Former member of the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Abdulmumini Ibrahim has applauded the fatherly disposition of Ohinoyi of Ebira Land, Dr. Ado Ibrahim in the course of ongoing electioneering campaigns in the state.
In a statement issued on Saturday, the former lawmaker also hailed the people of Ebira land for proving cynics wrong with the warm reception accorded an opposition governorship candidate in their domain on Friday.
He called on the people of Kogi East senatorial district to show same love and receive all governorship candidates when they visit Igala land, irrespective of their ethnicity.
He warned citizens against fanning embers of hate, insisting that every Kogi state is an indivisible entity.
Hon Abdulmumini called on all governorship candidates to respect the constituted authorities as they go about their campaigns, adding that anyone who dares the simplicity of government does so at his or her peril.
“I want to salute the Ohinoyi of Ebira land to playing a fatherly role to all Kogites. He has warmly received all candidates who visited his without discrimination.
“My people, Igalas, must learn from Ohinoyi’s open mindedness and warmth to all regardless of their tribe.
“Okun, Ebira, Okun and other ethnic nationalities in Kogi state are one. We must resist attempts by the political class to divide us.
“Governorship candidates must stick strictly to issue-based campaigns and shun divisive acts and utterances,” he said.
Hon. Abdulmumini warned Kogi citizens that if they allow hatred for other ethnic groups to persist, desired development will continue to elude the state.
“Until an injustice against Okun is seen as injustice against Ebira and Igala as well, until Igala stand as strength to Okun and Ebira serve as booster to Igala, the state will not make appreciable progress.
“We must work consciously to bequeath a united Kogi state to the next generation,” he added.
On the November 11 governorship election in Kogi state, the Ankpa-born politician said every citizen has a right to support whomever they want.
“The choice of who to vote for as the next Governor of Kogi state should be based on capacity, competence and character. The idea of voting based on ethnic inclination is absurd and retrogressive.
“We must educate the younger citizens who are in a haste to write slanted views that promotes hate on social media. They don’t know our history and bond of unity among tribes in Kogi state. Truth is, we are all brothers and sisters.”
