A northern group operating under the aegis of Unified Northern Nigeria Youth. Forum (UNNYF) has reacted to the governor of Ondo State, Rotimi Akeredolu’s call for immediate resignation of the Central Bank of Nigeria governor, Mr Godwin Emefiele for purchasing a N100 million presidential nomination form.

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The group in a statement on Saturday sent to CAPITAL POST contented that Ondo governor was intimidated because of Emefiele, stating that the Central Bank governor know what to do at the right time.

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The statement which was signed by the Convener, Mohammed Salihu Danlami argued strongly that power must rotate across the regions of the country in the spirit of fairness and equity, which demands that all citizens should work for the emergence of Mr Godwin Emefiele.

The group further confronted Akeredolu with facts and figures of how the South West has benefitted since the return of democracy, citing reasons the South East and South South should be supported ahead of 2023 general election.

The statement said: “The attention of the Unified Northern Nigeria Youth Forum (UNNYF) has been drawn to the statement credited to the Governor of Ondo State. Rotimi Akeredolu SAN, and some sponsored and ignorant people who are trying to undermine the credibility of the Central Bank of NIgeria (CBN) governor Dr Godwin Emefiele who has yet not decided to yield to numerus calls by Nigerians to contest for the president of Nigeria.

“We are particularly disappointed with the position of Governor Akeredolu SAN who should know better that power must rotate among all regions of Nigeria for equity, fairness and equal opportunities. He should have not wasted his time to openly challenge the CBN governor to resign knowing fully well that Dr. Emefiele knows what to do at the right time, except that in our opinion, he may be afraid of the candidacy of the CBN governor and for perhaps other sinister motives which could be his preference for a South West candidate.

“We wish to put it on record that the 23 years of return of democracy, the South West with just 6 states has president for 8 years, vice president going to 8 years, 2 Speakers of Federal House of Representatives.

“We urge Gov. Akeredolu to approach a competent court to challenge the CBN governor if he feels bordered about his candidacy. But let him and his likes know that every Nigerian has the right to contest for the highest position in the country.

“It would be recalled that UNNYF canvassed round the length and breath of this country in a clarion call on Dr Godwin Emefiele to contest 2023 presidency and Nigerians from all works of life added their voices to call him to contest, which he is yet to accept the call.

“We commend the Convener of the Green Alliance, Barr. Wale Fapounda who has come out to correct some misconceptions bandied in the public space concerning the presidential ambition of the current Dr. Godwin Emefiele.

“We concur with his position, when he said ‘One wonders where this is coming from as it seems that long absence from the practice of law has made the learned Senior Advocate grow rusty. The truth is that there is no provision of our law stopping Dr. Emefiele from seeking election into the office of the president while in office, provided he has not been disqualified by Section 137 of the 1999 CFRN as amended.

“Rather, the constitution has more than enough enabled him to do so in the exercise of his constitutional rights. A lot of these ignorance stems from the deliberate misinterpretation of Section 9 of the CBN Act.

“We wish to also call on one Femi Adeyeye National Publicity Secretary, African Action Congress (AAC) who called for the resignation of the CBN governor to tell their sponsors that such call is dead on arrival and their pay master should be communicated accordingly.

“We reiterate our commitment to the candidature of Dr Godwin Emefiele as the right candidate to fix Nigeria and call on all and sundry to support him for a better Nigeria.

“The 6th of May 2022, makes history in the political calender of our dear nation Nigeria, where a nomination and interest form has been picked for the man whom the cap fit so well. We want to sincerely thank the group that purchased thenforms for him immensely, truly, we salute their courage.

“Once again, we are calling on Dr Emefiele to kindly yield to the call of his people, accept this clarion call and contest for the highest office in the country. During our just concluded tour across the 19 Northern states meeting with various stakeholders, who gave their full supports and assurances, it became clear that today, no one individual is loved in Northern Nigeria like Dr Godwin Emefiele.

“He should therefore know that Nigerians are with him and want him to come out and contest.

“For us members of the Unified Northern Nigeria Youth Forum, this is a dream come true, and in this we find great satisfaction and even greater hope and aspirations for the future. Dr Emefiele’s should further demonstrate his patriotism and love for the masses by accepting to contest.

“For a good cause to thrive, there will be criticisms, some of which are on course and so many are distractions from enemies of our democracy fanning the embers of hate. At this Juncture, we wish to call on Dr Emefiele to disregard such nuisance been circulated in the media and focus on consolidating on the good he has started.

“Dr Emefiele has invested heavily in our region, and its time for us to pay him back, on this note, we are assuring him of our over 25 million votes from Northern Nigeria, because you have become one of us, a bonafide son of Northern Nigeria. We the Northerners love you as our own. This and a little of votes from the South will make him president as the required fraction as mandated by INEC will be met.

“For our democracy to continue evolving, APC should adopt Emefiele as their consensus candidate if he accept to contest or the 2023 election will suffer voters apathy and starvation.

“Certainly, Emefiele’s presidency will bring peace progress and prosperity to our nation, it’s time for a private sector player to steer the affairs of the country, to bring in fresh, innovative and working ideas, to achieve full and true diversification of our Economy.

“Let’s progress together, let’s work as a team to re-design and make a solid foundation for our country’s future generation. The time is now and no one can stop an idea whose time has come, Dr Emefiele is the man for the job.”

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