Edo 2024: UPAN Caution Against Political Merchandise Of Gubernatorial Process

Edo 2024: UPAN Caution Against Political Merchandise Of Gubernatorial Process

…Edo State forthcoming gubernatorial  primaries and election – we caution against dealerships of the highest bidder* – United Patriots Assembly of Nigeria (UPAN), 5th January, 2024.

Gentlemen of the press,  the Edo state primaries and gubernatorial elections coming up in the first and third quarter of 2024 respectively, has become a matter of great interest to UAPAN against the backdrop of clear moves by leaders of the parties to place *deep pocket* of the aspirants as the major criteria for handling party tickets. 

This is absolutely undemocratic, and therefore necessitates its total condemnation. We insist that character, integrity, and community development antecedents should be the tripartite criteria for choosing gubernatorial candidates by all political parties in Edo State; we therefore call on anti-graft agencies like the EFCC and ICPC to beam their satellites on the countdown to the gubernatorial primaries, with a view to puting political merchants at bay, in the overall interest of curbing wholesale monetization of Nigeria’s electioneering processes. 

If the  events of the political brouhaha in the last gubernatorial election in Edo State is anything to go by, the deep-seated monetization wrecked the foundation of governance, to the extent that Edo State Government for inexplicable reasons didn’t had the lever of appointing commissioners for over three months. A school of thought argued that the State was broke due to the extreme monetization of the gubernatorial process. We don’t want a replay of that despicable scenarios, hence our appeal to the various parties to place democratic credentials over and above financial dealerships. 

The mundane tendencies of the 202 gubernatorial primaries are still fresh in our memory, and they are nothing to be proud of. 

Now that we are warming up for the various political parties or structures to permutate  and struggle for flag-bearership for the governorship elections, we, the United Patriots Assembly of Nigeria (UAPAN) wish to categorically state that elections are not war but avenues to enthronement of a set of accounts managers of the State’s resources, which is given in trust by the electorates of Edo State.

As Nigeria’s foremost socioeconomic and sociocultural advocacy group,  we urge those who presently permutating  to be nominated as flag bearers to eschew  politics of bitterness, or a do or die attitude, political brigandage and money politics should be totally eschewed or avoided in our socio political space or totally jettisoned. After the politicking, social life must go on. 

As Edo indigenes and players in this game the most important thing Edo people wants is how to move our the State out of the seeming socioeconomic quagmire, that the people cry of neglect of basic social amenities of life that still eludes the people, especially the rural dwellers.

Now is the time Edo State need men of proven  characters, expierience,  better attitudinal behaviour, educational and pragmatic political exposures, in order to change the narrative and wipe away the hues and cries of Edo people. 

Today, as it stands Edo State is still bedeviled with several challenges as basic human needs are still scarce in the State. The educational system, transport infrastructural, healthcare system and agricultural sector are still in shambles as majority of the citizenry do not have access to these basic needs.

The interest of the State comes first and should be paramount in all sociopolitical dealings.

Also a call for caution, the people of Edo State must not allow stomach infrastructure and personal interests to dissuade them by falling into the trap of certain misguided politicians by collecting handouts or temporary largesse that will derail the path of transformational leadership to govern Edo State in the next dispensation come November 2024.

UAPAN is poised  to help in ensuring there is fair play throughout the electioneering processes as the peace and unity of Edo State  is paramount to the wellbeing of Nigeria. 

Seeing a better Edo and the State playing her role in the development of our country must be pursued to the latter. This can only happen with the conscious effort of the people of Edo state. 

UAPAN wish all contenders  success while we look forward to a peaceful and credible primaries come February  and the gubernatorial elections in the third quarter of 2024.

God bless Edo state 

God bless the citizens of Edo state 

God bless Nigeria. 

Signed 

Hon Usman Dauda 

National Secretary.