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The Association of South East Town Unions (ASETU), has said it would allow Nigerians make an informed choice on which of the presidential candidates to vote for devoid of tribal and cheap considerations, before announcing its preferred candidate.
It, however, urged the army of Nigerian youths to back any candidate that they know would protect their interest as they stand to either benefit most or suffer heavily from the outcomes of the elections.
This formed part of the communique of ASETU’s quarterly meeting held in Enugu, where the group took a holistic assessment of the political development in Nigeria.
In the communique issued by the National President, Chief Emeka Diwe, yesterday, the Igbo Town Unions expressed satisfaction with the level of political consciousness so far shown by Nigerians towards the 2023 Presidential election, and the other elections that will follow thereafter.
It called on Nigerians to desist from approaching the forthcoming presidential poll with tribal sentiments and primordial interest, but to evaluate the candidates from the point of antecedence, performance, integrity, justice, equity, track-record, and deliverable ability.
In addition, ASETU noted the unusual patriotic zeal of Nigeria youths with which they pursue the collective goal of taking back Nigeria from those who have held it captive for many years.
The association considered this a step in the right direction because “the youths are the greatest stakeholders in Nigeria project, they will become the greatest beneficiaries if Nigeria becomes better and suffer the worst, if it collapses. It called on the youths of all vocation and professions, the foreman, the artisan, the traders, the civil servants, the police and military and paramilitary not to allow themselves to be used unduly against fellow youths. It noted that the youths are wiser and cannot be fooled all the time.
‘The Association therefore pledged its unflinching support to the lofty pursuit of the youths and vow to deploy every legitimate means at its disposal to ensure that the youths achieve their goals of enthroning good leadership for a better Nigeria.
‘It noted, however, that the youths must march their zeal with action by mobilizing for massive collection of their voters’ card and also come out enmase to vote on the election days.’
The group further lauded the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) for adopting the Bimodal Voters Accreditation System (BVAs), stressing that the system if well-managed, will go a long way in reducing rigging, over voting, ballot box stuffing and carting away, including checking other electoral fraud.
On the continued detention of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), Nnamdi Kanu, ASETU called on the federal government to release the self-determination activist as ordered by the Court of Appeal.
It condemned the Supreme Court option which the Federal Government has sought on the Kanu case, insisting that unconditional release of the IPOB leader, will calm tension in South East and restore relative peace.
