Kogi Patriotic Forum, a non-governmental organization ( NGO) has called on all teachers and local government workers in Kogi state not to trade with their present and future destinies by accepting the deputy governorship candidate of Hon. Ahmed Usman Ododo in person of one Joel Salifu from Ofu LGA of the state.
The National President of the Forum, Comrade Onimisi Samuel made the call after the unveiling of Mr. Joel Salifu as the deputy governor to the All Progressives Congress (APC) which was presented by the governor Alh. Yahaya Bello at Glass House , Government House, Lokoja over the weekend.
Comrade Onimisi while addressing members of the press stated that the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello in conjunction with Ododo and Joel Salifu the then state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers in the state have been paying percentage salaries to teachers and local government workers since the inception of this administration since 2016 till date despite huge allocation coming to the state.
The statement added that the All Progressives Congress ( APC) governorship candidate, Hon. Ahmed Usman Ododo was the auditor general of local government that supervised the percentage salaries and reduction of local government workers and teachers in the state, an act that has sent thousands of the said workers to an untimely deaths and their families and other dependents are left to suffer abject poverty while the teachers union under the leadership of Comrade Joel Salifu looks at different directions as he usually smiles to the bank at the end of every month at the expense of thousands of workers thathe took an oath to protect and preserve against any negative inhuman policies of the state government.
He further stated that, there should be an end to a bad era which has no regard to human existence, but only thinking of what is their benefits and that of their families and for the governor to unilaterally give the ticket of the deputy governor to one of them who supervised the dehumanization of the local government workers and teachers is an insult on the sensibility of the good people of the state whose families are majorly affected by the percentage salaries.
To pay back their evil deal Kogites must file out in their numbers to reject Ododo and Joel at the polls come 11th November, 2023.
He emphasized that ,gone are the days that right and privileges of teachers and local government workers were trampled upon, adding that, if the teachers and local government staff know what is good for them is to reject the candidacy of Ododo/ Joel Salifu for total liberation of the state and its people from third term agenda of Governor Bello who has vowed to do anything to ensure Ododo covers him after his exist.
Comrade Onimisi further posited that, Joel Salifu should tell the public and the general public some of his achievements in office as NUT state chairman and he should tell the public what the government of Alh. Yahaya Bello has done in Ofu LGA where he comes from, if not he should bury his head in shame.
It’s obvious that the good people of Kogi State have rejected the third term ambition of Bello by the growing popularity of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) candidate, Alh Murtala Yakubu Ajaka and his Deputy Hon. Sam Abenemi whose time can be described as a movement for the liberation of the state which led to the attack on them at Nataco area of Lokoja while coming to the city after the successfully paying homage to the Ohimege Igu of Koton Karfi Kingdom, an act that is condemned by well meaning Nigerians.
He advised governor Bello not to murder democracy in the state, but allow peaceful campaign during the 2023 governorship election as there is always an end to every existence either good or bad and everyone should be ready to be accountable to God almighty that gives power.
The leadership of Uja’Ache greatly condemns the event of Saturday, where SDP Governorship Candidate, Alh. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka Muri escape death by wisker at Banda village, the vicinity of Lokoja Kogi State.
The Coordinator of Uja’Ache Rights Organization, Alh. Idris Iyede made the condemnation in a press statement released by the organisation in Lokoja, the state capital.
“We are greatly stunned by the event of Sunday, where SDP Governorship Candidate, Alh. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka Muri escape death by hairs breath at Banda village, the vicinity of Lokoja Kogi State”.
“The leadership of Uja’Ache Rights Organization (URO) holistically condemn the alleged attack on Alh.
Murtala Yakubu Ajaka Muri, the SDP candidate for the November 11th Governorship election in Kogi State by the agents of State government who were out to abort his thank you tour to traditional rulers and party leadership in Kogi State”.
The attack which was orchestrated to abort the mission of a people centered SDP Candidate on a thank you tour to state traditional rulers and party leadership in the present of the state Governor, was a demonstration of utmost cawordice and laying of landmane for political tension in Kogi State ahead of November 11 election.
Uja’Ache Organisation he noted, is demanding an immediate investigation by a crack team of Federal Investigation Bureau under President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to bring these perpetrators to Justice and nib in the bud, future occurency of this dastardly act.
URO recalls with nustalgia, the alleged ignominious state attack too many, perpetrated on the likes of Sen. Dino Melaye, Bar. Natasha Akpoti Uduagha among others, all at previous electoral seasons and has become a recurrent decimal at the build up of another but crutial election for the state.
He reiterated that any barbaric afront by an individual actor if allowed to remain a recurrent decimal without ceasation, would amount to a declaration of war on the state, as injustice in one place is an injustice everywhere.
“Election has always being a means of struggle for political power to render service to the electorates, bringing robust dividends of democracy and justice to the doorstep of individual and people of the state and any attempt to misconstrue it to war of attrition, rascality and arrogance in governance, poses security threat to Nigeria Democracy.
The confluence state of Kogi had been dignified and reputed a peaceful state since it’s creation on 2021 with ‘equity’ as epicentre of it’s governance but this tragetry changed as soon as power changed hands in 2015, and is regretful”.
URO strongly appeal to the good ears of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Kogi chapter, Security Agencies not to succumb to the antics of state leadership or give room to the repeatation of painful orgy of manslaughter and rosting of a PDP woman leader in Ochadamu in Ofu LGA in 2019 governorship election, as such re-occurence could set the state in flame.
It also calls on the peace loving people of Kogi State and particularly, Kogi Central to collectively condemn the acrimony and seed of discord being entrenched in our governance in the last seven years, and instead, promote brotherhood, as one good turn deserves another.
URO also urges all supporters of Murtala Yakubu Ajaka in Kogi State and his kinsmen to remain calm like their principal, who proclaim of being on mission to rescue Kogi State.
