By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
An Ogun state based, Centre for Peace, Democracy and Development, has called on the lovers of democracy and good governance across Kogi state to massively support the candidate of the Social Democratic party, (SDP), Muritala Yakubu Ajaka in the November 11, 2023, governorship election for the emancipation of the people.
The centre in conjunction with Igala Renaissance in Ogun state made the call on Monday during the stakeholders meeting held at Abeokuta.
The center which is a convergence of political, cultural and social groupings of indigenous people of Kogi state, in Ogun state, has begun conversation on the need for free, fair and just election in Kogi state.
In a Press Statement signed by the President of the center, Comrade Dan Alphaeus Adejoh and made available to journalists in Lokoja, noted that the centre has decided to throw its weight behind the SDP candidate for his capacity, competence, empathy and his political antecedents in the development of Igala land and Kogi state.
The President, who specifically disclosed that during the 2022 flood that submerged the entire Ibaji Local Government Areas and others in Kogi East, the SDP candidate rose to the occasion by mobilising personal resources to mitigate the adverse effects on the social and economic lives of the people.
He noted that, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, fondly called Muri was up and doing in providing life saving infrastructures to the victims across the Kogi East geo political zone and other affected communities of the state.
According, to Comrade Adejo, having X rayed all the candidates jostling for the Soul of Kogi state, the center came to the conclusion that, Muri processes the know how to provide needed development, that will enshrine unity among the diverse ethnic nationalities of the state.
He advise the people to consider the candidature of Alhaji Muri as a state agenda rather than an ethnic agenda as some are alluding to, even as he encourages electorates to consider competence above ethnic consideration in their choice in the November 11 governorship election.
He said, the groups has started mobilising indigenes of Kogi state resident in all nooks and crannies of Ogun state to show active interest in Muritala Yakubu Ajaka’ s governorship project.
He added that the Centre in synergy with other social -cultural organisations in the state, have pledged their support for the SDP, candidate whom he said, will change the ugly narratives of the state.
Adejo therefore called on those who are yet to collect their Permanent Voters cards, PVCs to do so as it is the only power they have to institute good governance in the state.
While advising candidates to play the game according to the rules to avoid escalation of violence, he said continued existence of Kogi state is of the essence.
“We are appalled by the cacophonous songs of war going on at home. The recent torch of campaign offices of Muri in Lokoja and Dekina was uncalled for. Election should be about choices and not about violence. Every member of the political community has inalienable rights to exercise his or her franchise as defined by the constitution. We therefore charge political parties to educate their members on the need to uphold peace. We equally called on the Security Agencies to be alive to their responsibilities to maintain law and order and to bring perpetrators to book,” Adejoh solicited.
