Africa-Press – Senegal. The businessman and mayor of the city of Kaolack (center), Serigne Mboup, declares to be a candidate for the presidential election of February 25, 2024 by “moral and civic duty”, to « create hope among the Senegalese ».
« I am a candidate for the presidential election of 2024. After reflection, I believe that it is my moral and civic duty to present my candidacy, » said Mr. Mboup in an interview published Monday by the private Dakar daily. The Observer.
The businessman says he is aware of all the charges incumbent on a President of the Republic, but he is of the opinion that those of the business world are more complex than those. « I am aware of this but I know that what we do in our companies is more complicated than managing the state, » he argued.
« At the town hall, people are counting on you, but you have no power because if the prefect or the tax collector blocks you, you don’t work. Who can block the work of the Head of State? » explained Serigne Mboup, believing that « if the President of the Republic does not work, it is because he wanted to ».
« The President of the Republic is the only person who can change the country and the behavior of the Senegalese, and boost development », continued the mayor of Kaolack, adding: « Having been an ‘ndongo daara’ (student of the Koranic school) is rather an asset, because this education and this learning allowed us to have an open mind and to be resilient. »
The mayor of Kaolack, one of the biggest businessmen in the country, claims to be able to lead it. « We (former students of the Koranic school) have no limit to set us […] Today, if I was offered to lead NASA, I would gladly accept, without any apprehension, » said he declared.
« I will try to convince the Senegalese people »
The management of a country comes down to « putting the right people in the right place » and « supervising » the exercise of the missions entrusted to them, said Mr. Mboup, President of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Kaolack and former President of the National Union of Chambers of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture of Senegal.
« What also motivates my candidacy is that, currently, the ‘daara’ have evolved and I want to show the ‘ndongo daara’ that they can […] access any strategic position, » said he continued. « I am going to surround myself with serious and recognized personalities in their field: academics, economic operators, high-level intellectuals… » he promised in the event of success in the presidential election.
Serigne Mboup says he is able to collect the number of sponsorships required for the participation of candidates in the presidential election.
« During the last legislative elections, we did it at the last minute. And in one month, we had more than 75,000 referrals. But on arrival, because of typos on the names, only 27,000 sponsorships were valid, » he recalled.
« I will try to convince the Senegalese people. I will do as I did in Kaolack [during the municipal elections] by calling on everyone to work for the benefit of Senegal, » assured Mr. Mboup. « We want to create hope among the Senegalese. »
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