DELTA CENTRAL SENATORIAL BYE-ELECTION – UPU Says it Has No Anointed Candidate……..Urge Urhobos to Vote According to their Conscience

By Francis Sadhere

URHOBO Progress Union (UPU), had said that it had no anointed candidate for the October 12, 2013 Delta Central Senatorial District Bye-election, with a call on Urhobos to “shine their eyes” and make the right choice.

Addressing a press conference yesterday, the President General of UPU, Major General Patrick Newton Aziza (Rtd), urged all eligible and registered voters to turn out en-masse and vote for a candidate of their choice and wait till their votes were counted by INEC.

While saying that certain standards and expectations from an “Urhobo Senator” had been set by the late Senator Pius Ewherido, the UPU President General implored the people to make a wise choice of a candidate that will carry the aspirations of the Urhobo people back to Abuja for the remaining one and half years of the legislative session.

Speaking further at the press conference that was well attended by Executive members UPU, the President General stated that the Campaigns had been very orderly and peaceful and should continue to remain so till the election was peacefully and diligently concluded.

He appealed to INEC officials that they should strive and do everything possible to promote peaceful elections by adhering strictly to one man, one vote, and by allowing people’s votes to count in order to ensure a peaceful, free and credible election in Urhobo land.

He said; “I wish to use this opportunity to remind my people that this coming election is about you and your families. Therefore as you head for the polls on that day, please bear in mind that in the election: All contestants are all Urhobo sons and daughter and therefore, it is a contest of Urhobo vs Urhobo.”

“I wish also to appeal to all the Political Parties to ensure fair play during the election, particularly when contestants are Urhobo vs Urhobo; and let us give opportunity to our people to make their best choice of candidate to represent them. We have observed and experienced in the past two years that whenever people are allowed to make their best choice of candidate, the candidate will always be more committed and answerable to his people; aspiring to improve the living standards of his people. Let majority choice prevail in this election!!!,” he stated.

According to him also; “I wish every Urhobo sons and daughters to remember the popular Urhobo adage that translate to; “If one stays too long in darkness, that individual will start to see clearly in the darkness. Urhobos, therefore shine your eyes and make the right choice” in this bye-election.”

Stating further, he said; “I wish to formally address our eminently qualified contestants; to restrain their wards from breaking the electoral laws during this October elections. We must not do anything that is capable of breaking the peace or causing rancor and acrimony amongst our people; because the Urhobo people cannot afford to lose sight of the bigger picture for 2015.”

“The real umpires of this contest are the Urhobo people themselves; guided by INEC, and let all of us prove to Nigerians and to the entire world, that the Urhobo people love themselves, are civilized democrats and are peace loving people. Remember that elections will come and go, but the Urhobo nation will remain,” he added.

The UPU President General also reminded the Urhobo people that their choice in the October 12 bye-election will affect the progress of the entire Urhobo people and others doing businesses in the Delta Central Senatorial District, including the future of their children and children’s children yet unborn.