Kogi Elders Forum, an advisory body in Kogi State has raised alarm over the indiscriminate killings, political assassinations attempts, kidnapping and harassment of innocent citizens in Kogi State. The call followed the second assassination attempt on Senator Dino Melaye, the Senator representing Kogi West Senatorial District and the gruesome murder of a young pro-Dino’s protester.
The forum decried the glaring level of intolerance by political actors especially from the camp of Governor Yahaya Bello, especially his Chief of Staff who the group alleges has usurped leadership with every level of exuberant violence.
“The Governor is the Chief Security Officer. In his absence, the Deputy Governor takes charge. But in Kogi State, the case is different. The Chief of Staff to the Governor Edward Onoja has usurped the powers of both the Governor and the Deputy Governor. He calls the shot, arrests whoever he wants to, threatens who he feels is a political enemy and still claims innocent. Statements credited to Edward and his body language could plunge the volatile state into a bloody Confluence. Only God gives power. He chose to give power to Governor Yahaya Bello. He may choose as well to give it to another person. We are disheartened that security and quietude other States enjoy are beginning to elude us with the level of carnage we see day by day”.
A statement signed by the Protem member of the Group, Olarenwaju Olamilekan, obtained by LeadingReporters, the group frowned at the level of infringement and lawlessness on the part of the state government whose primacy to protect its citizenry is now eroded into mere politically motivated killings
The group drew the attention of the. Ag President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo to the level of security decadence and governance in Kogi State. The group asserted that funds meant to pay civil servants over 14 months salaries and pensions may have been plunged into political vendetta and fatal power tussle.
Olarenwaju said the events in the last few days particularly against the perceived enemies of the Governor and Pro Dino protesters give a clue to the level of bloodbath that may surface prior to the next election.
“A young boy was fatally shot today allegedly on the orders of the governor. Arming thugs in a once peaceful state is the height of wickedness on the part of any leader. It is archaic, unjustifiable, and irrational and needs the urgent attention of the Federal Authorities both at the Federal Executive and Legislative levels. To forestall total anarchy in our once peaceful state, we call on the Federal Government to set up commission of Inquiry into the incessant killings, political assassinations, kidnapping and untamed restiveness that have engulfed the State of recent. We further call on the Federal Government to ascertain the level of culpability of the governor’s political associates, aids, especially the Chief of Staff since previous events and statements credited to him do not portray the State in good light”.
Governor Yahaya Bello, according to the Elders Forum members has mobilized fake party members with over N1billion to recall Senator Dino Melaye whose only crime was engaging the Governor constructively on crucial issues bothering the state such as diversion of funds meant for workers Salaries and developmental project and other illegalities perpetrated in the State under Governor Bello’s watch.
“That a State that cannot pay its workers for over 15 months could consider it more expedient to sponsor the recall of a serving Senator whose only crime is that he called a spade by its name is laughable and a ridicule to sound leadership. For heaven’s sake, how can we leave the substance to pursue the shadow? How can a State Government leave the crucial side of leadership which is to provide for its citizenries developmental projects to begin on a wild chase of recalling a serving Senator like Dino”
The group frowned at the activities of some private armies recruited by the Governor from kogi central and led by a popular thug known as”Abdullahi Bello Dollar”, Special adviser on security matters, Jerry Omodara and the Lokoja Local Government Administrator whose activities is geared towards exterminating people tagged as enemies of the State Government.
Olamilekan expressed deep reservation on the level of degeneration of Kogi to a lawless State, pleading the Federal Government to take proactive actions to ensure that security of lives and properties are guarantee through declaring State of Emergency in Kogi State.
Credit: LeadingReporters
