Julius Okorie
Less than 24 hours after former Nigerian President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan warned stakeholders in the forthcoming Edo State Election against putting their personal interest first, incumbent President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu, has toed the same line, charging all to respect the tenets of democracy.
Tinubu conveyed the message in a statement signed by his Special Adviser on Information and Strategy, Mr. Bayo Onanuga. While expressing believe in the voters’ ability to make informed decisions about their future leaders even as he urged INEC and Security Agents to “remain impartial and avoid any actions that could compromise the integrity of the electoral process.”
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Meanwhile, the Governorship Candidate of the Accord Party, Kennedy Iyere, has withdrawn from the race citing internal party crisis on one hand and conspiracy involving his running mate Bright Enabulele, to undermine his candidacy on the other.
Aside from that, Iyere added that another reason is his desire to serve Nigeria at a higher level and be in a position to address pressing social and economic challenges, particularly the food crisis enveloping the country.
He referenced his previously proposed multi-billion dollar initiative, the ‘Food4All Initiative,’ which he presented to President Bola Tinubu.
This programme aims to achieve food security and create mass employment for youth and women through the “One-Family-One-Farmer Scheme.”
Despite his withdrawal, Iyere urged Edolites to remain peaceful and vote their conscience, stressing the importance of equitable power rotation among the three Senatorial Districts.
He said, “My focus is no longer on the governorship seat but on a higher and bigger portfolio than a Governor. I want to serve Nigerians at large and not just Edo indigenes. I want to help rebuild Nigeria’s lost economic greatness.
Iyere’s food for all and other programmes according to him, will kickoff next month.
“These programmes will fully kick-start in the month of October 2024 and Nigeria will be placed yet again on the pathway of rapid economic recovery. Our intervention programmes will enhance opportunities for youth entrepreneurship engagement in multiple sectors, especially agriculture, food and beverage, technology, entertainment, innovation and creativity,” he enthused,
Accord Party is one the 17 political parties in locked in battle for the soul of Edo in tomorrow’s election although only three of the parties, APC, PDP and Labour Party have been tipped to produce eventual winner of the race.
Iyere who has an eye set serving at the federal level may as well be nursing hope as there are strong indications that President Tinubu will reshuffle his cabinet in October.
Julius Okorie is Chief Sports and Entertainment Correspondent for Prime Business Africa. He began his journalism career with the Champion Newspaper and Sporting Champion and later moved on to Daily Independent and the Nation Newspapers. Okorie joined Prime Business Africa in 2024 bringing on board 20 years of experience in writing investigative news on Sports and Entertainment. His well researched and highly informative articles on Sports Business and general entertainment are followed by a wide range of audience.
