By Onogwu Moh’d.
The growing fortunes of Kogi State Governor, Algahi Yahaya Bello gained further momentum Sunday as the political family structure of Late Prince Abubakar Audu embraced his government.
This is an indication that the Governor is gaining more grounds among those who were hitherto embittered by the emergence of Bello following the demise of the first executive of the State who died on his way to clinching the seat at the Lugard House, Lokoja.
The group’s decision to join hands with the present administration was borne out of their conviction that the judiciary has done well to justify the decision to give the mandate to Bello following the death of their principal.
Those who spoke at the occasion expressed happiness that with Edward Onoja as Governor Bello’s Man-Friday, they were back to their political home. And with the attitude displayed by Bello from the death of Audu to the “Super Sunday” of reconciliation, they felt the presence of Audu in Bello.
Similarly, the APC women leader from Ofu Local Government, Hajiya Maimuna Idris, averred unequivocally that in Bello Audu has reincarnated.
“Bello is a man of good heart, I could remember when Audu won the Primaries, all the 27 other aspirants in the APC, except Bello, abandoned him. Bello accompanied him to his house to congratulate him. This was the sole reason why God decided to ordain Bello with the position of Audu after his death.
“Anybody who fights Bello is fighting God. When Audu was alive he told us to be patient with him that when he is victorious, succour shall come with his governance, and as God has it, he died at the point of victory. But Bello is representing what Audu stood for, we are satisfied with him. He is better than our own. Eneomuneme (another person is better).
In the same vein, Dan Bello Musa, who represented Idah Local Government at the occasion, told the Chief of Staff, who made the reconciliation possible that he was under the cover of God.
“There are many forces against you, but because you are on the right path you are protected by God.
“We are here from Idah to support your principal, and we are assuring you that you have nothing to worry anymore. The victory of any gubernatorial candidate in Kogi State begins in Idah,” he said.
He urged the Chief of Staff to fast track the construction of Ejule-Idah road before the end of the year. He urged the Kogi State Government to pay more respect for Audu by rehabilitating the Audu Road in Idah as that would endear Governor Bello more to the people.
Speaking during the visit, the Governor, Yahaya Bello used the occasion to assure the Igala people in the state of his commitment to continue to equitably distribute the state’s resources.
According to him, he is ready to provide critical infrastructures to all parts of the state, especially the Igala land so as to bridge the developmental gap being witnessed in Kogi State.
He reminded them that his emergence after the 2015 elections was divinely orchestrated, and promised to provide the people with what they could not enjoy under previous administrations.
Bello, who bemoaned the meager resources at his disposal which has led to the slow pace of development he had envisioned, said his government would judiciously utilise the resources.
The Chief of Staff, Hon. Edward Onoja, who spoke earlier, said the returnees to the Bello’s camp were the aggrieved party that never wanted the Governor to “inherit” the political victory of Audu, following his demise, saying that they have sheathed their sword and have accepted to recognize Bello as the number one leader of the party in the State.
He said the reconciliation took two years because “some diaspora politicians who are based in Abuja,” made sure they employ both conventional and unconventional means to thwart their efforts at making peace.
Onoja who was somewhat elated at the current situation in the Kogi APC expressed happiness that they were able to beat the mischief makers it to by reappraising the situation and identifying the real grassroots politicians in the Audu’s group and decided to extend the olive branch to them.
He said he was able to convince them to join Bello so that they could move the state and the party forward, “and they agreed because they were the willing party in the group who have nothing against the Governor.”
He particularly blamed the leaders of the Audu’s group whose selfish position on the issue robbed the group of what they should have benefitted from Bello’s government right from inception.
The representatives of the people at the occasion were former House of Assembly Member from Ofu Local Government Area (LGA), Hon Idachaba Salihu, Hajiya Maimuna Idris, Ofu Women Leader and Mrs Uchebo Achimugu from the same LGA.
The list also included Ali Ugbane and Alhaji Adamu Usman from Igala-Mela/Odolu LGA; Onuche Ochidi Ujache and Hajiya Fatima Ochimana from Idah; and those from Ibaji LGA were Hon Victor and Patrick Onalo. Others are Hon Zachariah David, Hon Ahmedi Attah, Hon Alfa Mohammed etc.
