A top aspirant for the ticket of All Progressives Congress (APC) in the forthcoming Kogi State governorship election, Senator Nurudeen Abatemi-Usman, has promised to run an all-inclusive government that will give all citizens in Kogi State a sense of belonging, if he emerged the next governor of the state.
Abatemi-Usman, former Vice Chairman of Senate Committee on Niger Delta Affairs, made the pledge while speaking through his media adviser, Michael Jegede, in a statement issued in Abuja on Monday.
According to the ex-lawmaker, Kogi State needs a Governor that would entrench good governance and pave way for the overall development of the state in the interest of the people.
“There is no gainsaying the fact that Kogi State is one of the most backward states in the country today. You will feel pained as an indigene of the state when you compare Kogi with other states created at about the same time with it. Honestly, we do not have any reason to be where we are, if not for the monumental corruption, mismanagement of resources and bad leadership that have characterized the administration of the affairs of the state since it was created almost 24 years ago.
“I am therefore coming on a mission to transform the state and move it to where it should be in terms of infrastructural and socio-economic development. With a proper utilization of the resources at our disposal, we will take Kogi out of the doldrums and make it a state our people will be proud of any time, any day.
“Our government will be all-embracing if I become Kogi Governor. We shall not marginalize or discriminate against anybody, group or area in the state. We will be fair to all and sundry. Ours shall be a government built on trust, fairness, equity and justice. We shall give to the Igalas what belongs to them; the Okun, Ebira, Bassa, Konto and all other tribes and ethnic groups shall get their due accordingly,” Abatemi-Usman assured.
The aspirant, who is in his early forties, expressed hope that the leadership of the APC will conduct a transparent and credible primary poll that will produce the most acceptable among the contestants for the party’s ticket.
Expressing confidence that he would come out victorious at the Kogi APC primaries, Abatemi-Usman appealed to the delegates to remain resolute and vote according to their conscience without allowing anybody to deceive them with any form of inducement.
He also called on the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to endeavour to conduct a free and fair election in the state, while imploring the commission to improve upon the gains of the last general elections made possible by the use of card readers.
Senator Abatemi-Usman also said the coming election should not be seen as a “do-or-die” affair, while praying for peace to reign supreme throughout the electioneering period in the state.
INEC has already announced 21 November, 2015 as the date for the Kogi guber election, while political parties are expected to conduct their primaries between August 25 and September 15.
