As the September 21st governorship election in Edo State draws nearer, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) and former Chairman of the Edo State Media and Publicity Directorate, APC Presidential Campaign Council, Mr John Mayaki, has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, to continue to show leadership and make Nigeria an abiding model of democracy by not interfering in the conduct of the election.
Mayaki said this call became necessary due to the antecedents of Mr President as a pro-democracy activist and his stance on the recently conducted election in the United Kingdom, where Mr President congratulated the Labour Party’s ‘ability to reform, mobilise, and position itself for victory after 14 years,’ clearly affirming the leadership qualities of Mr Starmer.
Mayaki called on the president to advise the leadership of the party in Edo State to ‘reform, mobilise, and position itself for victory,’ rather than depending on the presidency and other anti-democratic elements to rig their way into Government House in Edo state.
He said, “The APC candidate must show leadership by leading from the front. He must be encouraged to speak to the people since he’s the one seeking the position of leadership—this responsibility has been abdicated by our candidate, Senator Monday Okpebholo in several occasions.
“I was disappointed yesterday when I watched videos from the visit of leaders from Edo State to Mr President when the candidate himself intentionally avoided journalists, leaving other party leaders to address the press. This isn’t the first time—when the Senate President hosted party leaders of the South-South region to mobilise support for candidate Monday Okpebholo, not a word was heard from him, let alone a vote of thanks. There are several other instances where the candidate has bungled his own chances to sell himself but expecting victory in the September 21st election.
“Mr President Sir, you recently congratulated the citizens and the government of the United Kingdom, describing the Kingdom as an abiding model of democracy and Nigeria’s long-standing partner. Kindly continue to show this in Nigeria and in the various states without necessarily interfering in the elections, just as in Bayelsa among others.
“For us to ensure the continuing strengthening of our democratic institutions and to build a safer and more prosperous future for the people of this country, Mr President must insist on free and fair elections in all the sub-regional governments. He must encourage the candidate of the party to maintain the front row, show leadership, and stop waiting for the presidency and Abuja to railroad him into office as Governor of Edo State,” Mayaki advised.
