₦airaland Forum

Less than two weeks to the governorship and senatorial elections in Kogi state, there is an uneasy calm and palpable tension in the camp of All Progressives Congress (APC) and Governor Yahaya Bello.

Bello had angrily told appointees from Okun land of Kogi West senatorial district that he will rather lose his own election than see Sen. Dino return back to Senate.

The governor stated this Thursday night in Lokoja during a meeting he held with the officials and appointees from Okun land in respect of the incoming governorship and Kogi West senatorial rerun election in the state.

Bello who expressed his disappointment over the low turnout that greeted the Kogi West rally held in Kabba during the week.

He lamented that the outcome of the rally shows that the appointees from the area will not deliver for the APC in both elections.
He threatened the appointees that if they failed to deliver for APC he will sack them from their positions adding that they will not be reappointed in his second term.

However, a caretaker Administrator from one of the local governments, who spoke at the meeting, assured the governor that they will not disappoint him during the election. He promised the governor that he will personally employ every means to deliver Kogi West to him and Senator Smart Adeyemi using every means necessary.
He added "I will use any means to deliver West to you and Senator Smart.

"We are equal to the task, I am ready to use any foul means and after that I will sponsor Muslims and Christians to Mecca and Jerusalem to seek for forgiveness on our behalf", the Administrator said.

The Speaker of Kogi state house of assembly, Hon Matthew Kolawole who was denigrated and booed at the meeting said that the people of Kogi west senatorial district has never been fair to the governor in terms of loyalty. He said, during the general election the governor gave him an assistance of hundred million naira to campaign. This statement generated a lot of anger and negative reactions from the officials within the Hall. The appointees accused the speaker of diverting the said money to his personal use and spent far less than a million in each of the wards in his LG.

One official who also spoke at the meeting advised the governor to concentrate on his own election and leave that of Sen. Smart Adeyemi to himself. But the governor angrily responded saying "you're a small boy and doesn't know what is at stake". He commanded the appointee to take his seat.

Furthermore, the governor enquire to know the real problem affecting the chances of the party in Kogi West especially the outcome of Kabba rally and previous elections.
In responding, some officials admitted before the governor that Kogi West is predominantly PDP since the inception of this republic.

The meeting had in attendance secretary to the state government, members of the state assembly, commissioners, caretaker chairmen and special advisers and other appointees.
After the meeting, many appointees expressed reservations about the chances of APC in Kogi West Senatorial District wondering how Bello and Sen. Smart Adeyemi can win elections in Senatorial District.

eternityk:
Hmm Very funny Make I no comment

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo has described the quest by the Okun people, like the Yoruba in Kwara State, to align with the South-West Yoruba people as the best thing that can happen to them because of the overall benefits.
Obasanjo made this known when he received the leaders of the Okun people of Kogi State who were at his residence in the Ogun State capital, Abeokuta, on Saturday, to invite him to the 2019 Okun Day celebration.
He applauded the Okun people for their initiative, recalling that he advised two illustrious sons of the state, the late Silas Bamidele Daniyan and the late Chief Sunday Bolorunduro Awoniyi, of the need to properly situate the cultural identity of Okun people as main stakeholders in the country.
Stressing the need for the people to hold firmly to their roots, Obasanjo said the issue of cultural identity remained paramount to encourage a sense of belonging among the diverse ethnic population.
Earlier, President of Kabba Development Union (KDU), Lagos branch, Princess Ladepe Omonale, in her speech, complained about marginalisation and frustration of the Okun people in the scheme of things because of being carved out of the South-West.
She restated the quest of the people to join their brethren in the South-West, stating that the organisation was formed in 2017 to bring together the Yoruba-speaking minorities in Kogi State and align themselves culturally with their brethren in the South-West.
She reminded the former president of the role of many illustrious sons of Okun nation that served under his administration, including Chief Daniyan and Awoniyi, who Obasanjo said he was well acquainted of the people mentioned and in fond memories of their association.
On the planned 2019 Okun Day cultural celebration, she said it had again received blessing of the Ooni of Ife, and they deemed it proper and necessary the need to approach Obasanjo, who she described as the father of modern Nigeria.
The delegation, which was jointly led by the president of the Lagos State chapter of the union, Princess Ladepe Omonale, her Abeokuta branch counterpart, Joseph Santa and a member of the Lagos branch executive of the union, Wole Hinmikaiye, comprised two consultants – Oluwaseun Ngonnase and Shehu Bankole-Hameed, who is also an author.

majamajic:
they should cap him in super eagles immediately after under 17

these English are taking more than required

A former Minister of Police Affairs, Maj-Gen. David Jemibewon (rtd) has said he did not endorse the second term bid of Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State.

He said leaders of Kogi West Elders Forum (KWEF) were only invited to a meeting with Bello on how to move the state forward.
He said the “endorsement of the governor” was not part of the talks with KWEF leaders.

He said the session was devoted to the good of Kogi West and the state in general including security, payment of salaries and political appointments
Jemibewon, who spoke with our correspondent on the phone, said it was unfortunate that the communiqué of the meeting was “formulated” to include endorsement.

He said he remains committed to his party, the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP).
“I went to the meeting for the good of my community(Kogi West). I went for the discussion on invitation and we did not talk of endorsement at the meeting. I could not have endorsed Governor Yahaya Bello of APC for second term.
“At my age, I am not looking for any favour . I am a member of the Peoples Democratic Party(PDP), even though it is not terribly serious, and to come out to say I adopt anybody is a kind of anti-party activity.

“

At this stage of my life, I do not want to be accused of anti-party activities. As a member of the Peoples Democratic Party, I did not endorse Governor Bello.

”
Jemibewon faulted the communique issued at the end of the meeting.
He added: “The way the communiqué was formulated was embarrassing, it was not circulated at the meeting.

I did suggest they should send the communiqué to a former Attorney-General of the Federation, Chief Bayo Ojo for vetting. The word endorsement, I cannot remember hearing it from anybody at the meeting.

Asked of what transpired between leaders of Kogi Elders Forum (KWEF) and the governor, Jemibewon said: “We were invited to meet with the governor and as a leader, I won’t say I don’t want to see him. “We thought we were non-partisan. We talked about security, payment of salaries and political appointments. Not a single word was used to indicate endorsement and I did not endorse Bello.
“I am still in PDP, I remain committed to the party.”

etrouble:
These people want to totally destroy Dino just as they destroyed Saraki the Mesugamba.

The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) says it will explore the possibility of using the Nov. 16 governorship election to conduct a fresh election for the Kogi West Senatorial district.

The INEC National Commissioner in charge of Kogi, Nasarawa and Kwara States, Alhaji Mohammed Haruna, dropped the hint in Lokoja on Friday.

Fielding questions from newsmen on the Court Appeal judgment nullifying the election of Sen. Dino Melaye, Haruna said that since the governorship election was still 34 days away, there was possibility for the election to hold same day.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the Court of Appeal in Abuja nullified the election of PDP’s Melaye and ordered INEC to conduct fresh election within 90 days of its judgment.
The judgment was on the petition filed by Sen. Smart Adeyemi, the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the February 26 election.

The INEC national commissioner was in Lokoja for a workshop on fake news organised for media executives, journalists and bloggers by the International Foundation for Electoral System (IFES) in collaboration with INEC.

Haruna told the participants to be wary of fake news and its implications, saying that unverified news should not be allowed space.

Read Also: Kogi 2019: INEC denies recruiting APC members as returning officers
He also enjoined them to support INEC to institute credible electoral process in the country.

On concern in some quarters on the possible manipulation of the card reading machine by unscrupulous politicians, the national commissioner dismissed it as “practically impossible’’.

He also assured that the commission would allow a level playing ground for all candidates in the election, but appealed to them to play the game according to rules.

The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ), Mr Adeiza Jimoh, assured that journalists would be professional in the discharge of their duties before, during and after the election.

He commended the IFES and INEC for organising the refresher for his members, saying that the workshop is timely.

kingkakaone:
What you fail to understand is that they are still in the same party. Would you rather he support the PDP candidate against his own party's candidate?

That being said, I don't care about any politician. Both the APC and PDP are one and same.

ELJC:
sent to all who requested.

celeiyke:
[s]Yahaya Bello alone we know. Tinubu n Osho baba with our Buhari' will deliver him. Argue with ursef[/s]

fergie001:
Great, served in Gbede ...

mike404:
ARE YOU A YORUBA MAN

fergie001:
Seems you are from Kogi West.. Okun ooooooooo

Chrisus:
9 goals and Oshoala no see 1 score? Wetin happen now?

The distruption and sporadic shootings in the early hours of today at venue of PDP primary which led to an abrupt end of the exercise was aimed at Kogi West Senator, Dino Melaye.
The bid by Sen Dino Melaye to join the governorship race have since unsettled the camp of governor Yahaya Bello.
It is in the public domain already that Sen Dino Melaye is the only threat to the reelection of governor Bello with all capacities to defeat him.
The gunmen came chanting different languages and forced their way into the venue with Dino Melaye as major target.
We wish to equally bring to the public that Sen Dino Melaye sustained injuries from shots at the venue but now receiving treatment in an undisclosed hospital. Doctors are still battling to stabilize him as a result of the attack.
This is the extent to which they intend to nail their target. We thank God for his life, but surely, evil men shall be exposed.
For us, election is not a war but a process where people are allowed to decide freely who run their affairs. We have it on good authority from their camp to the fact that it is only Sen Dino Melaye that can challenge them in the election ahead.
This led to the plan to disrupt and made him target in bid to cow him.
We wish to state that distinguished Melaye remain unperturbed, strong, more determined and more focused in the project to rescue Kogi state.
We therefore, urge all our supporters across the state to remain law abiding, focus and resolute as light will definitely prevail over darkness.

0KNM:
Dino korò se
Onim noin, eja dibo ghun Dino

yarimo:
Primaries election of losers