Kogi Guber: Bello warns politicians against violence as APC unveils Guber running mate.
IDRIS AHMED, LOKOJA.
Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has cautioned politicians in the state not to turn politics into criminality.
Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello (m), Deputy Governor, Chief David Edward Onoja, Kogi State Speaker, Mathew Kolawole, APC Governorship candidate and running mate, Kogi State APC Chairman, Abdullahi Bello (Dollar) and former APC governorship aspirant, Prince Shuaib Abubakar Audu.
Addressing party leaders, stakeholders and hundreds of members of the All Progressives Congress (APC) who converged on Government House, Lokoja, on Saturday for the unveiling of the APC Governorship running mate, Mr Joel Salifu, Bello warned that his administration would not fold it’s arms and watch criminals terrorise the people of the state in the name of politics.
It was earlier reported that some gunmen believed to be supporters of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) on the entourage of its Governorship candidate, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, had blocked the Lokoja– Koton karfe road, to prevent the state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello from entering the state capital.
According to the report, the governor’s security outfit did the necessary to clear the road for the Governor and other innocent citizens to have free access to their destinations.
Though no live was reported lost, many people including security operatives sustained varying degrees of injuries, while several vehicles were vandalized.
The Governor, therefore urged the All Progressives Congress APC supporters to refrain from violence and should be not to intimidated or try any reprisal.
On the APC Governorship running mate, Bello commended the leadership of the party and other relevant stakeholders for the wonderful choice of a primary school Teacher, Mr Joel Salifu to be the next Deputy Governor of the state.
While congratulating the party, the Governorship Candidate Usman Ododo and the running mate Joel Salifu over the intimidating ticket for the November election, the Governor stated that in the game of politics nothing should be taken for granted. “The game is not over until it is over, by the grace of God we shall be victorious”.
He said ethnicity and religion should not be allowed to constitute barrier to development and progress of the state, adding that Kogi is bigger than everybody.
The Governor therefore urged politicians to caution their supporters and their people against indulging in activities capable of truncating the existing peace in the state.
Earlier in his goodwill message, the Deputy Governor, Chief David Edward Onoja, alerted that politics in Kogi state is full of hypocrisy and eye service.
Onoja noted that surrogates and praise singers abound within the ranks of the party, who have not contributed positively to the development of the state.
Kogi State APC governorship candidate, Ododo Ahmed Usman and his running mate, Comrade Joel Salifu
He called on the party members to put in their best by returning to their bases to push out positive election results instead of resorting to gossip.
Kogi state Chairman of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, in his remarks commended Governor Yahaya Bello for the successful conduct of the state APC primary election that produced Ahmed Usman Ododo as the flag bearer of the party for the November Governorship election.
Kogi State APC Deputy governorship candidate, Comrade Joel Salifu
While congratulating the Teachers in the state for the chosing one of them as running mate to the APC candidate, Mr Joel Salifu, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Teachers, urging them to mobolise aggressively for the success of the party in the November Governorship election.
