UPN flags off governorship campaign, denies endorsing another candidate

Abiodun Taiwo, Abeokuta

The Unity party of Nigeria (UPN), Ogun state chapter on Tuesday unveiled its Governorship and deputy governorship candidates for the forthcoming governorship election in the State. The National Chairman of the Party, Professor Bankole Okuwa, while addressing a press conference in Abeokuta said Otunba Femi Adeeko and Mrs Adebunmi Bankole are the governorship and Deputy Governorship candidates for the Party in the State in the next month election. Prof Okuwa said the declaration by the former State acting Chairman of the Party that the UPN members in Ogun State had agreed to declare their support and vote for the SDP governorship candidate in the forthcoming election was fake, misleading and misguided. “The UPN in Ogun State hereby presents her candidate for the 2019 election, state governorship and his deputy today in the persons of Otunba Femi Adeeko and his deputy Mrs Adebunmi Bankole. He said the Party has other candidates for other elective positions such as Prince Qudus Titilayo from Ijebu-Ode for the State House of Assembly and Julius Paseda from Ijebu North/Ifelodun constituency. Speaking on the Party programmes and policy, Prof Okowa said “as an avowed Awoist, the party believes in the philosophy and tested legacies of Late Chief Obafemi Awolowo. “The UPN is committed to go back to free education at the primary and secondary levels, free health services throughout and promotion of Agriculture by developing the rural areas where farming is naturally “Ogun State under UPN will seek to join the Federal government and other interested States in order to forge a grand policy to improve agriculture generally in the country and especially in our Sate. On the state of the Nation, the UPN national Chairman said “Nigeria as a third world has not been able to develop a system of government which we can trust and depend upon because of massive corruption in high places. If anyone is alleged being corrupt regardless of his position in public office, the alleged person should freely allow an enquiry to be done in order to establish the truth. He opined that “Nigerian political terrain is culturally a commercial space for the political elite made up of opportunist to promote corrupt ideas and behaviour. They steal and throw around free money which belongs to the tax payers because they occupy privileged elective or positions”. While identifying with the anti-corruption fight of the President, Professor Okowa said, “President Buhari is determined to purge the Nigeria elite political class of corrupt tendencies and practices. The so called democracy which we shout over our own heads is a phenomenal shield for elite thieves”. With President Buhari and his determined policy to wage unrelenting war on corrupt practices in public office, Nigeria will consequently be taken over by a new set of responsible political elite whose content of character will reflect honour, trust and a high degree of integrity that a developing African nation needs to grow”.