Owolabi Salis, the former Alliance for Democracy gubernatorial candidate for Lagos State, held a private discussion with Atiku Abubakar, who ran for president under the African Democratic Congress banner, this past Thursday.
Salis, a lawyer and accountant residing in New York, noted that this session was one of many talks he intends to hold with prominent political figures regarding Nigeria’s progress. His outreach plan includes upcoming meetings with President Bola Tinubu, former leader Olusegun Obasanjo, and retired military heads such as Yakubu Gowon, Ibrahim Babangida, and Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Highlighting Nigeria’s stagnant growth since the transition to democracy over twenty years ago, Salis pointed toward fragile institutions and ineffective political traditions as primary obstacles. He argued that these systemic issues have disproportionately impacted the public, specifically citing rising poverty and poor healthcare access as factors deepening social inequality. To address these gaps, Salis stated he personally funds food and medical aid for those in need while also advocating for better infrastructure in underserved areas. Furthermore, he emphasized that Nigeria requires electoral reforms to rebuild public trust in the democratic process.
