Recent actions by Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, former governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the 2023 governorship election in Kogi state, has continued to generate ripples, particularly among his people in the eastern flank of the state.
Few months ago, Ajaka quietly returned to the All Progressives Congress (APC). Few days ago, he declared his interest to vie for the Kogi East senate ticket under same party. He disclosed this in a statement he personally signed last Friday.
Early on Monday, he addressed his supporters and apologized to the immediate past governor of the state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, and sought for reconciliation.
Reacting to the recent moves by Muri, a media analyst, public affairs commentator and former House of Representatives candidate for Dekina federal constituency, Hon Usman Austin Okai said, “Contesting an election is not a crime anywhere. Tendering an apology for running against Yahaya Bello’s favorite candidate in Kogi East is laughable, and Muritala Ajaka’s call for ‘peace’ in Kogi State is a misplaced priority.”
“The people have moved on; many who worked for Muri in 2023 have already gone their separate ways. I don’t know who he thinks he is addressing.
“Our support for him—and the votes he received—was a referendum against Yahaya Bello and his failed administration. We were looking for any alternative at all costs, and he happened to be available. It was a strategic calculation. I don’t see why Muritala would write such a lengthy letter and then block people from commenting on his Facebook page. Could it be that he knows his words will attract negative responses from the public? Muri should open his comment section and face the court of public opinion; it is a key element in democratic history.
“The more he (Muri) writes, the more he provokes people by reminding them of the past. Muri should enjoy his new ‘marriage,’ and leave us alone. This somebody who won an election, they stole it from you, and yet you are tendering an apology to the very person who took your mandate away. It’s like catching a man having an affair with your wife on your own matrimonial bed, and instead of responding in anger, you go to the kitchen to prepare him tea and bread to give him the energy to hit harder. I am ashamed to say the least.”
In his remarks, Jibrin Okutepa, a Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN) said, “It is sad and highly offensive to good conscience and senses to see Muri apologize to Yahaya Bello for the mandate freely given to him that was stolen. More painful and regretable is the fact that some of us offered our legal services pro bono which was never appreciated. It is sad that most of our politicians are not ready to stand for the people. It is sad.”
