I have watched with dismay the shameless struggle for power among politicians in Kogi state since the unfortunate demise of our dear Prince Abubakar Audu. I was tempted severally to react but I cautioned myself to observe my mourning period.
From available information, Prince Audu died in the early hours of Sunday, 22nd November, 2015 probably before the collation of results commenced. News of his death was criminally concealed to enable foreign political schemers and their local collaborators create a state of confusion in our dear state.
Since the announcement by INEC that Kogi governorship election was inconclusive, a lot of criminal actions and reactions have been displayed by self-seeking politicians. Most of the agitations were geared towards political preservation and not driven by love for the state.
We were told that some characters attempted to replace Audu with his son thereby turning Kogi state into a fiefdom, it failed. Some muted the idea of replacing Audu with his popular in-law, Echocho, the kite refused to fly. All of a sudden, like a thunderbolt, the name of one Yahaya Bello propped up from foreign quarters and hell was let loose all over the state.
Yahaya Bello chanced all other local political schemers with his ability to manipulate national schemers and his choice is now being forced down our throats by these non-Kogites.
I understand the opposition to Yahaya Bello was not because of his tribe but largely because of his treachery. I learnt the Bello guy opposed Audu/Faleke ticket via frivolous petitions and when he failed to get Audu’s ticket through the back door, he mobilised all his supporters to vote for candidate of PDP, Mr Wada. The combination of Wada and Yahaya Bello failed to stop Audu’s momentum. It is another obvious fact that the Bello guy is political lilliputian. Information going around in the state suggests that Yahaya Bello and our President’s wife are close, very close friends. Someone even suggest that our President may have o suspend ongoing Dasuki probe and investigate the closeness.
I do not wish to spend much time on the character called Yahaya Bello but to state that Audu can only be truly immortalised via one action.
Audu was governor of Kogi state between 1999 and 2003. He was a member of ANPP, not the ruling PDP. During his second term election, the PDP allegedly used all nefarious means to rig Audu out and foisted Ibrahim Idris on hapless Kogites. The foreign intruders who foisted Ibrahim Idris on us were happy but Kogites were not happy.
Audu contested in 2007 and 2011 but the same PDP elements denied him victory through their usual fraudulent means.
This year 2015, the relentless Prince Audu contested again and as God Almighty will have it, PDP was no longer in control of rigging machinery. PVCs and card readers were used and peoples’ votes counted across the 21 LGAs in the state. The choice of Kogi people was very clear to all and sundry. We want Audu, we voted for Audu and we won.
The truth is that Prince Abubakar Audu won November 21, 2015 governorship election in Kogi State. Unfortunately, our dear Prince died before the announcement of results but alas, the perennial enemies of Kogi state came in like vultures to rob Audu of his final glory. They robbed him while he was alive in 2003, 2007, 2011 and now, without conscience, want to rob him again in death! It is inhuman! It is criminal! It is satanic!
The only way to truly immortalise Audu is to declare him winner of November 21 governorship elections! Don’t be deceived, naming Kogi State University after Audu is non-negotiable but that is a mockery if INEC and the powers that be refuse to declare Audu winner of November 21 governorship elections!
These impostors and cruel foreign intruders did same to late MKO Abiola who today is referred to as ‘presumed winner of June 12, 1993 presidential election’ and not the actual winner of the said election. You will recall that a former president tried to insult Abiola recently by naming Unilag after him. The mockery did not fly.
The only way to immortalise Prince Abubakar Audu is to declare him winner of the November 21 governorship elections!
The spirit of Prince Audu Abubakar will continue to haunt and humiliate everyone involved in this satanic ploy until they declare him winner of November 21 governorship elections!
- Ojonugwa Adamu
