Ex-oil tycoon Martin Fayulu has emerged as one of the main candidates in Sunday’s presidential election in the Democratic Republic of Congo, writes the BBC’s Dickens Olewe.
Martin Fayulu means business.
A campaign poster for the former oil executive shows him conscientiously rolling up his sleeves, ready to run the country.
Underneath, a slogan promises that he wants to create “a dignified and prosperous Congo”.
But Mr Fayulu, 62, faces stiff competition in the shape of Emmanuel Ramazani Shadary, the ruling party candidate and a loyalist of outgoing President Joseph Kabila, and Felix Tshisekedi, another opposition leader.
He was a surprise choice when he was unveiled as the Lamuka coalition’s presidential candidate last month.
Despite becoming a full-time politician in 2006, and serving as an MP, he is mostly known as a businessman.
His critics say this will count heavily against him in the election, and they doubt he will advance the interests of poor people if he wins.
Mr Fayulu’s involvement in politics started during the Sovereign National Conference in 1991 that brought together delegates from different regions, political parties, civil society organizations and traditional leaders to campaign for multi-party democracy.
