From Ighomuaye Lucky, Benin
A social-political group known as United Patriots Assembly of Nigeria (UPAN), yesterday, endorsed the governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwu-Olu and governor Abiodun Makinde of Oyo state for their second term reelection bids for dragging the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) to Supreme Court, challenging its recent monetary policy.
This was contained in a statement signed by its National Facilitator, Amb. Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo and its Secretary General, Usman Dauda and made available to newsmen in Benin.
Edokpolor also extended their endorsement to other governors across the political divides for standing in the gap for the common man when the CBN’s cashless policy was subjecting them to untold hardship in the past few weeks in the country.
He said their actions have demonstrated that they have the interest of Nigerians at heart.
“The totality of our nation’s electoral stakeholders contended with a bizarre cash crunch, which was a fall out of reckless cashless economic template of the Central Bank of Nigeria.
“From all intents and purposes, the policy implementation turned out to be a project management disaster by any modicum of intellect.
“In a bid to salvage the pieces of our nation’s monetary catastrophe, the Progressive Governors Forum of the ruling All Progressive Congress(APC) and some patriotic Governors of the People’s Democratic Party instituted a suit against the Federal Government on the excruciating survival ratio of the masses and the middle class especially- with the aim of rescuing Nigerians from the despicable arrows of the Godwin Emefiele led Central Bank of Nigeria(CBN).
” Following the rejection against the Federal Government and the Central Bank of Nigeria and the subsequent judgement by the Supreme Court, these Governors have proven to be heroes of our democracy at this trying time.
“Even though it is apparent that the CBN is reluctant in obeying the judgement, posterity will be kind to these exceedingly patriotic Governors.
“Flowing from their consistent patriotic interventions, we do here and now officially endorse Governors Sanwu-Olu of Lagos State if the All Progressives Congress, and Governor Abiodun Makinde of the People’s Democratic Party, and other altruistically progressive Governors who are seeking a second term a deserving second term reelection come March 18th 2023, and a fulfilling tenure in office.
” Their track records of service speaks volumes of the natural doctrine of one good turn deserves another. God bless Nigeria”, Edokpolor said.
The UPAN National Facilitator, while speaking on the performances of the Independent National Electoral Commission’s (INEC) boss, Yakubu Mamoud, he said he deserves commendation and not condemnation.
“Arising from a painstaking assessment of the Presidential and National Assembly elections held on 25th February 2023, it is pertinent to salute Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) and the managerial acumen of the Chairman of the Commission Prof. Mamoud Yakubu.
“From our lucid evaluation of the commission’s proactive measures before, during and after the elections, which were substantially free, fair and credible – it is most reasonable for the presidential candidates to commend the commission for reinforcing its corporate dignity as an unbiased umpire; as well as to congratulate the winner Asiwaju Ahmed Bola Tinubu in the globally established principle of sportsmanship”, Edokpolor said.
He said as a forum of Nigeria Patriots, they have risen to specially congratulate the President-elect – Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu on his exceedingly deserving victory at the polls.
He said by their endorsement of his candidacy before and after the APC primaries, they have not left anyone in doubt on the amazing acceptability of Tinubu as a pro-democracy generalissimo, and a pan Nigerian – who has the leadership wizardry to reposition Nigeria to her pride of place.