Kogi Election: ‘FG must act fast now—Says group —–alligations are baseless– govt

THE Kogi Youth Alliance has called on President Muhammadu Buhari to act fast and curb the increasingly loud indications of worsening impunity and looming anarchy as Kogi state prepares for the November 16 Governorship elections.
In a swift reaction, the state government said allegations made against them by the group are baseless.
This was contained in a press statement issued on Thursday by the group which copy was made available to newsmen in Lokoja.
According to the group, tension is being further stoked in the state by allegations that Governor Yahaya Bello’s meeting with 67 chiefs and traditional rulers from Okun (Yoruba-speaking) areas of the state at Lugard House on Sunday, 30th September, 2019 included three major threats of impunity.
The statement signed by the trio of Ade Onemola, Idowu Ipinmisho and Arome Idachaba who represented the state’s three senatorial zones, they urged Kogi state citizens to remain calm and sustain peace in the face of intense unholy provocations by some politicians.
The statement read thus, “From what we are hearing, the governor is asserting confidence about influencing the judiciary to foreclose and possibility of victory for Senator Dino Melaye towards replacing him with his current campaign chief whom he plans to later install as Senate President.
“We also understand that he boasts of removing the the DG of PDP’s governorship campaign, Honourable Teejay Yusuf, a popular grassrrots politician who is much loved by a clear majority of Okun people of Kogi state from the House of Representatives through same tactic.
“While no invitation had ever been sent for President Buhari to come and commission any project in Kogi state during Governor Bello’s tenure, suffering has reached its worst extent and citizens are wondering what mystery has been consuming billions of statutory allocations.  
“In a letter to President Buhari published in Thisday newspaper of February 28, Prince Mustapha Audu noted that ‘Our state, Kogi State witnessed perhaps the most unsavoury turn of events especially during the presidential and federal legislative elections because of the violence witnessed across the state, this surge of violence is a memento that harkens back to our nation’s darkest days of electoral violence and malpractices’.
 “The experience of Friday February 15, 2019, when hooded thugs encircled the GRA, Lokoja home of former Governor Ibrahim Idris, while he was hosting the cream of the leadership of the Peoples’ Democratic Party, PDP, in the state, is very instructive; a phone call from Gen Tunde Ogbeha to the Commander, Command Army Records, Lokoja, saved the day and it was reported that the masked hoodlums casually strolled into Government House, Lokoja, through the rear access gate.
“The situation in Kogi state, the boast about being able to wantonly influence the outcome of judicial decisions and other evolving threats point to the possibility of disorder and violence if these foretold threats manifest and provoke populist uproar,” the Kogi Youth Alliance warned.
However in a swift reaction, the state government said allegations made against them by the group are baseless.
The Director General Media and Publicity, Mr. Kingsly Fanwo while reacting to the alligations noted that allegations are baseless and unfounded, it is a faint voice of a sinking gong.
“The lower tribunal has nullified the election and the judgement was sound and based on points of law.
Dino Melaye should face his appeal and stop crying foul.
“He went to appeal and has possibly lost faith in his own case. He is free to withdraw his appeal if he wants to throw in the towel voluntarily.
“The Governor respects the Traditional institution and they also love him, reason they recently gathered to endorse his second term for strengthening the traditional institution in the state.