From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
Indigenes of Kogi State from Okunland have said the recent visit to the President by some persons “claiming to be representing the interests of Okunland” was a “political trip to market the candidate of the African Democratic Congress, (ADC) in person of Hon. Leke Abejide and not to fight for the interest of the Okun people.”
Speaking on behalf of over 5000 indigenes across Okunland, under the aegis of Okun United, a chieftain of the All Progressives Congress in Ijumu Local Government Area, Mr Toyin Kamal, said the team’s claim of marginalisation was to paint a picture far from what is on the ground in the state.
According to the indigenes, everyone knows that Governor Yahaya Bello has contributed far more to the development of Okunland than “the self-centered representatives parading themselves as patriots.”
Kamal said, “It is unfortunate that they claimed they were representing the Okun interest. When did Hon. Leke Abejide become an Executive of the Okun Development Association?
Who among the people that went there has contributed to the development of Okunland more than Gov. Yahaya Bello? The trip can be simply put as a complete misadventure.
“Governor Yahaya Bello has been very fair to all the Senatorial Districts in the state in terms of projects and appointments.
Those who went to the President should have just told him they came to seek his support for their Governorship Candidate instead of ‘the camouflage of marginalisation’.
“Some of them were signatories to the ill-fated anti-marginalisation letter signed by people who do not understand the dynamics of politics. Now they have taken their fight to the Villa.
“Did they also tell the President that Governor Yahaya Bello just gave Okunland a State University?
Did they tell the President that the College of Education (Technical) has been moved to Mopa/Amuro local government?
Did they tell the President about the Rice Mill and many other projects in Okunland?
Did they tell the President about the Grade A appointments given to Okunland?
“The marginalisation claim is a mischief taken too far. Why didn’t they also add the other two Governorship candidates from Okunland?
“Ododo is a movement that no one can stop.
He is the next Governor of the State and very soon, they will realize that their desperation cannot turn Mr President against his own party. What we believe in is the Kogi Agenda.”
The APC chieftain thanked President Bola Tinubu for being a leader in the true sense of it, saying his response to “the strange visitors should reveal to them that their journey was a futile exercise.”
“President Bola Ahmed Tinubu is a democrat who will listen to all, but he will lead us to victory in November 2023,” he stressed.