Meet the unknown 37-year-old presidential candidate who came 3rd
He was relatively not in the consciousness of many Nigerians. He was not a part of those whose campaign posters dotted the entire landscape of the country, maybe as a result of poor financial muscle like the two dominant parties, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP). But Felix Nicolas of the Peoples Coalition Party (PCP) came third in the tensely contested presidential election which just ended.
As Nigerians suddenly started digging for who the 37-year-old New York-based pastor was that could beat known faces like Omoyele Sowore of African Action Congress (AAC); Olufela Durotoye of the Alliance for New Nigeria (ANN), and Kingsley Moghalu, the Young Progressive Party (YPP) candidate, Nicolas released a message thanking Nigerians for giving him the opportunity not just to contest, but to be in a third place after Atiku Abubakar, who came second.
“I will not fail to express a resounding gratitude to everyone that saw this political process through. Truly, we have been able to show every observer from the international community, to purported political bigwigs and 'GodFathers', even to the poor masses that must have lost faith in the process that power indeed belongs to the people.
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“As the election results collated by INEC continue to trickle in we realise that indeed despite so many anomalies, there is a progressive adjustment in paradigm. As the electoral process advances to other stages that will include state elections as well as litigations to iron-out the anomalies of the whole process, we will get to see clearly, how well we have come from yesteryears.
“This is a huge step out of dark ages into the age of enlightenment; civic and social awareness. My congratulations go to every young Presidential Candidate who made it this far, Ahmed Buhari, Omoyele Sowore, Kingsley Moghalu, Chike, Fela, Emmanuel, Alistair, Eunice, Dare Fagbemi…..I wish to reiterate that the reason for holding a public office at any level is to effectively provide a sustainable progress in the country of which the people will benefit. The people; the pinnacle of our service.
“To every Nigerian, I once again tender my appreciation for your unwavering support to myself and as well as my co-aspirants. We have definitely stepped closer to an inevitable political liberation,” he said in his message.
Nicolas’ excitement might be expected. Who would have thought that a man who was not seen going from one state to the other in campaign rallies could beat 70 candidates, many of whom embarked on visits to monarchs to drive home their political messages or those who went from one tertiary institution to another with the belief that the youth of the country, in population, held the key to who would emerge president? He scored a total of 110,196 votes far ahead of the other contestants aside Buhari and Atiku. For example, he defeated his closest rivals, Obadiah Mailafia of the African Democratic Congress (ADC) and John Gbor from the All Progressives Grand Alliance (APGA), with 12,322 votes. The two scored 97,874 and 66,851 votes respectively.
As shown in the breakdown of the results announced by the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Yusuf Yabagi, the presidential candidate of the Action Democratic Party (ADP), scored 54,930 votes to come sixth in the contest; Chukwuma Eke of Grassroots Development Party of Nigeria (GDPN) was seventh with 41,852 votes; while Ibrahim Hassan, the flag bearer of the African Peoples Alliance (APA) came eighth after polling 36,866 votes. Donald Duke, a former governor of Cross River state and candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), came ninth with 34,746 votes.
Among the trio of Moghalu, Durotoye and Sowore, the latter was the only candidate that made the first 10 winners in the election after scoring 33,953. Moghalu, a professor and former top official of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) polled 21,886 while Durotoye, a motivational speaker scored 16,779 votes.
Some analysts, however, maintain that the acronym of his party gave him such victory as many unenlightened Nigerian voters may have seen the PCP to stand as the PDP especially since one came just on top of the other on the ballot paper. To these people, the PCP ended up shortchanging the PDP of some votes. It could not be verified if this was part of the plan by the PCP to rise above the many other parties which took part in the exercise.
Currently studying to earn another doctorate degree from CICA International University & Seminary in New York City, the Ewohimi, Esan South, Edo state-born Nicolas, describes himself as an accomplished author, mentor, and a life coach as well as host of a television programme aired on various channels in New York city.
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The founder of Miracle Center International Inc is said to have lived a larger part of his life helping people, creating employment and coaching or mentoring people and is the CEO of five companies all based in the United States and through which he has reportedly created jobs for at least 450 people in the last four years.
He says he is mentored by Pastor Enoch Adeboye of the Redeemed Christian Church of God (RCCG).
If he had emerged the president of Nigeria, his manifesto shows that he would have improved on the nation’s security, power generation from alternative sources, education, provided access to healthcare, and eradicated corrupt practices. Would he have been able to meet these challenges? He did not win, but his name is now etched in the sand of the nation’s history.
Legit.ng earlier reported that President Muhammadu Buhari, early on Wednesday, February 27, addressed Nigerians after he was declared the winner of the keenly contested presidential election between him and Atiku Abubakar, the candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP).
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Source: Legit.ng
