Last night I tuned to Channels for a 10pm news; little did I know that I was going to watch an upcoming actor, Dr Saka Haruna in a show of awful performance.
Like every Kogite I have had sleepless nights over the incident in Kogi state where criminals overran a peaceful protest and took advantage of it to cause mayhem.
Let me state clearly that I condemn this totally. As I condole the families of those who lost their lives in the warehouse; struggling for food that was meant for them but hidden away because we have those who do not understand the pains and sensibilities of people in government.
The hunger and sufferings that the people of Kogi state have gone through; occasioned by bad governance in the last 13years is unexplainable. Kogi state became a state that publicize payment of 30-50% salaries when its paid at all, we have notting to show for inclusiveness; so its either you are in government or you are not. That’s certainly a bad situation.
With all these, I was shocked to hear that Kogi state had locked food away while covid-19 had locked down the people. This is callous and clueless from the Governor and all those involved. To me its an act of criminality and hunger genocide unleashed on the good and peace loving people of my state.
As leaders, our actions and inactions have great consequences on the people and this heartless act must stop so that the people can have faith in those who lead them.
From the outbreak of this recent protest and the breakdown of law and order that follows, Saka would have known that we lost about four or more people to this ugly incidence in the state. I think the lives of those people are far more important that whatever was lost and he should have honoured their death rather than the needless film he acted very badly on National TV. As human we are all weak to emotions but we also know when emotions are real or forced. Saka went for the obvious.
What was done in Kogi state is nothing compared to Lagos and other States; yet the Governor is not shedding crocodile tears, he is alive to responsibilities and doing well in restoration of hope on the part of the people. This is the time to wake up to your responsibilities.
As individuals and groups our eyes are on this issue and we hope you will not budget any unrealistic amount as money meant to recover those items you claimed have been stollen. Before this can be done, government must be ready to engage independent bodies to ascertain the fact of item vandalised or stolen.
The Governor must rise to occasion and apologise to the people for hidden those items which was meant for Kogi people. He must also account for the over one billion Naira given to States as Covid-19 support by FG as confirmed by him or open the till now if those once too are warehoused as usual.
The Commissioner is a true resemblance of the mess in Kogi state. A lion gives birth to it kind; so do all animals.
Very painful and unfortunate.
– Salihu Adam Jiddah.
University Lecturer and Founder, Kogi Liberation Movement
