‘I’ll Raise GDP From $432bn To $1.5trn’ if Elected — Tunde Bakare

Tunde Bakare, serving overseer of the Citadel Global Community Church, has declared his intention to run for president in 2023.

Bakare declared his bid in Abuja on Monday. Last week, he procured the APC presidential nomination form.

The presidential hopeful said he is committed to the realization of a new Nigeria as he categorized his agenda into four — namely peace, progress, prosperity, and possibilities.

The lawyer said if elected president he will triple Nigeria’s gross domestic product (GDP) to $1.5 trillion from the current $432.293 billion by 2030.

Bakare said with private sector partnership he will reinvigorate the power sector, adding that his administration will generate more than 100,00MW by 2030. He also promised to construct a 3000km superhighway that will transform the country’s transportation system.

“We will rebuild Nigeria’s economy around six competitive geo-economic zones, triple Nigeria’s GDP to $1.5 trillion by the year 2030. We will industrialize Nigeria,” he said.

“Through a public-private partnership, please hold me accountable for this, we will build a 10-lane 3,000km north-south superhighway, which will be systematically linked to regional ways and subway feeding each geo-economic zone.

“We will execute a private sector driven electricity reform agenda that will see the generation of up to 100,000MW of on-grid and off-grid electricity by 2030.

Bakare said he will vitalize the not-too-young-to-run act by establishing a youth presidential programe that will prepare young Nigerians for office.

He said his administration will be known for his intergenerational cabinet, adding that women will be given more than 35 percent representation.

“The youths of Nigeria will no longer be left out of leadership in the country. My cabinet will be one of the most intergenerational in Nigeria’s history,” he said.

“And my administration will vilatise the not-too-young-to-run act by instituting a presidential young leaders programme that will attract, train, mentor, appoint, and back young Nigerian men and women for office.

“We will provide political leadership towards a pragmatic package to constitutional reforms, with a view to decentralizing governance, evolving powers to subnational governments, empowering local governments, strengthening the federal government capacity, facilitating national development, and empowering the Nigerian people to facilitate, contribute to constitutional review, to referendums.

“Fellow Nigerians, the government will become more mobile and will be close to you.

“Under the progress, we will alleviate poverty in the shortest time by offering a safety net to our most vulnerable, while implementing long-term policy for poverty eradication.

“We will establish a geo-economic zone, and medical city with health industry clusters affiliated to the teaching hospitals and secondary and primary health centers in its droves. This will improve the delivery of health services in tertiary, secondary, and primary health centers across the country.

“We will launch EIN agenda, the educate, industrialize Nigeria, which will see a productive linkage between academia and industry clusters in each geo-economic zone. We will ensure we meet women’s representation that meets and surpasses the 35% recommendation of the national gender policy in public sector appointments.

“I’m committed to the realization of the new Nigeria for everyone in my lifetime. This is why I’m formally announcing that I’m running for the office of the president of Nigeria. I’ll respect the separation of powers while providing presidential backing to legislative agendas, and as the constitution permits the president.

“I’ll also respect the rule of law and the independence of the judiciary. To act above the law will be beneath my office and will be a betrayal of my training as a lawyer.”