Over 250 stakeholders of All Progressives Congress in Kabba/Bunu Local Government Area of Kogi State converged in the banquet hall of Ajike Hotel and Tower in Kabba over the weekend to deliberate the ongoing political imbroglio in Kogi State
The stakeholders which comprises of party leaders, elders, local government executive members, ward executive members and key players in the party in Kabba/Bunu.
Welcoming the stakeholders, Engineer George Olumoroti who was the convener of the meeting commended the people for their steadfastness and doggedness to remain committed to the efforts of liberating the state from misrule, underdevelopment and shackles of oppression.
“We labored with our late leader Prince Abubakar Audu when nobody gave us a chance including the person illegally declared by INEC, yet God on our side and we won, not without so much commitment and sacrifice from all of us” he said
He tasked the people not to be discouraged at the recalcitrant attitude of some so called leaders and elders who have suddenly turned against themselves, noting that they should redoubled their efforts, be prayerful, focused and continue to be committed to the struggle.
Olumoroti urged the stakeholders to learn from the experiences of Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela that freedom doesn’t come on the platter of gold, noting that his confident that the judiciary will do justice and vindicate Audu/Faleke mandate that was freely given by Kogites on the November 21, 2015.
The chairman of the meeting who doubled as the chairman Elder’s Forum of APC in the Local Government, Dr. Peter Olorunfemi urged the stakeholders not to jump at the temporary gain of the Yahaya Bello victory, noting that the judiciary are up to the task at ensuring victory for Audu/Faleke Mandate in no distance time.
He said the national leadership of the party in collaboration with electoral umpire deliberately caused disaffection among the peace loving people of Kogi State, stressing that the people at the grassroots are not the cause of the ugly situation, calling them not to fight anyone on the issue rather they should be prayerful and committed to the realization of the sacred mandate given to Audu/Faleke.
While Barrister Femi Mokikan and Barrister Obamero were at the meeting to throw more light on the legal implication of the logjam that has hitherto thrown the state into legal conundrum.
Barrister Mokikan said the governorship election held on the November 21 in Kogi State and as documented and announced by INEC, the Audu/Faleke joint ticket has fulfilled all constitutional requirement to be declared the winner of the election, adding that the strange inconclusiveness introduced by the electoral umpire actually call for questioning.
He said since the judgment of the courts will not be written in the presidency or at the party secretariat, he urged the stakeholders to be calm and wait patiently for the decision of the reputable judges.
Mokikan said the moment late Prince Abubakar Audu nominated Hon. James Faleke as his running mate, it become legal and according to the constitution, they are to swim and sink together for the purpose of the election, noting that people who are saying Faleke did not go through the primary doesn’t know the law.
While Barrister Obamero said since it is a lacuna in the constitution, lawyers are bound to have divergent opinions and views on the political logjam, urging the people to continue to have faith in the judiciary that they will do justice to the logjam.
While the coordinator of the Local Government Executives, Mr. Funsho Famodile said that what happen in the Balyesa election recently has further strengthen the struggle of Audu/Faleke Mandate, noting that the different votes in between the two leading parties is lower than the votes cancelled which was the bases they declared Kogi Election inconclusive.
He said if Dickson Seriake of Balyesa can be declare winner of the election, then Audu/Faleke Mandate should also be declare winner of Kogi election
Other speakers at the meeting tasked the people to remain resolute on Audu/Faleke Mandate, describing some recalcitrant leaders who claimed to have been speaking on behalf of the APC Kabba/Bunu as self serving personalities describing their actions as not in tandem with that of the entire stakeholders of the party in the area.
At the end of the meeting a communiqué was issued and signed by the stakeholders.
According to the communiqué, the stakeholders agreed to be steadfast and committed to the realization of Audu/Faleke Mandate, encouraged Hon. James Faleke to pursue the case in court believing that God will grant him favour.
They described the action of Ola Odano group who claimed to be talking on behalf of the party in the LGA “Kabba/Bunu APC dumps Faleke, for Bello” adding that Ola Odano and group never held any meeting anywhere within the Local Government.
It is also good to note that Ola Odano and group purported documents was only signed by 9 individuals comparing to over 250 key stakeholders that held their meeting at a disclose location within the ambience of Kabba/Bunu headquarter.
The stakeholders in Kabba/Bunu APC frowned at the call made by Ola Odano group who were purportedly acting on behalf of the Kabba/Bunu chapter of the All Progressives Congress, (APC) that electorates and people of Kabba/Bunu should rally round the supplementary governor–elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello of the APC, describing the call as baseless.
They noted that the Ola Odano and his group were only speaking for themselves and not for the party in the Local Government Area.
Chief James Olumudi, Barrister Kabiru Fadile, Hon. Durosimi Meseko sent their goodwill messages.
Highlight of the meeting was the rendering of a song, “on your mandate we shall stand”
In another related development, the Elder’s Forum of the party in the local government has called on the national leadership of the party to review their position on the Kogi political imbroglio, noting that Hon. James Faleke is the right person to inherit the votes of November 21 and December 5 governorship election held in the state respectively.
This was made known in a press statement issued and signed by Chief Julius Arokoyo, Chief Meseko Samuel and Chief Obasaju Kehinde, according to them, the Elder’s Forum dissociate themselves from some disgruntled elements from Okun area of the state, who are head bent at preaching hate messages against Faleke, one of their own.
The statement further revealed that the singular act of the national leadership of the party and the inconsistency of the electoral umpire has generated a lot of legal tussle, adding that about five cases are pending at the Election Tribunal challenging the emergence of Alhaji Yahaya Bello and the election itself.
They encouraged members to remain calm and resolute in the struggle, noting that nobody can remove them from their various positions as party officials, as they should feel free to associate with Audu/Faleke Mandate which was what they all worked for.
The group commended the Igalas and Ebira people who believe in the struggle, noting that the best way to immortalize late Prince Abubakar Audu is to support the mandate and see to its realization.
The group rejects in total the choice of Alhaji Yahaya Bello to replace Prince Abubakar Audu, urging Hon. James Faleke to pursue his case to a logical conclusion, believing that the judiciary will do justice to the logjam.
