…..insists it’s a good anti-corruption policy’
A former National Chairman of the Peoples Democratic Party, and National Technical Adviser to the party’s Presidential campaign, Prince Uche Secondus, has commended members of the National Council of States for their statesmanly decisions on critical issues before the country, particularly the forthcoming general elections and the redesigning of the national currency.
Prince Secondus said in a statement at the weekend that the redesigning of the national currency was good for the country’s economic growth and for tackling corruption in our system.
He said that those who are opposed to the currency redesign have ulterior motives that are not unconnected with corrupt planned activities before and after the general elections.
Prince Secondus alleged that some politicians have stockpiled billions of old naira notes in their homes with which to induce and compromise, the electorates, electoral officers, security, and the judiciary during and after the polls during the election.
The former PDP boss said that the forthcoming election should be a referendum on the eight-year rule of the ruling APC as he warned the electorate to be weary of the sweet-tongued politicians promising to provide what they cannot offer to the masses.
He asked Nigerians to support the President Muhammadu Buhari in his desire to rid the country of election riggers and corrupt politicians.
According to him, “If there is any policy of President Buhari that deserves to be supported, it is the new naira policy. Though we all know that the President has not done well since he assumed office, the idea behind the new naira policy deserves to be supported.
“It will rid the country of corruption because those who use cash to bribe voters will not be allowed to do so. Then, the policy will also help the banks to trace the movement of money from different accounts.
“We should all be ready to sacrifice now for our tomorrow’s benefit. If there are no pains, there will not be any gain. I know that there are pains out there concerning the policy as is expected of new policies.
“We should not think that the politicians who have refused to speak on fuel scarcity before, strikes by university lecturers, high cost of living, non-payment of salaries as at when due, lack of electricity, and others that are talking now are friends of Nigerians. They are not. They are merely protecting their interests and that of their political parties, which is not in the interest of the country.”
Secondus,who said in advanced countries there is a limit to cash withdrawal an individual and companies could make from banks, also appealed to Nigerians to embrace e-banking.
He expressed optimism that the PDP Presidential flag bearer, Atiku Abubakar stands out in experience and other factors with his wide network to win this election and wondered why the APC candidate, Asiwaju Bola Tinubu with all the obvious incapacity and incapabilities, is still struggling to be in the race instead of bowing out honourably.
“It’s very obvious to even APC diehards that they are not in the race at the Presidential level unless they choose to keep deceiving themselves. The contest is clearly between Atiku and Obi of the Labour Party as Tinubu is conspicuously out of it, no matter how his spine doctors pretend.”
The former party chairman finally urged Nigerians to protect their votes in the forthcoming elections, saying it would be unpardonable for them to allow those “who have made it miserable for us to return to power this year.”
