The Chairman of Advanced Peoples Democratic Alliance (APDA), Kogi State chapter, Honourable Abdulmumini Ibrahim has called for full scale investigation into the alleged importation of guns and other military wares into the country by the Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Abdulmumini, in a chat with newsmen in Lokoja, raised alarm that holocaust looms in Kogi state with the reported importation of weapons by the state government.
He noted that the Yahaya Bello-led government is glaringly unpopular among people and is employing desperate tactics to evade electoral defeat in 2019. The opposition party leader said it is no longer news in the state that the government of Governor Bello will soon expire.
“With all the indices, signals and reports from Kogi state it is not difficult to predict that the current government is terminating soon through balloting but they will, of course, try everything within their power to disrupt the next elections. Kogi people are more enlightened and are eager to exercise their franchise.
“I commend the security agencies that intercepted the consignment and seized the prohibited military hardware. We are afraid, however, that some of these lethal weapons might have found their way into the state,” he said.
Abdulmumini condemned the dangerous trend of political intolerance in the state. He questioned the stoppage of a planned reception for the retirement of a highly revered elder statesman, Justice Moses Bello from active service. It was alleged that soldiers stormed his residence few hours to the event and the programme was cancelled abruptly on security grounds.
Serving and retired high court judges, retired military generals, business moguls and other senior citizens of Nigeria who had arrived Ebiraland for the Justice Moses’s reception were unfortunately forced back with a very negative impression that our land is not a safe place for visits.
He wondered why some programmes identified with certain persons or groups have been cancelled abruptly on security grounds while many others ere allowed in the same space and time.
“They don’t want any event where people can gather. We sympathize with the family of Justice Bello and well wishers. He was not the only one that was embarrassed but for all of us in Kogi state.
“We sympathize with Senator Ahmed Ogembe over the unfortunate scene created by sponsored thugs at his empowerment programme. He should not allow the uncultured acts of political thugs discourage him in his quest to serve his people. The welfare of the people is paramount and nothing must deter him from attending to this.
“I share the pains of Anebira. Kogi people are aware that Ebiras are straight forward and focused. What is happening under the present government should not discourage them, rather, they should resist any move that can malign their noble name and pedigree,” he said.
The APDA chieftain called on the promoters of #NotTooYoungToRun movement to rise against the new move by Governor Bello as his acts can affect their advocacy efforts.
“The youngest governor in Nigeria is constantly in the news for very bad reasons. This is not good for the #NotTooYoungToRun campaign. Governor Bello’s actions will make the #NotTooYoungToRun campaign difficult because people will always refer the advocates for emergence of young leader to the Kogi example. They must dissociate themselves from the actions and inactions of Kogi governor.”
He called on National Assembly and security agencies to launch full scale investigation into the importation of military hardware into the country by Kogi state government.
“I don’t think the Federal Government will like to see innocent people killed in Kogi state. Unless the APC-led Federal Government have vested interest in the imported guns and military wares, anyone involved should be brought to book. I also call on all political parties and leaders to lend their voice against this desperate move by Kogi state government.
“APC won’t have recorded the victory enjoyed in 2015 if Governor Bello’s predecessor had employed similar desperate tendencies. We expect him as a young man to be careful and mindful of the future. He should use the few months remaining for his government to expire on good governance, concentrating on leaving good legacies behind.”
