By Joseph Edegbo
An Elder Statesman and Chairman, Kogi East Elders Council, Chief Gabriel Yakubu Aduku, has said that the November 11, 2023 Governorship election in Kogi State is not only sensitive, but something of great concern in view of the current level of insecurity in the State.
Chief Aduku who was speaking with newsmen in Kaduna at the weekend, noted with dismay that the insecurity that gripped Kogi State a few years back has escalated in recent times resulting in violence and destruction of lives and property.
Arc (Chief) GY Aduku
The Elder Statesman stated that while many people had hoped that Alhaji Yahaya Bello whose emergence as Governor was by divine providence, would usher in positive revolution in Kogi State, the reverse was regretably the case.
” Since the current leadership came into Government, the State has not enjoyed peaceful election as there has been one form of attack or the other here and there. It pains some of us, because we cannot go into election with fear. Election is supposed to be a peaceful action”.
The former Minister of State for Health, therefore, challenged both the Kogi State Government and security agencies to rise to the occasion by halting the trend as no peaceful or credible election could take place in a toxic environment characterized by violence and threat to lives and property.
With regards to the Kogi East Senatorial District, Chief Aduku who said that the zone is a very large geographical area endowed with a huge population of peace- loving, humble and disciplined people, however, lamented that even with such demographic and related advantages, Kogi East has not been fairly treated by the Governor, a situation he said, calls for great concern.
He reminded Governor Yahaya Bello that while it was his prerogative to support whoever he wanted as successor, it was wrong of him or anybody, to humiliate or out-muscle other contestants from exercising their democratic right of flying the flag of political parties of their choice.
Haven frowned at past politically motivated killings and destruction of lives and property in the State, Chief Aduku said “enough of what has happened before now” and stressed the need to allow people to vote for leaders of their choice without let or hindrance.
He enjoined the people of Kogi East in particular, to forge a common front in the runoff to the November election, asserting that they have the population advantage to enthrone a Governor that would guarantee their security and provide good governance in Kogi State.
