Commit to ADC code of ethics, Hayatu-Deen tells Atiku, Amaechi

From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja

African Democratic Congress (ADC) presidential hopeful Mohammed Hayatu-Deen has challenged other aspirants, including former Vice President Atiku Abubakar and former Minister of Transportation Rotimi Amaechi, to publicly commit to the opposition party’s Governance Principles and Code of Ethics, known as The Orange Book.

Hayatu-Deen, in a post on his social media handles, said aspirants seeking the ADC ticket must affirm the principles of integrity, transparency, accountability, merit, discipline, rejection of corruption, opposition to vote-buying and godfatherism, and commit to placing the public interest above personal ambition.

The foremost banker, who was screened earlier in the week by the party’s Presidential Screening Committee alongside other aspirants, said every presidential and gubernatorial aspirant was issued a copy of The Orange Book and required to affirm its principles.

According to him, The Orange Book represents a binding ethical covenant that rejects self-serving politics and places service to the Nigerian people at the centre of public office.

“The Orange Book is not a slogan. It is a declaration that public office is not for self-enrichment, personal glory, or political entitlement but for service to the Nigerian people.

“Leadership is measured not by individual legacy, but by the enduring impact of completed, purposeful, and people-centred action. I am a public servant, not a ruler of Nigerians.”

“These are not ordinary political declarations. They are standards that every leader, irrespective of political party, should be willing to uphold.”

Hayatu-Deen affirmed his commitment to abide by both the spirit and the letter of the ADC’s Code of Ethics, while calling on other aspirants in the race to do the same openly and without reservation.

He noted that “Because Nigerians deserve transparency from those who seek to lead them, I believe every aspirant seeking the mandate of our great party should publicly declare whether they are willing to uphold these standards.

“Nigeria needs a different political culture rooted in service, responsibility, competence, and moral courage. We must begin to change that.”