By Peace Udugba
Former presidential aspirant and banker, Mohammed Hayatu-Deen, has formally declared his intention to contest the presidential primary of the African Democratic Congress, pledging to address Nigeria’s economic hardship and worsening insecurity.
Hayatu-Deen made the declaration in a statement issued on Thursday, announcing that he had submitted his nomination forms for the party’s presidential contest.
According to him, the decision followed careful reflection on the country’s current challenges, which he said have left many Nigerians struggling to survive.
He lamented the rising cost of living, noting that food prices have more than doubled, while fuel prices have increased significantly compared to what was obtainable three years ago.
The former banker also expressed concern over persistent insecurity across the country, stating that many communities continue to live under the threat of kidnapping and banditry.
He further decried growing frustration among Nigerian youths, saying many young people are unemployed and increasingly losing hope in the country’s future.
“Nigeria is at a crossroads,” Hayatu-Deen stated. “Food prices have more than doubled. Fuel costs are nearly five times what they were three years ago. Communities across the country live under the shadow of kidnapping and banditry.”
The presidential aspirant said his four decades of experience in building institutions and reviving struggling organisations had prepared him for national leadership.
“I have spent forty years building institutions in this country. I have created jobs. I have turned around failing organisations. I have seen what Nigeria is capable of when it is led properly,” he said.
On security, Hayatu-Deen promised to adopt a tougher stance against criminality, vowing to prosecute bandits, kidnappers and their collaborators under terrorism laws if elected president.
He also pledged to end what he described as the silence surrounding ransom payments, insisting that government must fully reclaim its responsibility of protecting citizens.
“Every bandit, every kidnapper, every collaborator will be prosecuted under terrorism law. The state exists to protect its citizens, and under my leadership, it will,” he said.
Hayatu-Deen described the ADC as a political platform capable of offering Nigerians a fresh alternative, arguing that the party is not burdened by past governance failures.
“The ADC was built for this moment — a party unencumbered by the failures of the past and one that can offer Nigeria a new direction,” he added.
He maintained that his ambition was driven not by personal interest but by the urgent need for capable leadership, expressing confidence that Nigerians were ready for change and a safer, more prosperous future.
