The litany of apologies tendered by Gov. Nasir El-Rufai, Mrs. Aisha Buhari and other prominent members of the All Progressives Congress at the party’s final campaign rally yesterday in Lokoja, Kogi State ahead of the November 16 governorship election which comes up tomorrow, were clear indications that Governor Yahaya Bello is a huge disappointment to both the party and young Nigerians.
Speakers at the event struggled hard to market governor Bello to the people. Even political orators and gifted men of the garb within the party had intermittent verbal seizures as they searched hard for tangible projects executed by Bello to talk about. Even people like governor Nasir El-rufai of Kaduna state who made spirited efforts to sell Bello became tongue tied in the middle of his speech that he had to publicly go down on his knees to ask for forgiveness on behalf of Governor Bello.
It was such a huge embarrassment for top party member men and women who thronged the Lokoja Township Stadium for the rally as they saw deprivation, starvation, poverty and hunger on the faces of Kogites who were given peanuts to fill up spaces at the stadium.
As usual, Governor El-Rufai was true to himself and never made effort to dress governor Bello in the borrowed robes of a performer or achiever. He openly admitted that his partyman performed far below expectation and apologetically pleaded with Kogites to give him another opportunity to right his many wrongs.
El-rufai didn’t toe Comrade Adams Oshiomhole’s path of dishonour, lies and absolute falsehood with regards to Bello’s under-performance in the last 45 months in the saddle. It is only a conscienceless fellow that would mount the rostrum to admit that Bello deserves to be re-elected this Saturday given his poor performance.
Mrs. Aisha Buhari, in her characteristically blunt manner agreed that Governor Bello did mess up, especially with regards to non-payment of salaries running into 38 months, but like others, she begged for leniency. She said even her husband, President Buhari was worried about the plight of Kogi people under Bello’s watch, and has wondered what the problem could be.
We truly understand the sentiments of people like Governor El-Rufai and Deputy Governor of Edo state, Philip Shaibu who genuflected on behalf of Bello, but the apology is rather coming too late in the day. This is akin to crying when the head is off. Kogites have had enough of Bello’s reign of cluelessness and gross incompetence.
GYB couldn’t even mask his arrogant mien before his visitors as he failed to show some remorse as others knelt down to beg for forgiveness on his behalf. Bello and his guys are of the twisted opinion that they haven’t done anything wrong since they came into office. In their warped thinking, they have made appreciable progress and have made life better for Kogi citizens.
Sadly, the reality on the ground paints a gloomy picture of a government that has further impoverished its citizens and doesn’t give a hoot about their plight as fellow human beings. Clearly, Bello has demonstrated lack of competence and foresight on how to govern a people. He had alot of time to have learnt on the job, sadly, his manipulative aides made matters worse for him.
For Bello, politically, it seems the game is up for him. Though we are told that he’s perfecting plans to compromise the process through some police officers and INEC Officials, he should have a rethink and allow the will of the people prevail in the election.
I believe Kogites are very prepared to seize the moment!
– Dr. Safiya Stephanie Musa (Queen Saphy)
