Group Calls Out Bello Over Undemocratic Rule, Endorses Muritala

A group known as Igala Conscience has tackled the Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, over what it described as reckless and undemocratic administration in the state.

The group who declared this on Friday in Abuja during a world press conference endorsed Muritala Ajaka  as their preferred candidate for the November bound election.

A Federal University Lecturer, Dr Idris Idoko in his address lamented that the residents of the state have suffered a lot from Bello's administration, with laying off workers, insecurity and political violence on the increase.

"With the new administration came reckless laying off of civil servants without regards for due process, the new direction brought untold hardship on Kogi people regardless of ethnic affiliation because all employees in the service of Kogi state are owed salaries; a new direction of electoral violence and political vindictiveness heralded in Kogi state.

"We are here to make a statement with far-reaching implications for the future of Kogi state.

"Yes, the future of Kogi State because what affects Enejo on the streets of Ankpa hurts Oyiza in Okene as well as Gbenga in Kabba. 

"We have lived together as a United Kogi State and have grown together until 2015 when a new direction was forced on the people of Kogi state by fate.

"Our story is the same and our future is shared.Our course is just, our means of achieving that glorious destiny is holy.

"That’s why we call on all Kogites regardless of place of origin, to rise up and reclaim our freedom under law and together begin the remaking the new Kogi State of our dreams."

Speaking on the endorsement of of Muritala Ajaka, Dr. Idoko stated, "To win the next election, we need a man who can stand up to and have stood up fearlessly against the corrupt and failed system in our state.

"A man who has demonstrated an uncanny political strategy to winning elections, who is a smart fundraiser, who wouldn’t worry about his solvency after the November governorship election, a man with a massive war chest for the campaigns ahead.

"We are convinced, having considered all the candidates on all political platforms across Kogi state going into the November 11 governorship election, that Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, having developed many parts of Kogi state in his private capacity, provided succour to many displaced by flood in Kogi state, expended personal resources to ensure the elections of many state and federal legislators in Kogi State.

"Muri is eminently qualified and he is hereby endorsed and adopted as the candidate that all kogites, regardless of ethnic origin, should vote massively to elect as governor of Kogi state in November."