Stakeholders of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State have
accused Governor Yahaya Bello of a reign of terror in the model of
the biblical King Pharaoh of Egypt.
At a stakeholders meeting of the party in Kogi West Senatorial District held in Isanlu, Yagba East Local Government, the party condemned the recent clampdown on opposition
voice in the state, with particular reference to the continued
detention of Austin Okai, a PDP member and blogger. The party noted that Okai had spent days in detention “over trumped up
charges” and later arraigned and granted bail by a magistrate only to be rearrested
in the court premises shortly after fulfilling the bail conditions.
In a communique issued and signed by the Chairman of the
PDP, Kogi West zone, Barrister Taiwo Kola-Ojo, the party alleged that
not a few workers and pensioners in Kogi State have lost their lives
to hunger and poverty due to alleged refusal by the state governemt
to pay salaries and pensions.
“We call for a halt to the rule of tyranny in Kogi State.
Speciffically we call for the immediate and unconditional release
of Comrade Austin Okai. The leadership also resolved to, henceforth,
mobilize against persecution of PDP members in the zone and the state
as a whole.
“We appraised governance in Kogi State in the 15 months of Governor
Yahaya Bello in the saddle. The unending screening exercise, refusal
to pay salary and pensions to workers, are making Kogi
people to slump and die on daily basis from poverty and hunger. It is
observed that a King Pharaoh has reincarnated in Kogi State and the
Pharaoh is Governor Yahaya Bello. The mysterious disease that is
making people to die untimely death is Governor Yahaya Bello. The Lord
will save us from it as he saved the people of Israel from surfering
in the hands of King Pharaoh of Egypt. We call on workers,
pensioners and the electorate to rise up to their freedom by voting
out the APC from power.
‘We viewed the unending screening exercise as a veil to divert public
attention from the over N100b accruing from monthly allocations from
the federation account, bailout, Paris Club and development refunds
which members and agents of the Yahaya Bello government have not been
able to account for.
“Our members dismissed the political gimmickry and threats that civil
servants, pensioners, former councilors and state appointees who are PDP members would not be paid their salary arrears/entitlement unless they register as
APC members.
The meeting denounced the APC-led state government for
embarking on a “wild goose chase” at best an act of illegality that
will not stand the test of time and urged the citizens owed by the state
government to demand prompt payment of their wages, remain
steadfast and not to be swayed by empty threats”.
The meeting was attended by members of the party from the seven
local government areas in Kogi West Senatorial District. Prominent
members at the meeting include Kola-Ojo, Hon Sunday Karimi, member,
House of Representatives for Yagba Federal Constituency who hosted
the meeting, Hon TJ Yusuf, member, House of Representatives for
Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency, member, Kogi State House of
Asembly, Yagba West Constituency, Hon Toyin Lawal, a former member of
the House Of Representatives for Yagba Federal Constituency, Hon TJ
Faniyi, former PDP State Chairman, Hon Hassan Salau, former state
House of Assembly members, former chairmen and councilors and chairmen
of the PDP in the seven local government areas, among others.
“The impressive attendance was viewed as a positive sign of commitment
and unwavering loyalty by members; that PDP remains the dominant party
in Kogi West, “ the communique added.