Immediate past Deputy Governor of Kogi State, Arc. Yomi Awoniyi, has raised alarm over what he described on Thursday as the desperation of Governor Yahaya Bello in giving the marching orders to his appointees in Kogi West to win the State House of Assembly elections on Saturday.
Awoniyi’s alarm was also corroborated by a group, the Okun Media Links, who called on the state security personnel to step into the rumoured attacks allegedly planned by the ruling party All Progressives Congress, APC, to win legislative elections at all cost.
Awoniyi said his concern was coming against the background that after losing the senatorial district to the opposition PDP in the presidential and National Assembly election, the Kogi State government had read the riot act to its appointees from the district to go and deliver for APC at all costs or lose their positions.
The former deputy governor added that they were aware of the charge given to government appointees from Kogi West by the governor in his desperation to win at all costs, and said such desperation is not in conformity with what leadership is all about.
“We, as a people, are united in our resolve to participate in a free and fair election and we cannot be cowed, and this is not the first time we are being threatened but at the end of the day it is the will of the people that will prevail,” he said.
He said as leaders and stakeholders in the area, “we will ensure the votes are protected.”
The Okun Media links in a statement by its Chairman, Prince Friday Ogungbemi in Lokoja, on Thursday, said the group also raised concern over the marching orders given to political officeholders from the district.
“The information gathered revealed that the political office holders of Kogi West extraction in conjunction with some royal fathers from the zone are working to disrupt the peaceful conduct of the election.
“We therefore call on security agencies to beef up security in the area to ensure a hitch free election. We call on all well meaning citizens, opinion moulders and leaders of thought to intervene in good time in the brewing tension before the desperate politicians turn the district to a war zone.
“Our word of caution to all the political actors is that various activities of leaders today are records that would be history tomorrow. We urge you all to play your roles so that you can be on the good side of history.”
