Dr. Abdul Jelil Tafawa Balewa, the son of Nigeria’s First Republic Prime Minister, late Alhaji Tafawa Balewa, has said that with the right political party, he was fully prepared to contest the 2015 presidential election.
Balewa said having consulted widely, he was convinced that Nigerians had been yearning for a new leadership capable of fulfilling the high expectations and aspirations of the greater majority in the country.
He said although his interest in the presidential seat was originally prompted by those he described as well-meaning elder statesmen from across the geopolitical zones of Nigeria, he was now more prepared to take up the challenge.
Balewa’s son said his entry into politics would add some values to the Nigerian democracy given the finesse, candour and pragmatism, which he would be infusing into the system based on experiences.
He said being close to President Goodluck Jonathan had made his attempt to lead Nigeria more interesting as he would not consider contest for the presidential seat a do or die affair.
Jonathan, he said, was a pragmatic politician, who had always welcomed free and fair contests.
On the political platform to use, Balewa, a medical expert said, he would keep that under wrap for strategic reasons.
He affirmed, however, that at the nick of time, the political party that would offer him the ticket would come clearly to intimate Nigerians about its agenda.
He said: “Some political parties have been talking to me alright.
“I have more than two of the parties, including the major ones, showing interest.
“It would be unfair for me to start dropping names, more so when consultations were still ongoing on the next line of action.”
Balewa said although he had spent a long period of time in the United States of America and Britain in the quest for knowledge, nonetheless he had been paying his dues in the local politics of Nigeria than what anyone could think off.
He said with his wealth of experience in politics, he had in the past contributed to the successes of some public office holders both at the state and federal levels.
When asked whether he had the financial muscle to withstand the pressure of a presidential contest, Balewa, who said he had never been a pauper, insisted that he at the same time had good Nigerians who would support him in all ramifications.
He said: “We place too much emphasis on money in this country and that is why our politics appears repressed and clumsy.
“I have never been a pauper.
“All the same, we have people who are deeply committed to my cause and ready to see me through.
“I am not going to let the cat out of the bag yet.
“I have my game plans to beat this emphasis on huge money to buy votes.
“I am going to do things differently and God will help me.”
Balewa, however, gave assurances that he had the support of top politicians from Bauchi State, where he hails from, an indication that the home support had been useful in generating larger supports from relevant sections of the country.
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