20th October, 2021
Ahead of the next governorship election in Kogi, a group, Igala Vanguard has alleged that some top members of the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC have sworn an oath to sabotage the agitations of the Igala people to retake the number one position in the state.
The group, in a statement by its National Coordinator, Engr Lawrence Akpa, alleged that the identified personalities have signed a pact with the Kogi State Governor’s current Chief of Staff, Pharmacist Abdulkarim Jamiu Asuku as the successor of incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello in 2024.
While warning against the repeats of ENEMUNEME slogan of 2019, Akpa said Kogi state has suffered enough in the hands of Bello and the state is eager for a breath of fresh air.
The statement mentioned the member representing Ankpa II state constituency, Hon Alhaji Alfa Momoh Rabiu as the ring leader and the Kogi East APC zonal chairman, Hon Muhammed Nasiru Alfa as another strong man in this conspiracy against Igala and the entire Kogi East.
Other members are Hon Abuh Odoma, Chairman Idah Local Government Council; Musa Haruna Idoko, Alhaji Friday Contractor and Prince Ishaq Okolo, Dekina local Government Council Chairman.
Engr Lawrence Akpa called on Igalas to stand up to this emerging threat and warned that “2023 may be worse than what happened in 2019, where a woman was burnt alive in Igala land to please Ebira”.
The group cautioned Hon. Rabiu Alfa to learn from how Bello used Edward Onoja and Hon Ahmed Attah against Igala and dumped them, predicting that they too will suffer similar fate.
Engr Lawrence Akpa also criticized Yahaya Bello for the recent upgrading of Ebira traditional rulers into 1st and 2nd class stools against Igala who are the majority.
He described the governor’s action as childish and myopic for thinking power will remain in Ebira land forever.
While calling on Igala leaders to speak out against the ongoing impunity in the state, the group warned that 2019 must never be allowed to repeat itself