The Labour Party in Kogi State received with shock the statement credited to the Chairman of the All Progressives Congress APC in Kogi State, Alhaji Hadi Ametuo stating the readiness of the party’s flag bearer in the coming governorship election in Kogi State Prince Abubakar Audu, to refund the Eleven Billion Naira he allegedly stole from the coffers of Kogi State, which throws the state into state of disrepair and poverty ridden for which he is being tried by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC now. If such party is voted for, the first task will be to dip hand inside state covers again and also towards the end still mismanage the lean pocket in the state.
We were shock because a party which prides itself as change agents could attempt to once again cajole our people into voting a candidate whose only legacy while he once had opportunity of governing the state was huge debts and mismanagement of the commonwealth of our people.
We must say we are grateful to God that such admittance of guilt is coming from the APC itself and this therefore is an eye opener for our people on the credibility of those who are seeking to lead our dear state in the next four years. We call on the good people of Kogi State to immediately commence a demand for the refund of the State’s N11billion naira Illegally taken from the state and Kogites must ensure that there is no opportunity as such for him to return to the Lugard house as a condition for refund as advocated by his party’s Chairman but rather to make the refund and pay for fund mismanagement that belongs to a state. Electorates must thus not vote for him to return back as a vote to return him will further impoverish our state.
In the same vein, we view the continued refusal of Governor Idris Wada to release the bailout fund accruable to Kogi State for the purpose for it was meant for. Till date, civil servants in our State particularly the teachers are agonizing based on the inability of the Wada led government to pay their outstanding arrears despite deceiving billions in bailout from the Federal government.
The actions of the PDP and APC in Kogi State the very recent time have confirmed our previous assertions that government in the books of these elements is about themselves and their immediate families, not the welfare of our people.
The coming election therefore offers our people the long awaited hope for credible alternative and visionary leader which the Labour Party’s candidate, Dr. Phillips Salawu has brought into the race.
Never again will our people be made slaves in our land and resources of the state must always be utilized to the benefit of the real owners, the Kogi people.
We therefore urge our suffering civil servants, the artisans, youths and other people of Kogi to persevere in the few days left for the Idris Wada’s administration while assuring also that never shall our dear State witness the locust years of governance like that of Prince Abubakar Audu.
With Labour Party and Dr. Phillips Salawu, we no doubt have brighter days ahead.
