshadowed by personal agenda so that you are not actually running a government, you are running a private estate with members of your own family. Because if you were running a government, everything is budgeted. I do not think that presidential system is too expensive, it's just the way it's run now. Those who are running the system now are the ones who are profiting. And I'm saying that when I become president, it will be tailored to the needs of our people. Every government must be tailored to the needs of the people. It does not stand in isolation. There's a connectivity between government and the people because it is government that is supposed to execute policies that will save the people. So, I am saying that when you have all of these appointments that are unnecessary duplication of appointments, you will have a government that is wasteful. And the amount of money that is needed to run a government is just unrealistic when you look at it in the Nigerian context. I received a report the other day and I was seeing the way that Nigeria is going. Even with oil revenue by the year 2007, oil revenue will not be enough to fund recurrent expenditure. There are many countries that run the presidential system and they are not as prodigal as ours. I understand from the report that the same contract that is awarded in Ghana, when awarded here, we pay over 150 per cent increase by inflation. So it's not that the presidential system does not work, it works for America. It can work here and I think it will best represent what we are, unity in diversity. But some people still harbour some doubts about your person... The thing about it is approach. Before I became a recording artiste in 1980, they said it was impossible to sell music in Lagos. They told me it was impossible to beat Sunny Ade and Ebenezer Obey in the city of Lagos because the city was for juju musicians and all that. And I said that's not true and I did it. People categorise Nigerians without any data. Conventions are things that we allow, given certain circumstances. What you need to do if you want to change people is change the environment. Before God brought Adam and Eve, He created an environment. Once you change that environment, those people can no longer function. You are not going to take those people and throw them out of the city, you just change what is around them. And once the environment that feeds on that depravity is changed, they can no longer function. It's like taking an unrighteous man and putting him in heaven. He can't function. So, I am telling you that this same Nigeria that they say is not possible, we will turn it round.  In Economics, there's a concept that is called finicsism, when a company is totally bankrupt and a receivership has been made on it, it's now given to another board of directors. The same board of directors probably just brings another chief executive. He uses the same company, the same tools that his predecessors have and revives that same company. It is called Economic finicsism because it's a reference to that bird who burnt itself and rises from its own ashes. I believe in political finicsism, that you can take the same people. Like this same world, when Jesus came, He didn't change the world, He just changed the environment by creating righteousness. You are specifically targeting the youths, what about the womenfolk? People believe it's the women who will decide the next leader of the country... Once you target the young people, you target the women because they are their mothers and they want to see their children prosper. No woman carries a child for nine months and sees that child becomes a vagabond or is shot by an insensitive government or ends up in jail. The cry of every mother is to see her child become something and that's what Rev. Okotie is going to do for their children. And so when they see that our desire is to better the lot of their children, they will stand with us. Because these men whose names are being touted have made promises to the women before and failed on several occasions, the women in this country are not foolish, they know the right person to follow. I am very sure that when that time comes, Rev. Chris Okotie is the one that they will follow. Do we really have need for a generational change in this country? The reason why we say so is that when you look at their career, they started in their 30's, they are now in their mid-60's towards 70's and they it is to lead a country like Nigeria. We must move away from that generation to a generation that is not jaundiced, is not contaminated, is not connected to them in any way. We give Nigeria a fresh start, that's why our organisation F.R.E.S.H. is relevant at this time. Are you the messiah we are looking for? If you are looking for a messiah, then you have found one. I speak respectfully because I realised that some of these men that we speak about are older than I am and they have been in positions of authority. So, I respect them to that extent. But you know and every Nigerian who will read this article know that these men represent the past. They have nothing beyond the past. They are incapacitated. Every period of history is determined by Almighty God and He puts that timing between the genes of the people that's why you have the word generation. It comes from genes. Within our genes are the chromosomes, the necessary divine generation that will make Nigeria what it is going to be. These men don't have it. They are expired in their thinking. It will take somebody like Rev. Chris Okotie because I have the compassion. I'm a servant of God, therefore, the servant of the people. They can trust me. They can rely on me, they can depend on me. So if that makes me a messiah, so be it. You are not intimidated by names like IBB, Atiku, Marwa and so on? Not at all. They are ordinary men like us. I respect them because of where they were but they are ordinary men. It is God who brings deliverance to the people. It is God who effects the emancipation of the people and I'm working for Him. These men have done what they can do, they have nothing else to offer this nation and I say that respectfully. They know it themselves, their followers know it. Nigerian people know it. They are only hoping that they will be able to rig elections and I'm telling them that that will be their biggest nightmare, because if they try it, they are going to face challenges that they have never faced before. Recently, the South-South political zone resolved to present a presidential candidate come 2007. Are you going to represent the South-South? I come from the South-South. I identify with the aspirations of the people. Their agitations are legitimate, they are authentic. To wherever I go, I'm an ambassador of the South-South but I'm not asking for the presidency just because I'm a South-South indigene. I have a pan-Nigerian philosophy. I'm a Nigerian. I love Nigeria and I'm loved all over this country whether it's in the North, South, West or East. People know me. But I believe that the time has come for the presidency to come out of the South-South because that's the only geo-political zone that has not produced a president since independence. So, that is to my advantage. Now, if the South-South Assembly endorses my candidacy, praise God for that. But I'm going to do it whether anybody endorses it or not. How rich is Rev. Chris Okotie? Rich enough to vie for the office of president. But you see, the thing about all of these men you are talking about, they might have money as individuals but we have the people. By the time 10, 15, 20 people put their money together, we can handle them. But we are not even going to play that game of money politics because that's not what we want to do. We are just going to show them that they are ordinary Nigerians like us. They are not going to get away with it this time. Is the true that plans are afoot for you to reconcile with your wife? Oh yes. We have never really been antagonistic towards each other. We have just been trying to tell her to come back home. And she has stated her position that she doesn't want to return to this country for so many reasons. But she is not as rigid as she used to be because time has a way of changing your perception. So, there's hope. I mean, I'd love to have her back. She is still my best friend and we'll still take care of each other. But her problem has always been location. So it's possible. There's hope. What is your opinion about the political reforms conference that is going on? My views are pessimistic when it comes to government because of the infidelity in government. They are not promise keepers. They say one thing, they do another. I do not believe that anything can come out of it, except a miracle and this government haven't had any lately. But that's my view and it's because of the experience we have had within them. As for the PRONACO, this is a democracy. They should be allowed to assemble wherever they want to and to discuss. I think it's a good thing that a group of individuals want to come together and talk about our nation. And so if government has nothing to fear, why are they so worried about it. They should respect them, it's their constitutional right. You are aware that your former party, NDP has adopted IBB as their candidate... They have always wanted IBB. That's the problem in the party and that was why I lost the ticket of that party in the first place. Nobody, takes any recognition of whatever they say because they have always been hooked on to the apron strings of IBB. It does show that we are still dealing with people who do not understand the reality of the present Nigerian state. But they are at liberty to assemble with whoever they want to. I told NDP at that time that if you don't walk away from recycled leadership, this party will lose. But you know how they are, they are sentimental.