Owolabi Salis, a former Alliance for Democracy gubernatorial candidate in Lagos, recently met with former Vice-President Atiku Abubakar. The discussion was framed as part of a series of consultations with major political actors aimed at advancing Nigeria’s democratic progress.
As a lawyer and accountant based in New York, Salis plans to extend these discussions to President Bola Tinubu, former President Olusegun Obasanjo, and retired military leaders such as Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, and Abdulsalami Abubakar. Salis noted that his goal is to address the country’s sluggish growth and the systemic weaknesses hindering development since the transition to democracy.
Highlighting the plight of the common citizen, Salis pointed to the growing divide between economic classes, exacerbated by inadequate healthcare and infrastructure. He noted that he currently funds personal initiatives to support vulnerable individuals with food and medical costs. Furthermore, he emphasized that electoral reforms are essential to restore public faith in the political system, drawing on his own background as a 2019 candidate.
Salis, who made headlines in 2023 as the first Nigerian to fly to space via Blue Origin, stated he intends to deliver his policy proposals directly to President Tinubu and other state leaders privately rather than through public discourse.
