“Onoja has never hidden his hatred for Lokoja 1&2 Constituencies but the truth remains that no matter how he tries, he cannot suppress us. By 16th of November 2019 this yoke will be broken and we will one day be in charge,”
Some group leaders and groups on Tuesday lament over what they referred to as partial change of guards at the Kogi State House of Assembly leadership they complained over the recent development as Gov. Bello immorally excluded Lokoja / Kogi Federal Constituency, in the recent inauguration.
The group said the action, show how they’re betrayed by Bello, and the ruling party All Progressives Congress (APC).
They expressed their at Gov Yahaya Bello and his Chief of Staff’s failure to include lawmakers from Lokoja/Kogi federal constituency among the principal officers recently inaugurated despite the fact that the two local government areas are in the league of those that delivered votes for APC during last general elections in the state.
Governor Yahaya Bello had on Thursday inaugurated the 7th Assembly with the immediate past Speaker, Rt. Hon. Mathew Kolawole emerging as the Speaker against the wish and expectations of the people of Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency who felt they need to be rewarded for their unalloyed support for APC.
They opined that since the Okuns have commissioners for Finance and Agriculture alongside Secretary to the State Government, Lokoja 1 or 2 should in fairness, justice and equity be allowed to present the 7th Speaker.
According to a chieftain of APC, Hon. Abu Ismail; “how can the leadership of APC reward us with the position of Deputy speaker knowing fully well that Lokoja 1&2 Constituencies delivered to APC, while Kabba/ Bunu still remain a PDP stronghold.
“What parameters did the party used in excluding Lokoja from the mainstream,” he queried.
In separate reactions yesterday, some leaders of the party from the area declared that injustice against the people of Lokoja has taken the centre stage of state affairs under Gov Bello.
The President of Lokoja/Kogi advocacy for good governance, Comrade Ibrahim Haruna said the exclusion of a section of the state in governance is the “mother of all corruption.”
Haruna said that all well-meaning Kogites, especially the people of Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency, irrespective of their ethnic and other considerations, have been supportive of APC administration but wondered why the party leadership is waging war against a people whose votes brought them to power.
“But the truth is that corruption stares us in the face on a daily basis, especially with regards to exclusion and disregard to the plights of our people in a matter they are supposed to be key players. I don’t want to talk much, but that is my position. What we are seeing now is the mother of all battle against our people ,” he declared.
Also, the Chairman of Youths Action Congress, Mr Denja Niyi, said the Governor’s actions are fueling more agitations. He insisted that the exclusion of Lokoja 1 and 2 Constituencies from the mainstream of the Bello-led government “has created an opportunity for us to vote for an aspirant that’ll cater for the wellbeing of our people.”
Denja appealed to Bello to spread his appointments across the two Constituencies, adding that his lopsided appointments are not helping his people and the party.
A youth activist and APC chieftain, Comrade IU Lawal, while reacting to the emergence of Rt. Hon. Mathew Kolawole as the Speaker, said: “We were not in covenant with GYB, the struggle previously was to return President Muhammadu Buhari and our prospective candidates in APC and that was gladly achieved.
“In this spirit, I want to say categorically that our integrity is intact, and that, if Bello want to win next governorship election he knows what to do in his volition. We are realist with human compassion unpretentiously.”
He added that Bello knows that what he is doing is not helping his people, lamenting that “he has denied us vital positions. The only one that we hopefully thought is for us he gave it to Hon. Mathew Kolawole.”
Aminah Ali, who spoke to this reporter noted that: ” I don’t know what to say again because the leadership of APC has a mission and knows what they are doing. I thought the alarm we raised when Hon. Shiru Lawal and Hon. Ibrahim Adoga were unceremoniously removed by Chief Edward Onoja would have touched them and make them adjust but they are bent on having their way. It is unfortunate for this Party.”
A medical doctor who spoke with this reporter, but craved anonymity, described the lop-sidedness of appointments in APC, where Lokoja in particular was excluded, as a lesson for the people of Lokoja to rediscover themselves.
The medical practitioner attributed the scheming out of Lokoja indigenes from the mainstream of Kogi politics and lofty political appointments in Gov Bello’s administration is because their present politicians chose to play the second fiddle roles.
She stressed that until they rediscover themselves in pursuant of a defined political agenda for the Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency, they will continue to be neglected and relegated in the system, stating the attitude does not depict the political legacies of front line Lokoja politicians of 70’s/80s.
Similarly, the National President of Kogi/Koton Karfe Youth Volunteers, Comrade Ohinoyi Audu expressed disappointment in Bello’s style of appointment.
He stated that Governor Yahaya Bello had again reminded the people of Kogi/ Lokoja Federal Constituency that he is only pursuing a personal agenda and wondered why he takes delight in excluding the Lokoja/Kogi Fed. Constituency from the government they all laboured to install.
The KKUV helmsman said that Lokoja/ Kogi Federal Constituency youths has lost confidence in GYB because of his latest action which has further confirmed the suspicion that he hates the federal Constituency and Lokoja Local Government Areas in particular.
In his reaction, a rights activist, Barr. Adebayo Kola, described the Governor’s action as “very unfortunate and an aberration”.
He said it was a calculated attempt to sideline Lokoja 1 and 2 Constituencies from the scheme of things, adding that all of Bello’s appointments so far have been unbalanced and provocative.
“Onoja has never hidden his hatred for Lokoja 1&2 Constituencies but the truth remains that no matter how he tries, he cannot suppress us. By 16th of November 2019 this yoke will be broken and we will one day be in charge,” he said.
The Chairman of joint Action Committee For All Progressive Congress (JACFAPC) Lokoja LG, Comrade Abdullahi Ahmed Ibrahim said Bello’s marginalisation of Lokoja will continue to fuel the agitation for change come November 16, 2019 governorship poll.
He wondered why the the Governor and his Chief of staff would continue to marginalise the people of Lokoja in his appointments and policies and expect the people to vote for APC in the forthcoming governorship election.
Another politician, Mike Abraham, from Oworo ward, asserted that Governor Yahaya Bello and his Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja are not favourably disposed towards the our people.
“I am not surprised that they reappointed Kolawole as the Speaker at the expense of Lokoja 1or 2 Constituency. Our people are not in their agenda. All those clapping for the All Progressives Congress (APC) it is morning time for them, before evening comes he will send them packing,” he said.
Source: kogi report
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