By Victor Young
Nigeria Union of Petroleum and Natural Gas Workers, NUPENG and it’s counterpart, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, PENGASSAN, Thursday, expressed excitement over the reelection of President Muhammadu Buhari for a second term of four years.
In a joint statement by the two unions, they contended that with the reelection of the President, the focus should now be on the rehabilitation of the public refineries instead of the clamour for their sale by some sections of the political class.
The statement by Prince Williams Akporeha and Francis Johnson, President of NUPENG and PENGASSAN respectively, congratulated President Buhari on his re-election, saying: “We commend the INEC and the electorate as adjudged by both foreign and local observers on the peaceful, fair and very transparent overwhelming endorsement of President Buhari by the Nigerian people as a testimony to the belief, confidence and faith the vast majority of Nigerians have in the personality, integrity, and forthrightness of the President in placing the larger interests of the Nigerian nation above selfish and primordial sentiments.
“In the same spirit, we urge all Contestants and Politicians in the Country to imbibe and demonstrate good spirit of sportsmanship in the overall interest of our country, by being magnanimous in victory through hands of fellowship to others and gracious in defeat by accepting the outcome of the elections without creating further crisis through any means to engender confidence and stability for the growth and development of our country.
“NUPENG and PENGASSAN will also not renege in continuing to cooperate and work assiduously with the administration of President Buhari’s government during his second term in his determined efforts to diversify our economy and optimally rehabilitate our refineries as being exhibited by the NNPC management and staff to reinforce and consolidate on the gains of all wonderful socio/economic and political initiatives, policies and programmes for the interest of the Nigerian masses.
”It is our hope that the positive trends that we have observed during this election will be sustained and further improved during future elections for enduring Political stability of our country.”