By Chimezie Godfrey
National Chairman of the Zenith Labour Party (ZLP), Chief Dan Nwanyanwu, has secured the party’s presidential ticket, positioning national unity, security and anti corruption as central to his campaign.
He was adopted as the consensus candidate at the party’s National Convention in Abuja on Saturday, where he laid out his immediate priorities if elected.
Nwanyanwu said restoring cohesion among Nigerians would be treated as urgent, noting that divisions along ethnic and religious lines have weakened trust and national identity.
“I must thank you for believing in me. I must thank you for the confidence you have in my ability. And I assure you that I will make good use of this mandate.
There are a few points that I will take up as President, Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. These are the ones I will give immediate priority. And the first has to do with national unity.
“As we get into the business of governance, the first thing my government will do as President and Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria is to unite Nigerians. We are not united. We are living in self-deceit and pretensions.
Nigeria’s unity has suffered very serious setbacks, especially in the past 11 years. Our diversity, which ought to be a source of strength, has been mismanaged,” he said.
He said declining public confidence, especially among young people, underscores the need for inclusive governance and stronger protection of citizens’ rights.
On insecurity, he criticised existing strategies, arguing they have failed to deter criminality and restore order.
“I will equip and direct all security agencies to smoke out these insurgents and criminals wherever they are within the shores and boundary of Nigeria. I will eliminate them without mercy.
Those who have been arrested will be prosecuted swiftly. Their collaborators, enablers and facilitators will also be prosecuted and punished,” he added.
He said restructuring policing through federal, state and community systems would improve coordination and response.
Nwanyanwu also pledged institutional reforms to curb corruption, stressing prevention, transparency and stronger enforcement mechanisms.
Speaking further, he said, “My government will have zero tolerance for corruption. The laws establishing anti-corruption agencies will be reviewed to give them more teeth.
We will undertake the audit of all property and bank deposits in Nigeria to determine the legality of those acquisitions.”
He also outlined plans to address power supply gaps, support industrial growth and expand access to finance for young entrepreneurs, while promoting a decentralised system of governance.
Nwanyanwu clinches ZLP presidential ticket, outlines unity, security agenda
