A Kogi socio-cultural group, Ujache Igala Association has described as irresponsible a letter addressed to Ebira paramount ruler, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim by Kogi Central Unity Mandate to stop the PDP governorship candidate, Engr. Musa Wada from campaigning in Kogi Central.
The group stressed that the letter which was signed by its Convener, En-Habib Abdullah demonstrated a high level of irresponsibility and ethnic chauvinism capable of downing the state in a volatile political atmosphere in the state.
In a statement issued in Abuja by the Special Adviser on Media and Publicity of the group, Mr. Samson Atekojo Usman, he said, the Kogi Central Unity Mandate was drawing the two ethnic group who have lived in peace for centuries to a red line of violence.
The statement urged the Mandate group to withdraw the letter with immediate effect, so as not to stoke the embers of violence among the ethnic group in the state.
Ujache Igala Association reminded the Mandate group that the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello had uttered a statement asserting that, “with a mere N6,000, anyone could curry Igala man’s wife” sometime last year, yet he was tolerated.
“Kogi Central Unity Mandate letter to the Ohinoyi of Ebira seeking to stop PDP’s November 16 gubernatorial candidate, Engr Musa Wada is highly irresponsible.
“The letter would set the tone of ethnic politics which is not healthy for the State in the face of volatile political atmosphere ahead of November 16 election. We call on the Mandate group to withdraw the letter immediately”, the statement said.
The Igala socio-cultural group said, any candidate has right to campaign anywhere in the state, including Governor Yahaya Bello who hail from the Central Senatorial district.
The Association further accused the Mandate group of making a storm out of the tea cup when “it accused the PDP candidate of denigrating Ebira people that their votes were inconsequential.”
“If the PDP candidate claims on the National Television that Ebira vote is inconsequential as the Mandate group want us to believe, is that enough to stop Engr. Wada from campaigning?
They asked the group to stop the campaign of calumny against any candidate who is not their choice, saying that the allegation against Wada as an “ethnic bigot and anti-minority candidate” was a figment of their imagination.
