GUARDIAN
A group of Nigerians living in United States of America, United Kingdom and many European countries has announced their acceptance of the outcome of the February 25 presidential poll that threw up the All Progressives Congress (APC) candidate, Bola Tinubu, as winner.
Under the aegis of the United Nigerians for True Federalism (UNTF), the group urged those aggrieved to explore the options of judicial interpretations.
The statement signed by the coordinator, Kenneth Friday, and made available to newsmen via email, asserted that acceptance of the poll outcome and support for the president-elect were important for the needed peace, prosperity and development of country.
Tinubu has been urged to be careful about the aspirant angling for the seat of the Senate President, to avoid backing anyone indicted for corrupt practices.
The counsel came from the Policy Advocacy and Integrity Network Nigeria, via a statement, yesterday, in Abuja.
The Executive Director, Josh Mesele, remarked that the advice became necessary in view of the invitation extended to one of the aspirants from the South by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to answer allegations of corruption.
The group noted: ‘We, at Policy Advocacy and Integrity Network Nigeria, think it is expedient to advise Tinubu to be wary of whom to support for the position of the presidency of the Senate or even the speakership of House of Representatives.
“This is to ensure that his administration does not take off with the blight of corrupt personalities in those high offices. If an aspirant is being invited here and there by the anti-corruption agencies, the onus is on such aspirant to get himself or herself exonerated before throwing hat into the ring. That is the correct moral step to take.”
Among those angling for the seat are Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom), Barau Jibrin (Kano), Sani Musa (Niger) andOrji Uzor Kalu (Abia).
Also, APC Integrity Group has begun series of consultations to avoid a replay of the acrimonious selection of floor functionaries that jolted the 8th National Assembly (NASS) in the forthcoming 10th plenary.
The action group within the APC said it has marshalled out some criteria to guide the selection of leaders of the two chambers of the National Assembly, particularly the Senate.
Briefing journalists in Abuja, yesterday, on some of the steps taken so far by the group, the National Coordinator, Dawu Mohammed, and Secretary, Chisom Nwakanma, spelt out party loyalty and robust knowledge of legislative business as key considerations.
The group explained that it had reached out to the APC leadership, including the Board of Trustees (BoT), the national chairman, and the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party on the issue.
