President of Unuedo Renaissance, a pan-Edo State association of professionals in Nigeria and the diaspora, Mr. Nuhu Yakubu, has enjoined Nigerians, particularly Edo people, to take full advantage of the forthcoming general election cycle.
This, he said, is possible if all eligible voters participate actively, and vote wisely in the Presidential and National Assembly elections of February 25; as well as the governorship and state houses of assembly on March 11, 2023.
Thereafter, Yakubu urged the electorate to hold their elected representatives accountable over the next four years, benchmarking their performance against the 17 United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
A statement by Dr. Celey Okogun, Publicity Secretary of Unuedo, quoted Mr. Yakubu as recalling that the goals focus “on jobs for Edo people, affordable primary healthcare, good roads, security of lives and properties, guaranteed rights and freedom for our people and lots more!”
The statement also announced plans by Unuedo to capitalize on key milestones to drive home its good governance advocacy anchored on its assessment of SDGs projected for 2030, in what it code-named Edo Desires Ideal Better Life (EDIBLE), over the next 50 months.
EDIBLE, the association continued, simply “means food on the table, jobs for Edo people, affordable primary healthcare, good roads, security of lives/properties, guaranteed rights/freedom from government intimidation and more.”
Specifically, it said EDIBLE is about eliminating poverty, erasing hunger; ensuring good health and well-being; providing quality education; enforcing gender equality; providing clean water and sanitation; affordable and clean energy; as well as creating decent work and driving economic growth.
Others, it stressed, include increasing industry, innovation, and infrastructure; reducing inequality; mobilizing sustainable cities and communities; influencing responsible consumption and production; organizing climate action; developing life below water; advancing life on land; guaranteeing peace, justice, and strong institutions; in addition to building partnerships for the goals.
In an intriguing co-incidence, Unuedo said the target for attaining the SDGs of 2030- just eight years away, is also the termination of the second term (2023 – 2027 and 2027 – 2031) of Nigeria’s next administration.
There is no better time than now, it continued, for Unuedo Renaissance to start the advocacy project, as it will allow the measurement of the gains by the Edo State against global standards.
Consequently, Mr. Yakubu said the association will “embark on educating Edo people on their rights and obligations within the Nigerian Nation as enshrined in the Constitution, while also demanding a re-orientation that upholds ethical values and morals that Edo people have become famous for, over the centuries!”
Various literatures on these subjects, the President assured, “will be made available in due course.
