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The 2003 Governorship Election in Kogi State was an episode which the citizenry of the state would not forget in a hurry.
The elections and it outcome took the masses by surprise because it was not what the majority and well-meaning kogites expected. Many political analysts and commentator did not foresee neither predicted that the best and most outstanding governor between 1999 and 2003 Prince of the Niger could lose election in that manner. It was obvious that something went wrong.
After my rigorous research and findings as to why the 2003 elections defied all the expectations of the people, then I came to realize that Federal might was seriously at play to subdue the popularity, influence and respect which Prince Audu enjoyed from the people. Security Agents were not exempted, they were instructed to ensure PDP wins the election by whatever means.
Security personnel were drafted to intimidate people who are supporter of Prince Abubakar Audu. I could still recall the unfortunate ordeal my younger brother and so many would be voters pass through in the hand of army officers just for no reason people were beaten up all with a mission to hijack Kogi State for PDP. This orchestrated and dastardly act of a desperate PDP led Federal Government were replicated virtually in all parts of the state, by 4pm of that fateful day, the predetermine result of the polls was already in the hands of PDP members celebrating. As these few persons continue their celebration, the silence and mournful look by the majority in every nook and cranny in the state reflected the obvious fact that people were not allowed to vote for a man whose large parts of his entire life was about service to his people.
It was a sad period for the people as the PDP led government lasted. Political thuggery became rampant in the state, no one dare criticize government except you do not value your life, people lived in perpetual fears, in fact it was a semblance of what Thomas Hobbes refer to as the State of Nature where life is “solitary, poor, nasty, brutish, and short” (Leviathan, Chapters XIII–XIV). In my village alone so many promising young men were murdered in their cold blood.
In the light of these unfolding devilish activities, it became difficult for any person vying to serve the people on any platform other than PDP because winning PDP primaries was as good as winning the main election. These unfortunate predicaments continued until March 28, 2015. This will now take me to the next stage of this article.
At this point, it is pertinent for me to give honour to whom is due, in essence, my gratitude and appreciation goes to the former President of this country for appointing the fearless and incorruptible disciplinarian Professor Atairu Jega as the INEC Chairman.
The appointment of Jega marks the beginning of proper restructuring of the electoral body as he introduced many Policies and Innovations that led to the people having the hope for the long awaited change in the State. Today, electorates are eagerly waiting for November, 21st to effect the needed change as the man who the majority of the well meaning kogites have positioned to come back and take the state to an Eldorado, am talking of the achiever himself His Excellency Prince Abubakar Audu.
It may interest you to note that as a result of the antecedents of Audu, recently, the timbers and calibers in PDP cross carpeted to All Progressive Party (APC) among these people are the immediate governorship aspirant on the plat form of PDP Alhaji Jibrin Isah (Echocho), the son of the immediate governor of the state Muhammed Ibrahim, the former house of representative member Thom Zekeri, the former State Chairman of PDP and a host of others with their supporters.
Let me reiterate here that one name stand tall among these people who decamped, that is Alhaji Jibrin Isah, the name is a house hold name in most of the families in the state as a result of his humanitarian services. His exist from PDP signifies the end of the Party that have caused pains for the people.
Conclusively, it is now clear that APC with a philanthropist and industrious Prince Audu as the flag bearer and the humanitarian servant himself Alhaji Jibrin Isah and many well meaning people in its fold, it is obvious that by God’s grace, the people’s Prince will be crowned as the next governor of Kogi State.
~ Wada Yahaya, President, Kogi Progressives for Good Governance.
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