Kogi Patriots For Development.
Motto: Making Development Our Goals.
No 16b Murtala Mohammed Road, Lokoja.
Gen. Abdulsalami Abubakar (RTD)
Chairman,
National Peace Committee
Abuja – FCT
Attention:
Bishop Mathew Hassan Kukah,
Secretary,
National Peace Committee.
Dear Sir,
DISREGARD COMPLAINT/NOTICE OF THREAT TO PEACE AND SECURITY BY THE GOVERNMENT OF KOGI STATE.
We write, as a matter of urgency, to draw the attention of Your Excellency, to the spurious lies and allegations against the Government of Kogi State, led by His Excellency, Gov. Yahaya Bello raised by the Peoples Democratic Party, Kogi State Chapter ahead of the forthcoming general election and electioneering activities.
Your Excellency, permit us to state that the fear of woeful loss ahead of the forthcoming February election is what has enveloped the PDP to cry wolf where none exist.
With reference to the September 4, 2022 gathering at Government Technical College Oboroke, Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State, nowhere did Gov. Yahaya Bello threaten to lead a team of thugs with firepower to kill and maim those who oppose him in the forthcoming election, particularly the National Assembly election.
Even the blind, the deaf can attest to the fact that Kogi State is an APC state, with the government acclaimed to be in the vanguard for peace and development. Your Excellency, it is on record that the governor’s priority in the last six years has been peace. It is the reason, His Excellency, has been honoured nationally and internationally with prestigious awards for peace.
It will interest Your Excellency to equally note that, before the advent of the present administration, Kogi Central Senatorial District in particular was regarded as flashpoint and insecure. It may interest Your Excellency to note that at some point under the leadership of the PDP administration, over 300 houses in Ihima, Okehi Local Government Area were razed down by the PDP, owing to the poor handling of the political rivalry existing amongst the members.
We are however glad to state that, the proactive steps taken by Gov. Yahaya Bello on assumption as governor, has restored peace to the area till date.
We make bold to also State that having sworn to the oath to serve and protect lives and properties, Gov. Yahaya Bello, has consciously, broken the jinx of religious bigotry, ethnic and class barriers, ensured that peace has prevailed in the State, with Kogi Central, as the greatest beneficiary of the APC led administration’s resolve and commitment to peace and tranquillity.
Your Excellency, it is important to state that never in the history of Kogi State, have the people enjoyed fairness and equitable distribution of infrastructure like is presently witnessed under the Gov. Yahaya Bello’s administration.
While the infrastructure development of the APC led administration under Gov. Yahaya Bello has been reputed to have scored many first in project execution and delivery, we make bold to state that, Kogi Central Senatorial District has had its own fair share of unprecedented infrastructure, a feat that has made the APC led administration the toast of citizens of the area.
While we would not want to bore His Excellency with the uncountable projects of the APC led administration in Kogi State. It is however important to State that beginning with the Kogi East, where in the State’s history, over 300 communities are now connected to the National grid and now enjoying electricity under the Light Up Kogi East Projects. The APC administration has constructed roads, world class health institutions, schools and other infrastructure that past administration from the area under the PDP administration failed to execute while in office for 16 years.
Your Excellency, it is noteworthy to also State that, the APC led administration under Gov. Yahaya Bello has brought democracy dividends to the doorsteps of the people of Kogi West, particularly in the areas of road infrastructure, electrification, schools and hospitals, flyover bridge at Ganaja, first in history of the State, Muhammadu Buhari Civic Centre and the repositioning of the Lokoja, Specialist Hospital.
Your Excellency, without overstating the obvious, the Central Senatorial District has gotten a massive development of infrastructure never witnessed in the area by any administration that ever ruled the State. We make bold to State that nearly all roads have been constructed and rehabilitated in the area. Today, the multi billion naira State-of-the-art Okene Reference Hospital remains a flagship of the APC led administration. Beyond his campaign promises to the area, the Central Senatorial District has GYB Model Science Secondary Schools, dotting the landscape, and the Confluence University of Science and Technology, Osara.
Also, the various erosion control projects in Central Senatorial District and East Senatorial District speaks volumes; it is the first time the people would witness an attempt by a responsive government to protect the environment, a feat that has rated the Gov. Yahaya Bello’s administration as the best thing to have ever happened to Kogi Central.
While the PDP has chosen to hide under a finger to raise mundane issues that bothers on security, it is important to State that the present administration in the State has allowed for unhindered political activities if it falls within the ambit of the law; at no time was the Party asked to vacate its campaign office in Okene through an ultimatum because it is posing threat to some infrastructure in Okene.
The Party, PDP proposed to occupy just like the APC, the economic nerve centres of the Okene metropolis that has over time witnessed lots of avoidable political crisis, destructions and death because of its proximity to and unhindered access to the points of economic and administrative interests where people congregated reason why necessary action had to be taken to forestall unforeseen circumstances.
The Central Mosque, the Central Market and the Local Government Secretariat are critical Government interest that must be protected very strongly from the “usual “threat, which this present administration has been able to correct, restore and maintain.
The right to campaign has its limitations. In fact, campaign activities are regulated by the law and security agencies. We urge Your Excellency, to make verifiable claims to the cry and hue of the PDP, which in any case, is already a signal to the imminent defeat staring them on the face. For those who live in Kogi State, not like the diaspora PDP chairman who last visited the State two years ago, the State enjoys peace, even now that the electioneering campaigns are on.
It is on good authority that Engr. Dr. Samuel Uhoutu, the State Party Chairman is not speaking the reality. We are aware that the threat of impeachment facing the PDP Chairman for residing in Abuja in the last two years while offering leadership to the party on paper may have informed his baseless and uninformed outcry.
Interestingly, Gov. Yahaya Bello constructed the road from Obehira to Oboroke which Engr Uhoutu plies to his house, while the Government Girls Secondary School, Oboroke and Government Technical College, all in the PDP Chairman’s home town are completed and ongoing.
We therefore urge Your Excellency, members of the peace committee to discountenance the letter by the Kogi State Chapter of the PDP, as line by line, the spirit and intent of the letter is aimed only at raising unnecessary apprehension over nothing.
We make bold to State that Kogi State remains the most peaceful State with all political parties carrying out their electioneering activities unhindered with the unprecedented infrastructure development in the State verifiable.
Signed.
Adeku Ibrahim Senusi
Chairman
Usman Chado
Secretary