Centre for Peace, Democracy and Development says it has begun conversation on the need for free, fair and just election in the forthcoming November governorship poll in Kogi state.
The center an Ogun state based organization which is a convergence of political, cultural and social groupings of indigenous people of Kogi state, called on the lovers of democracy and good governance across Kogi state to massively support the candidate of the Social Democratic party (SDP), Murtala Yakubu Ajaka in the November 11, 2023 governorship election for the emancipation of the people.
The centre, in conjunction with Igala Renaissance in Ogun state, made the call on Monday during the stakeholders meeting held at Abeokuta.
A press statement signed by the President of the centre, Comrade Dan Alphaeus Adejoh and made available to journalists in Lokoja, noted that the centre has decided to throw its weight behind the SDP candidate for his capacity, competence, empathy and his political antecedents in the development of Igala land and Kogi state.
The President, who specifically disclosed that during the 2022 flood that submerged entire Ibaji local government area and other parts of Kogi East, the SDP candidate rose to the occasion by mobilising personal resources to mitigate the adverse effects on the social and economic lives of the people.
He noted that Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, popularly known as Muri, was up and doing in providing life saving infrastructures to the victims across the Kogi East senatorial district and other affected communities of the state.
According to Comrade Adejo, having x-rayed all the candidates jostling for the number one seat in Kogi state, the center came to the conclusion that Muri possesses the know-how to provide needed development that will ensure unity among the diverse ethnic nationalities of the state.
He advised the people to consider the candidature of Alhaji Muri as a state agenda rather than an ethnic agenda as some are alluding to, even as he encouraged the electorate to consider competence above ethnic consideration in their choice in the November 11 governorship election.
He said the groups has started mobilising indigenes of Kogi state resident in all nooks and crannies of Ogun state to show active interest in Murtala Yakubu Ajaka’ s governorship project.
He added that the centre, in synergy with other socio-cultural organisations in the state, have pledged their support for the SDP candidate whom he said will change the ugly narratives of the state.
He called on those who are yet to collect their permanent voters cards (PVCs) to do so as it is the only power they have to institute good governance in the state.
While advising candidates to play the game according to the rules to avoid escalation of violence, he said continued existence of Kogi state is of the essence.
“We are appalled by the cacophonous songs of war going on at home. The recent torch of campaign offices of Muri in Lokoja and Dekina was uncalled for.
“Election should be about choices and not about violence. Every member of the political community has inalienable rights to exercise his or her franchise as defined by the constitution.
“We therefore charged political parties to educate their members on the need to uphold peace. We equally called on the security agencies to be alive to their responsibilities to maintain law and order and to bring perpetrators to book,” Adejoh solicited.
