Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State

Richard Elesho

The Kogi State Government has dismissed allegations of third term agenda and harassment levied by the governorship candidate of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in the state, Leke Abejide, against Governor Yahaya Bello, describing them as “unintelligent and senseless.”

The Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo, in a statement in Lokoja, on Thursday, revealed that the ADC Candidate does not have the clout and capacity to lead the state.

He said Abejide was one of those just making up the numbers in the line-up of Governorship candidates, adding that he (Abejide) knows, in his closet, that he is not in the Governorship race, according to popularity polls, but could at best aspire to be Governor of his clan.

Fanwo added that the ADC candidate’s spurious claim that the aspiration of the governorship candidate of the APC, Usman Ododo, was Governor Yahaya Bello’s third term agenda, “is a reflection of his level of intelligence.”

According to him, Abejide, whom he described as a “WAEC fee politician” has obviously been dazed by the “overwhelming support the APC candidate is receiving in Kogi State”.

“Hon. Leke Abejide’s campaign has been based on these spurious and senseless allegations. And each time I come across his statements, I shake my head at his level of pettiness, mediocrity, and opportunistic desperation.

“What Kogites want to hear is a clear plan on how to consolidate on the great achievements of the incumbent governor.

“But, expectedly, he has continued to miss the chance to impress the people. He has always been involved in sessions of desperation, opportunism, hate-peddling, and crass ignorance of statecraft.

“Ahmed Usman Ododo emerged based on his pedigree and readiness to take the state forward. He was in government for seven years and has a proper grasp of what needs to be done to consolidate on the widely acclaimed achievements of the current administration.

“Hon Leke Abejide is not ready for this level. He needs more years to understand that never again will Kogi go back to the era of dangerous political and ethnic division. We have passed that stage under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello,” Fanwo stated.

“Wherever our candidate, Alh. Usman Ododo goes to, and he demonstrates how he will develop the state. Nobody talks about ethnicity because it is no longer a part of our political lexicon in Kogi State. He discusses development, unity, and collective prosperity.

“Hon. Leke Abejide romances APC leaders at the centre, talks ill of them behind the scenes, and comes to Kogi to condemn the same party. That shows a politician without a clear-cut ideology, but self-serving and egocentric. Modern leadership does not accommodate garrulous and confused multiparty agents of confusion,” the Commissioner said.

“As a second term House of Representatives member, it is expected that Hon. Leke Abejide would have learnt some modicum of civility. His allegation that the Governor had perfected a plan to be collecting money from the State after his tenure is not only reckless but also a confirmation of the fact that Abejide is undeserving of occupying positions of responsibility.

“I therefore challenge Leke Abejide, in line of the principle of ‘onus probandi’, to prove the allegation as the burden of proof is on him. Kogites won’t trust a garrulous and careless talker with the Lugard House,” he declared.

He called on Kogites to ensure peace before, during, and after the election, assuring the people of the Government’s determination to ensure the election was peaceful.