By Michael Effiong

Those plotting to benefit from the death of Prince Abubakar Audu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) Candidate in last Saturday’s Kogi State Gubernatorial elections are spreading dangerous rumours about APC National Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

The talebearers are looking for an opportunity to shoot down the possibility of Hon. James Abiodun Faleke becoming the substantive Governor if INEC decides to conclude the Kogi elections that was declared inconclusive. Faleke is believed to enjoy the backing of Tinubu

When the rumour began to make the rounds yesterday, some took it hook, line and sinker, others dismissed it without a thought- and their gut feeling has been confirmed with the news that the story linking Tinubu to the death of Prince Abubakar was a baseless lie.

The man who was quoted as making the statement, Governor of Imo State, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has now denied the said story which emanated from a Facebook posting, describing it as untrue, mischievous and malicious.

Governor Okorocha speaking through his Chief Press Secretary, Sam Onwuemeodo wrote: the attention of the Imo state Governor and the Chairman of the APC Governors’ Forum, Owelle Rochas Okorocha has been drawn to a social media (Facebook) report with the caption “Tinubu, others, kill Kogi Guber candidate – Okorocha, written by one Olutoyosi Omotoso.
“In the basically untrue report, the author claimed that the Imo Governor had accused the former Governor of Lagos state and one of the key pillars of the APC in the country, Senator Bola Tinubu and others he didn’t mention, of being responsible for the death of the APC governorship candidate in Kogi state, Prince Abubakar Audu.
“The report came up Sunday (November 22, 2016) evening and of course, few hours after the news of the death of the Kogi Prince was still in doubt by most Nigerians”.

Onwuemeodo continued “in the report, the author however failed or refused to mention or tell his audience whether Governor Okorocha had made that claim at a press conference or in a press release, but unfortunately and unintelligently said that the Imo Governor spoke on phone to say that. And the follow-up question would immediately be; on what ground would the Imo Governor call the author on phone to tell her who killed Prince Audu and who didn’t kill him.
“The truth of the matter is that, the report was totally false, even on the face value. It cannot pass any logic to be believed. It was written in bad faith.
“Even at that, the language of the story could not be Okorocha’s for those who know him and for those who have been following his speeches. He does not talk like an immature speaker. For instance the writer quoted the Governor to have said “we are not unaware of their antics and plans to field Audu’s Deputy, Mr. Abiodun Faleke, after the programmed death of his boss.”
“Governor Okorocha does not drag his sentences or speak disjointed grammar. The mischief is very obvious, for all men and women of goodwill to see in the story.”
The Governor’s aide argued further that, “again, on the day (Sunday) Prince Audu was reported to have died, Governor Okorocha was presiding over the meeting of the South-East Governors’, Ohaneze leaders, traditional rulers and National Assembly members at Enugu state Government House, over the issues of pro-Biafra protests and agitations.
“Governor OKorocha is not quarrelling with Senator Tinubu. The envisaged rift between the duo only exist in the imaginations of those who have chosen the path of dishonour, because only dishonourable people could have authored such an inglorious write-up. Decent people do not do such”.

It is not the first time that the mythic rumours would be woven around the name of Asiwaju Tinubu, fondly called the Jagaban. In his own condolence message, Tinubu had stated: “There is no more shocking and sorrowful news than the sudden death fo Prince Abubakar Audu. he died before his time. I am greatly saddened.

The man who is at the centre of the Kogi storm, Hon. James Abiodun Faleke was born on December 25, 1959 and is a native of Ekinrin Adde, in Ijumu local government area of Kogi State.

He had his Secondary education at Abdulazeez Atta Memorial College, from where he proceeded to Kaduna Polytechnic for his HND in Purchasing & Supply. He graduated in 1986, winning the Best Student Award.

He did his mandatory National Youth Service Scheme (NYSC) in Lagos in 1986/87 at the National Orthopaedic Hospital in Igbobi. He also holds an MBA in Management from Imo State University.

Before moving up the political ladder to become a Member of the Federal House of Representatives (representing Ikeja Federal Constituency 2), he was the Chairman of Ojodu LCDA, in Ikeja, Lagos-and now may just be the new Governor of Kogi State

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