With You I Share My Dream

My Father Said…

Intro
"What I say to you is true. What we know of Nigeria today is a history written by the actions of past leaders; the decisions they made, and the policies they executed."

So I ask you, "could the history of Nigeria have been better written?" Yet I know your yearnings, I understand your aspirations, and I feel your pain… they are mine too. Therefore I know your answer is yes; yes to a better Nigeria, a nation that will once again win our faith, a country we must all together build.

We can't change the actions of yesterday… the history of today, but we mighty well can determine what history there will be tomorrow… our every action today writes tomorrow's history, and it's our responsibility to decide the difference between the history we read today and that which our children will read in time coming. It is time for us to see, to know, to consider, and to understand that only in unity are we truly strong. Unity of common vision and purpose, and not of greed, ethnic marginalization, aimless leadership, gender discrimination, and religious apathy.

It is our turn to think… it is our turn to decide… it is our turn to commit… it is our turn to act… it is our turn to deliver on our beliefs. It is our turn to look failure in the eye and say to it "you’re so not an option".

Therefore I implore you to please join me in writing today, the history of a new Nigeria … a history entrenched not in politicking, but in true leadership and governance.

My name is Ademola Ogunbanjo, and I shall be running for public office come 2015."


My Thoughts
I can see a new generation coming of age that is hopeful, hard-working, innovative and imaginative… but I can also see so many in this generation that remain hopeless, defeated and justifiably disengaged. And for their sake and the sake of our children, we must rise up in our diverse spheres of influence and restore to them what is truly deserving.

We need leaders now more than ever before, who understand that their responsibility is to articulate a vision, gain buy-in and encourage a collaborative approach towards its achievement… leaders who inspire others to aspire.

The twenty first century is crucial to our history as a nation, and as we strive to write a history with global dimensions in education, infrastructure, gender equality, agriculture, healthcare, IT, justice and wealth creation, we must understand that our country needs every one of us to get involved.

The time has come for the Nigerian political environment to churn out leaders who look beyond winning at all cost and by all means, but those that see that this nation's soul has been wounded for far too long, and recognize her need for healing and unifying.

I have been asked if I had millions stashed away for my bid to serve in public capacity, and my response has been that I believe the time is now for a political choice based on value propositions and not dolled out stipends that continue to enslave the future of our children and place a limit on our moral justification to demand good governance.

What I ask of you today is that we break our yearnings into phases, and give me your mandate to achieve our common dreams through what I call the four point 'W.E.I.A Revamp Agenda'.

I am a man aware of the realities that surround us, that is why I do not stand outside the tracks of political athleticism complaining about everything that catches my attention. Rather, I have made a commitment to be part of those rewriting the history of our great nation for good and not bad, to ensure that though we may all not be equal in abilities (as we were not so created) but we must all have equal and undeterred access to the opportunities that surround us.

Here is my value proposition; a comprehensive solution to the challenges we face today as a people, and a joint effort in bringing by the change we so desire to see.

My focus areas (in no particular order) will be;

Women Empowerment (Learn Earn Play)

- Free Education for the Female Child
- Economic Empowerment Programs for the Rural & Urban Poor Woman
- Development of a Variety of Women Only Games and Sports

Education
- Effective Training for Teachers
- Learning Resources for Students
- Structural Facilities

Infrastructure
- Comprehensive Transport Solution
- Water Supply
- Power Generation
- IT and Telecommunications
- Waste Management Systems

Agriculture
- Creation of Plantations
- Irrigation Facilities
- Partnerships with World Bodies
- Seeds Sourcing
- Research Funding
- Local Farmers’ Empowerment
- Youth Empowerment in Animal Husbandry

I know we are faced daily with more issues than listed, but I claim no expertise in providing solutions to all our challenges.

Let's not get caught in an unrealistic approach towards achieving our goals, instead let us pursue our aspirations in phases and stages, as scantily touching on all issues will not help our course. What we need are comprehensive solutions to our dysfunctional systems, and I have chosen Women Empowerment, Education, Infrastructure and Agriculture as the strategic direction for the first phase of our system's revamp program.

This is my four point W.E.I.A Revamp Agenda.

Given the opportunity to serve, I will further break the phases into revamp stages, and hope that you provide the required support to make this happen.

I'm sure you're beginning to wonder at this stage how I intend to achieve these? This much I will say to you… I am a professional, I am trained to make things happen, I have done it for small businesses and large corporations, as well as government bodies, and I have access to quality relationships. One of such relationships is you, which is why we have made this platform interactive so you may share your ideas with us for the ultimate benefit of all, that we may place Nigeria in the forefront of development in this century and beyond.


A Man and His Dreams
It is my utmost belief that a man must dream to stay alive, and that dreams must be shared so they are worth living for… which is why I say a man's life is worth only the number of people he's shared it with.

Sharing dreams however, is like planting them… that is why we are mindful of those we share our dreams with. While some dreams grow and blossom, some are distorted and wither, others are either drowned in the deep end of the sea of criticism or stolen and locked up within the confines of doubt.

I believe that when your dream is tied to the aspirations of a people who hunger for change, not even darkness can swallow it neither can floods drown it. My dream is a projection of your aspirations and desires… to see Nigeria become a functional nation that empowers her people, challenges their abilities, and encourages them to engage meaningfully and honour their commitments.

I sow my dream in you, knowing you will give it breath to grow and nourishment to bear fruits. And as you help others nourish their dreams, you are inadvertently sowing the seeds for a bountiful harvest of yours.

Join me in building a nation where impossibilities are no longer considered possible… a country that emancipates the minds of her people and gives them eagles’ wings to soar to heights yet unthinkable.

I welcome you to my blog, and ask that you kindly share your thoughts with me.

Thank you.

My regards,

‘Demola Ogunbanjo.