The Presidential Candidate of the Democratic Leadership Alliance (DLA), Dr. Moses Adebisi, has called for a fundamental restructuring of Nigeria’s economy, arguing that the country cannot achieve sustainable development while wealth remains concentrated in the hands of a few and millions of Nigerians struggle to meet their basic needs.
Adebisi made the call during a press conference organised by the DLA, where the party also formally presented him with his Certificate of Return following his emergence from the party’s presidential substitution primary ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The DLA National Chairman, Barrister Samuel M. Mêmeh, said the primary was conducted in accordance with the party’s constitution, guidelines and applicable electoral requirements.
Mêmeh, who had earlier been nominated as the party’s presidential candidate, said he voluntarily stepped down in the interest of the party and the country. He expressed confidence in Adebisi’s capacity to provide Nigerians with a credible alternative in 2027.
Speaking on the state of the nation, Adebisi said Nigeria was not formally at war but was experiencing a situation characterised by insecurity, economic hardship and a lack of peace.
He said sustainable economic development could not be achieved through taxation alone, stressing the need to empower Nigerians to become productive contributors to the country’s Gross Domestic Product.
Drawing from his study of China’s economic transformation, particularly reforms introduced from 1978, the candidate said Nigeria needed an economic model that would harness the productive capacity, creativity and resources of its citizens.
Adebisi outlined what he described as the seven pillars of global economic dominance, beginning with national unity and the development of a shared national purpose.
He referred to this first pillar as the National Psyche Reengineering Architecture, which he said would seek to unite Nigerians around a common vision, mission and development agenda.
He also criticised the alleged vandalism of public infrastructure, citing cases where drainage facilities were reportedly destroyed to recover metals used in their construction.
According to him, such acts undermine national development and demonstrate the need for a change in citizens’ attitudes towards public property.
The second pillar, he said, involves identifying, developing and reclaiming Nigeria’s natural and human resources.
Adebisi argued that the country must develop and refine its raw materials locally before exporting them, rather than continuing to depend on foreign countries for finished products.
He further claimed that Nigeria possesses untapped innovations capable of addressing challenges in sectors such as healthcare and electricity.
The candidate recalled his participation in a World Bank-supported entrepreneurship programme, where he said he was recognised in 2017 as one of Nigeria’s young innovative entrepreneurs.
He also referenced an innovation presented during the programme involving the possible use of lightning as a source of electricity, questioning why promising indigenous ideas had not received adequate attention.
On wealth distribution, Adebisi said the DLA would prioritise policies aimed at ensuring that the country’s resources and economic opportunities benefit a wider section of the population.
He said the party would implement what he described as 100 executive orders if elected, with initial priorities including emergency national intervention, citizens’ self-actualisation and purposeful national development.
He also claimed that millions of Nigerians had pledged support for the DLA’s proposed Treaty of Liberty, which he described as a framework for economic and political transformation.
Adebisi said the party’s policy proposals were informed by consultations and experiences from countries including the United States, United Kingdom, China, Saudi Arabia, Germany, Ireland and Canada.
He promised that knowledge and expertise gathered from such engagements would be incorporated into a proposed technocratic cabinet.
Meanwhile, DLA National Chairman Mêmeh called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take urgent measures to address insecurity, economic hardship and declining living standards across the country.
He urged the Federal Government to recruit more qualified security personnel, improve the welfare of security officers and provide them with adequate equipment, intelligence and infrastructure.
Mêmeh also called for the rehabilitation of abandoned and deteriorating security facilities, arguing that existing institutions should be strengthened before new structures, including state police, are established.
On the removal of fuel subsidy, the DLA chairman questioned whether the increased allocations reportedly accruing to state governments had translated into tangible improvements in the lives of Nigerians.
He called on the Federal Government and state governors to account for the resources available to them, particularly in the areas of roads, healthcare, education, employment and security.
Mêmeh further urged President Tinubu to reconsider seeking a second term if his administration fails to demonstrate measurable improvements in the welfare and security of Nigerians before the 2027 election.
He said the appeal was motivated by patriotism rather than personal hostility, stressing that Nigeria should take precedence over individual political ambitions.
The DLA chairman said the party was prepared to offer Nigerians an alternative based on leadership, justice and economic advancement, expressing confidence that the country could be made more secure, prosperous and united.
He urged Nigerians not to lose hope in the country, saying the DLA would continue to organise, mobilise citizens and present what it described as practical solutions to the nation’s challenges ahead of the 2027 elections.