It is widely believed Igalamela/Odolu has being under the strong grip of opposition People’s Democratic Party (PDP) since 1999. And that the Local Government Area has been impenetrable for other parties. However, the tide changed in favour of APC during the recently conducted Presidential and National Assembly elections. I want to tell the whole world this statement or view is absolutely untrue, unfounded and baseless. For the simple reason that the will of the people has not being subverted for selfish gain.
I feel perturbed by the predicaments surrounding the conduct of the just concluded presidential election in Igalamela/Odolu LG and have to write this piece.
Election in aforementioned local government will go down in the annals of history as the most dishonest and rigged electoral process witnessed by the people. The memory of growing cacophony of voices from sporadic gun shots at the polling units, hoodlums roaring here and there, cultist and thugs, miscreants under the guise of political appointees is enough evidence to upturn the election to a fraudulent one.
The incarceration and intimidation of persons in the opposition is nothing but a charade and electoral rigging in disguise.
The abduction of Kogi State House of Assembly (KSHA) member representing Igalamela/Odolu Constituency, Elder Friday Sani Paul (Makama) on the way to exercise his civic responsibility is absurd. It took the grace of men of Nigeria Navy and youths to foil the plot amidst exchange of stray bullets.
The sporadic shooting brought to an abrupt end not only the conduct of election at Odolu but the life of the innocent, defenseless ebullient young man Adebayo Musa. Adebayo died from the stray bullet he could not imagine before heading to the polling unit to exercises his franchise on that fateful day.
A private car owned by Muhammed Musa an uncle to the deceased parked at Odolu Police station was vandalized beyond recognition. You can imagine lawlessness taking too far to a police station.
The kidnap of Elder Friday Makama is synonymous with the abduction of rule of law, fair play and justice at the home front democracy.
The tantrum thrown around by government paid kidnappers to abduct, possibly kill a politically exposed person in PDP like Makama is a show of shame to the APC led administration. A focused leader has no plan of action to dehumanized fellow human being but poverty.
The activities of Rilwan Inuwa, the Local Government Council Secretary, to chase people to the bush, cart away electoral materials to unknown locations for multiple thumb printing before returning to base with impunity beats my imagination. Evidence abound in the number of time Rilwan Inuwa invaded Ajodawn, Ikefi, Okula, Ameji, Ohiame, Ugbedomagu and destroyed ballot boxes, yet a winner emerged! In fact there were over nine (9) polling unit where election did not hold and so on.
Igalamela/Odolu LG is blessed with avalanches of home grown politician, grassroot advocates and thought leaders. The local government has a principle not to entertain political officer who cannot mention at least five villages or community within the suburb of Ajaka. A political officer who has no personal building in the local government should not be allowed to contest in any position. Because he or she will make away with the people’s benefit leaving the grassroot in abject penury. Evidence abounds!
The finesse to ensure equitable distribution of dividend of democracy to every nook and cranies of the local government is not lacking since 1999. This account for why the people maintained their stands with the truth, protect and preserve it without fear of the unknown.
From genesis to revelation, God has being using one man to change the course of human being history positively. Certainly, not in a dubious and malicious way currently experienced. If there is voice like Nelson Mandela, there must be a voice like Dino Melaye in Kogi State. If there is a voice for the voiceless like Martin Luther Jnr, there must be a voice like Elder Friday Sani Paul Makama. There is nothing anybody can-do about it. The will and mandate of the people will prevail someday no matter how governance, the electoral process and result is padded, mutilated and cut, laced and tailored to fit marauders and vampire’s interest.
– Inah Stephen writes from Ajaka, Igalamela/Odolu
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