HEDA Lauds US Interests In Ekiti, Osun Guber Polls.

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Human & Environmental Development Agenda (HEDA Resource Centre) has lauded the United States Embassy for its interest in the forthcoming Ekiti and Osun States gubernatorial elections.

The Independent National Electoral Commission(INEC) will conduct governorship elections in the two states later this year.

HEDA’s applause came on the heel of the visit of the Political and Economic Chief of the U.S Embassy in Nigeria, Brandon Hudspeth, to the Osun State governor, Adegboyega Oyetola, in Osogbo where he (Hudspeth) affirmed that he was hopeful to see credible polls with a pledge to work with the states’ governments to ensure free, fair and creditable outcome from the exercise. Hudspeth further said the team would visit security officials, civil societies and other stakeholders before the poll to ensure all critical stakeholders are on the same page following the elections. 

Hudspeth said, “The reason why we are here is because of the forthcoming election in Osun State in 2022. We hope that the election will be free and credible because there are expectations within and outside this country over the forthcoming elections in these States. Our expectation is that the elections should be fair and credible. We are partners with Nigeria to ensure free and credible elections. “We are meeting with you as the first citizen of the state and our officials will also meet security officials, civil societies and other stakeholders. We will be in the state for the next couple of months. We are ready to work with you for a free and credible election in 2022 in this state,” he maintained. 

Chairman of HEDA, Olanrewaju Suraju commended the U.S Embassy delegation and urged other foreign governments through their embassies in Nigeria to follow suit by deploying every necessary resource and mechanism that would guarantee peaceful and credible polls in both Ekiti and Osun States. 

“We appreciate the U.S Embassy’s interest in the Ekiti and Osun States gubernatorial and by extension elections in different states of the Federation. We encourage other foreign embassies to emulate the U.S embassy in this regard, all we need is all hands to be on deck to see those elections free from bloodshed, assault and other forms of abuses,” The US government was further implored to note those behind political offences during the elections for appropriate visa bands and other punitive measures permissible within the US legal and diplomatic system. 

Suraju challenged political stakeholders across the board to play by the rules and respect the laws guiding the electoral process, saying elections would come and go but the memories people create remain. 

“Thus, it’s ideal for everyone no matter the interest involved, to respect the sanctity of life and remain sacrosanctity of the Supreme laws of electioneering. “Everyone, irrespective of diverse interests must as a matter of duty play by the rules. We must not bend the law to please anyone. The electorates, they must stand tall and oppose anyone who wants to buy over their conscience. 

The past mistakes that ushered in incompetent leaders across the board today are enough lessons to trigger eligible voters to make wiser choices and decisions, it’s high time the people wearer the ultimate (good governance that engenders Socio-economic and Political growth, development and sustenance) and do away with the mundane immediate gratifications which politicians and their agents dangle before Citizens during elections,” he implored.  

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