Minister of State for Education, Chukwuemeka Nwajiuba, has said that though he has not declared for the presidency, a body known as the Project Nigeria Group has raised over N100m for him to purchase the nomination and expression of interest forms.
Nwajiuba who stated this during an interview with Sunday PUNCH, added that he had been informed by the group that about 1,000 individuals had contributed a little over N100m and would purchase the APC presidential forms for him.
The minister, who expressed excitement that the group was able to raise the amount, said the decision on whether he would run for the coveted office would depend on the outcome of his meeting with the Project Nigeria Group and other stakeholders across the country.
“In my own case, I have the unique opportunity of being promoted by a wide range of Nigerians, young people and others from all parts of Nigeria, contributing. They have taken the challenge of thinking of where to get the money off me.
“One of them told me that they have actually exceeded the figure by some fractions at the moment. They have over 1,000 contributors from different places. I was only informed that they were ready. I have been trying to get them to meet with me, but they only want to meet me when they have the forms.
“Even if they are nomads, it doesn’t matter wherever you can find them. It is actually getting more serious than I thought.”
On whether he would run for the presidency and when he intends to declare his ambition, he added, “I do not want to answer that question until they (members of the Project Nigeria Group) come. It is not my decision to make.
“This is a collective decision of all Nigerians. I am actually impressed by them telling me that over 1,000 persons have contributed. I thought it was a joke until I saw that such a huge number of people contributed.
“When I have the opportunity of meeting the group, then we can speak on it. It is not something one person alone can decide; it will require almost like a collegiate of people to bring everybody together to work in a direction so that the country can get traction.”
Asked if the party was fair to have pegged the amount for the purchase of presidential, governorship and other forms at prices many Nigerians described as outrageous, he said, “Every political party decides how it wants to operate. Their decision is relative to what they have.
“Looking at my supporters, through the Project Nigeria Group, already informed me that they have actually got the figure they want and exceeded it. Even if you were to offer the party forms for N1, it will still be subject to different views, and that is the beauty of democracy where everybody will have his or her own view.
“But we, as party members, have handed over the administration of our party to the National Executive Committee and they have made a judgment on our behalf. We can’t second-guess them, because there are many parameters. I am not privy to all of their thought processes.
“We’ve elected them and we have given them that mandate. It is left for us to also see that those who can live with it should work with it and those who don’t may opt out.”
