The All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship campaign council has demanded justice for an unarmed woman who was gruesomely murdered at Koton Karfe during a campaign rally of opposition Social Democratic Party (SDP) on Friday.
At a press briefing in Lokoja on Monday, Director, Media and Publicity, of the APC Campaign Council, Hon. Kingsley Fanwo accused persons suspected to be the armed thugs of the candidate of the SDP, Alh. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka for the murder.
While commiserating with the family and the entire people of Koton-Karfe, Fanwo said the slain woman will not die in vain.
He assured that the party was working with security agencies in the state to unravel and bring the perpetrators of the dastardly act to justice.
While describing the Friday rally as “a satanic ambush on the peace-loving people of Kotonkarfe”, Fanwo assured that the party will ensure that the “killers don’t walk freely without consequences”.
“In his characteristic way, the SDP candidate through his media handlers had claimed the poor woman was bearing arm. But they never showed us the arm she was bearing. The claim was a desperate attempt at sweeping the murder they committed under the carpet. You don’t kill the people who hold a contrary belief to yours. It was crude, criminal and callous.
“It is on record that the SDP Candidate already said the Commissioner of Police was not aware of his rally. The rally was a satanic ambush on the peace-loving people of Kotonkarfe, leaving in its wake, the blood of an innocent woman whose only sin was belonging to the All Progressives Congress.
“The unguarded, inflammatory and acidic statements of the SDP candidate, Alh. Muritala Yakubu Ajaka on national television have not gone unnoticed. What is of surprise to us is how he gets away after calling a whole ethnic group “a common enemy.
“He also said they were ready for violence. His utterances and actions are not supported by the Electoral Law. And we are sure INEC and relevant authorities have taken note of this.
“His campaign has been divisive and inciting, yet he walks around spreading the propaganda of him being hunted. They commit visible crimes and turn around to play the victims.
“The quietness of the law enforcement agencies has emboldened him to spill the blood of an innocent woman. His desperation in the face of looming humiliation at the polls has undoubtedly put him in a very dangerous corner.
“The initial statement of the Police authorities have been reassuring. There must be justice for the murdered soul. It is high time Kogites called the blood-sucking campaign of the SDP to order. Elections are won on the ballot and not via the bullet. Even in the face of glaring provocation, our party and our campaign will remain peaceful and play according to the rules of the game,” he said.
Fanwo said in contrast, the APC governorship candidate is a unifying figure.
“0ur Candidate for the November 1 1, 2023 Governorship election, Alh. Ahmed Usman Ododo has remained uncompromisingly committed to an issue-based campaign that is devoid of violence, ethnocentric narratives or divisive tendencies.
“Under the leadership of the Campaign Chairman, His Excellency Alh Yahaya Bello, CON, and the Director General, HM Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu, our Campaign has been peaceful, uniting and a true reflection of the enduring legacies that have kept our party at the apex of political performance in our dear state”.
“Issue-based campaign entails tailoring our promises, assurances and social contract with the peace-loving people of our dear state through the media to the people. Ododo Ahmed Usman, OAU, wants the people of the state to be convinced by the legacies of the system he served in, his promises of consolidation and continuity, his antecedents and competence, as well as his message of unity. His clip to these ideals is iron cast.”
The spokesman called on their supporters to remain calm as security agencies are trusted to ensure that killers don’t walk freely without consequences, adding that the Kogi State APC Campaign Council will await the full reports of the security agencies.
