A group, under the aegis of Kogi East Agenda has described the last Thursday’s Appeal Court judgment, which reinstated Senator Attai Aidoko as a distraction to the zone.
The group said Aidoko had no political relevance in the region, noting that he was just a political liability in the senatorial district and not good enough to speak for its people.
The Appeal Court had on Thursday ‘sacked’ the Senator representing Kogi East Senatorial District, Air Marshal (Rtd) Isaac Alfa, following a suit filled before it by Attai Aidoko.
Reacting to the court’s judgment, the group in a statement by its General Secretary Alhaji Ibrahim Sani Omale, urged the Supreme Court to pass a verdict that will tally with the aspirations and desires of the people of the state, as democratically expressed in the PDP primary election that produced Senator Isaac Alfa as the party’s candidate.
According to Omale, “Without prejudice to the Appeal Court judgment, we wish to state that the speculations making the rounds in Kogi East Senatorial district that Senator Attai Ali aidoko has been returned elected as the representative of the people of Kogi East at the senate is false and malicious, as the Appeal Court doesn’t have a final pronouncement on pre-election matter.
“The Igala nation cannot continue to wallow in this politics of destruction where a group of elites will gather together to oppose everything that is good for the people of land.
“The region has suffered so much neglect despite the facts that it has several opportunities to develop, but we have been suffering so much neglect because of the attitude of some of our leader. Now we are saying enough is enough . The whole Kogi East Senatorial Zone is pained by the charade occurred at the Court of Appeal on 14th December.
“This is rape of Justice. Our investigation showed some highly placed Igala leaders are complicit in this disgraceful judgment. Whoever they are, they have disgraced the ethics of their profession. They should be ashamed of themselves. Enough is enough, and those Igala elites must stop disgracing the region.
“Senator Attai Aidoko should be told the naked truth. He must be told that the seat of Kogi East doesn’t belong to him. He has spent twelve years both in lower and upper chambers of the National Assembly. It was under his watch that Ibaji oil wells were ceded to Anambra State.
“As a Senator, he cannot point at one single thing as achievement that we can call his Constituency project. He is only after his personal interest which is not good for the region in dire need of development. In fact, he is a liability on our people.
“The Kogi East Agenda has nothing to do with any political party or personality, but our agenda is simple and clear. It is to ensure good governance and encourage individuals that are outstanding and doing their best to facilitate the needed development of Igala/Bassa nation.
“The oil well that was taken from us is being given a serious attention through quality and pragmatic leadership style of Senator Alfa who sponsored a resolution through his office to ensure that Kogi state is declared an oil producing State.
“This will improve the fortunes of Kogi State and ensure the State is among other oil producing State enjoying 13 % derivation. Instead of rallying round a man with noble intention, some key leaders from the region are busy engaged in conspiring to bring the man down.
“Senator Alfa who is very new to the red chamber has so far taken some laudable steps, and we are happy that for the first time the Zone has got it right by having opportunity to air our voices through the Senator in that National stage.
“We call on the Supreme Court, being he highest court in the land to ensure that justice is done.
“Aidoko’s prayer is simple, that the case reverts back to the lower court (High) for trial by oral witnesses. We wonder how the Appeal Court Justices came to declare Aidoko as the winner even when such relief was not sought for in their Appeal. The idea of a Court granting a relief that wasn’t prayed for is strange but we are happy the case is a pre-election matter, and there is every possibility that the Supreme Court will throw out the Appellate court judgment and justice will be done.
“We view what happened in the Appeal Court room as miscarriage of justice, as senator Isaac Alfa remains the PDP candidate that won the primaries held at Idah headquarters of the Kogi East senatorial party primary,” Omale added.
The group further urged the Senator to ensure that Kogi East was well represented in the 2017 budget and he should do all within his power to ensure that the Ibaji oil wells were returned to their original owner, Kogi State.
Earlier, Alfa had urged the people of Kogi East to remain undisturbed by the judgement of the Appeal Court, adding that he still remains in office as their Senator.
