In less than four days to the gubernatorial primary election of the All Progressive Congress in Kogi State slated to hold on the 14th of April, 2023, the political atmosphere in the state keeps getting clouded with intense suspense of not knowing what to expect particularly as the incumbent governor and leader of the party in the state, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Bello has refused to show any sign of endorsement to any aspirant from either of the three senatorial districts in the state.
The state of suspense has opened the door for many groups and individuals to advocate for their preferred zones to enjoy the candidacy of the party. No doubt, the agitation is never out of place.
However, as a concerned party faithful of the All Progressive Congress in Kogi State, the need to stress on the fact that “the party is supreme and that any anti party activities remains an enemy to the success of any party”, remains sacrosanct. Bearing this in mind, births my impetus for which I write to call on the attention of Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke alias JAF on his “Voice of Jacob and Hands of Esau” role in the just concluded National Assembly Election In Okun Land; Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu And Yagba Federal Constituency Respectively which obviously threatens the popularity of The All Progressive Congress In Okun Land.
It is no longer news that Rt. Hon. Faleke played silent yet audible roles in support of the electoral victory of the African Democratic Party, ADC, in Yagba and Kabba Bunu Ijumu Federal Constituencies in the House of Representatives election which ushered in Elder Leke Abejide For Yagba and Arc. Idris Salman for Kabba Bunu Ijumu. The available evidence to this allegation is seen from how Elder Leke Openly declared JAF who is in APC as his leader and even attended a critical stakeholders meeting organised by JAF for Kogi West APC leaders. As if this was never enough, a good number of those appointed into the APC Presidential Campaign Council by JAF by virtue of his influence as the Secretary of the Tinubu Shetima Presidential Campaign Council, were more of ADC members than APC in other words, they were more of wolfs in sheep skin. This empowered them to comfortably work against the success of the party in both Federal Constituencies in Okun land for the House of Representatives election as this was their particular seat on target and as they will have it, they succeeded.
Just yesterday, I read online an open address from Rt. Hon. Faleke adding his voice to the call for the zoning of Kogi APC governorship ticket to the Western Senatorial District, with the claim that, that is what equity, justice and fairness would mean in the state. The call is not actually a condemnable one in any way.
However, my concern lies in the statement made by Hon. JAF “APC can not afford to be in the opposition in Kogi State”. This statement would leave anyone who exercises rationality to ask questions such as“Should the delegates votes otherwise of the position of JAF, Will he be deterred to supporting the party’s candidate and the party in the election towards victory at the November gubernatorial general election ?” and does not giving a particular zone the party’s ticket means the party will not triumph at the general election?
Well, because the party is supreme and we believe that the party will go through all means not punishable under the law to produce its flag bearer, I want to assure Rt. Honourable James Faleke that the party will coast to landslide electoral victory because we will go all out to harvest votes for the party just like we did for Tinubu Shetima in the state.
Again, it becomes necessary that with all sense of humility, a passionate and party faithfulness appeal is made to Hon. JAF to please come out clean and sincere with his support for the party in the state and not play the unpatriotic role he was alleged of in the last election in Okun land which has cost the party two House Of Representatives Seats in Kogi West Senatorial District. In fact rumour has it that His financial push for the Party in Okun land fell from the hands of JAF to Leke Abejide who in turn used it in favour of his re-election bid, annexed to his brother arch salma as against APC Candidates.
Today, Elder Leke Abejide, is also contesting for the governorship’s seat under the aegis of the African Democratic Congress and he is believing again to ride on the horse of the Faleke political train. Let us not also forget that the former two term Commissioner of finance to Governor Yahaya Bello who is also an Okun man from Yagba land is also in the race under the APC. Should the delegates give him their votes, will JAF wholeheartedly support him against his own acolytes; Leke Abejide of the ADC should he also clinch the ADC’s ticket? bearing in mind that JAF has on special occasions emphasised that he do not want to have anything to do with anyone who is attached to the governor Yahaya Bello’s administration, this question is one begging for answer.
Let it be recalled that JAF was the running mate to late Prince Abubakar Audu who was from the Eastern Senatorial District of the state and should death not have called the late icon away, JAF would have been an accomplice to the 20th years of stay in office by a particular zone.
Again, JAF’s initial show of interest in the gubernatorial race in one way or the other gave a renewed hope to a lot of people especially those who believes in him from Kogi West but because he found another assignment more of importance to him, he pulled out from the gubernatorial race. He found his own interest more paramount than the Kogi West Interest.
Furthermore, seeking for Governor Yahaya Bello to be reminded of how he emerged the governor of Kogi state is as good as telling every aspirant too to go tightened their belt and work harder just like Bello did while contesting along with Late Prince Abubakar Audu and others. He dared and dared to the finish until God’s grace crowned his hardworking spirit even when the likes of JAF preferred working for Audu to make the eastern senatorial districts emerge for the 20th years in Lugard House while Kogi Central and West Senatorial Districts had aspirants too in same primary election.
My prayer therefore remains thus;
May the best man and the will of God prevail. The hunt for a worthy and successful successor is not an easy task, ask Tinubu who served as an Executive Governor of Lagos State. One of the wrong steps to the downfall of a leader is not to have a successful successor.
I stand with GYB/APC before, during and even after Kogi APC 2023 Primary election.
Abraham Jacob,
APC Stalwart
Kogi State.
10/04/2023