The National Chairman united progressive party (UPP) Chief Chekwas Okorie, has vowed that his party will throw its full weight behind the declaration of an anti- graft war in the country, by the President -Elect, Gen. Muhammadu Buhari.
Okorie who was also UPP’s Presidential candidate In the March 28 Presidential poll, paid a courtesy visit to the National Secretariat of the APC in Abuja on Wednesday where he made it Clare that both himself and his party, are in support of the posture by the APC led administration to recover monies pilfered from the country’s coffers, adding that those who have clear conscience should fear no accusations.
He said officials of the outgoing Peoples Democratic Party (PDP )led administration who have no skeleton in their cupboard, have no reason to nurse the fear that they could be persecuted under the Buhari led administration.
According to him, ” In the course of the elections, we had good affinity in the contentious issues of the use of card readers and the PVC. We stood our ground as progressives. We are also on the same page with the APC in the area of anti corruption crusade. Just as they say ‘bring back our girls’, we also join you in saying “bring back our stolen money”. It should not be misunderstood for witch-hunting. I recall that when we were growing up, we were told that a man with clear conscience fears no accusation. We are partners in progress. If for any reason, you need our support, we would do it in the most democratic manner.”
Okories who led members of the national working committee (NWC) to the parley ruled out the possibility of collapsing the UPP into the APC. Recalling how the UPP took sides with the APC on the usage of the card reader and the permanent voters card ( PVC) in the build -up to the just concluded general elections, he reiterated the desire by the UPP to join all progressive forces to strengthen democracy in the polity.
While extending a hand of fellowship to the APC as partners in progress, he remarked that but for the purposeful leadership under the leadership of Chief Odigie-Oyegun, the APC would not have achieved victory at the poll.
Deputy national chairman South, chief Segun Oni who stood in for Odigie-Oyegun expressed gratitude to the UPP chiefs for their visit assured that there would be no room for impunity under an APC led administration.
Saying the opposition is required for democracy to thrive reiterated the desire by the APC to usher in an era of progress and development in Nigeria.