16th October, 2023
By Richard Elesho/Lokoja
The African Democratic Congress (ADC) governorship campaign council in Kogi State on Sunday visited stakeholders in Ogorimagongo Local Council, including monarchs, churches and mosques.
The visit is in continuation of the statewide campaign tour by the ADC governorship candidate for the November 11 election, Leke Abejide, alongside his running mate, Idris Omede and other prominent party members in the Kogi Central Senatorial District.
Addressing some traditional chiefs at the Palace of the Uboro of Ogori, Professor Olu Akerejola, a former Director General, Industrial Training Fund (ITF), Chairman of the ADC campaign council, Chief Shola Ojo said the visit was to seek the blessings of the monarchs for Abejide’s governorship ambition and also to brief them about his plans for the state.
He also called on the people of Ogorimagongo for the support for the actualization of power shift to Kogi West Senatorial District, 32 years after the creation of Kogi State.
“The Igala held power for 19 years. Ebira has held power for the eighth year running. The Ebira also produced Governor during our days in the old Kwara State. In all of these, the area known now as Kogi West has aligned with and supported our Ebira brothers. This is the time for somebody from Kogi West, what is right is right, justice is justice”.
He said although Leke Abejide is not alone, as the zone also has Senator Dino Melaye of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) and Olayinka Braimoh of the African Alliance (AA), the team presented Abejide as the best candidate because of his unblemished records and his performance as a two-term member of House of Representatives, which, he said he has surpassed those of his predecessors justbin his first term.
His performance during his first term , he stressed, served as the pathway to his reelection.
In his remarks, Abejide who, alongside his deputy and entourage worshipped at the Ogorimagongo Church of Nigeria Anglican Communion, enthused that with the prayers and blessings received during the visit, and the warm reception of the Ogorimagongo people, “I can see clearly that our anticipated victory in the November 11 governorship election now stares us at the face and by the grace of God, we will get it”.
He said his knowledge of the problems of the state, which he has been able to tackle with his God given resources through his various empowerment programmes, has prepared him for the task of rescuing the entire state from its present state of socioeconomic dungeon.
He said his payment of WAEC fees in six years, had been extended to Kabba-Bunu-Ijumu federal constituency with the hope of further extension to 21 local government areas of the state.
However, he said the Yahaya Bello administration, in a decision propelled by political expediency, declared free WAEC fees for SSS3 students, starting from November, which is election month. He wondered why it took the Bello administration 7 years to consider payment of WAEC fees for public schools’ students.
He described Ogori as a place rich with arable land which can be transformed into economic benefits.
“I made money from the farm, I was one of the major exporters of sesame seed in the country with partners in over 53 countries.
I came from the private sector backgrounds with mindset of entrepreneurship. My running mate, Dr Idris Omede was President, Association of Professional Bodies of Nigeria, he was President, Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). This is the perfect team that the ADC has presented to Kogi people to lift the state out of dungeon”.
Other places visited were the Juma’at Mosque, Magongo, palaces of Olu Magongo of Magongo and Chairmen, Ogorimagongo Traditional Council, His Royal Highness, Oba Sam Bola Ojo, the palace of the regent of Olu of Ogori and Magongo Civil Centre, where Abejide and the campaign train addressed a mammoth crowd of supporters.
Omede at the Magongo Central Mosque reminded his Moslem brethren that Islam preaches peace. Therefore, he urged them to conduct themselves peacefully before and during the election.
He alsonenjoined them to come out on election day and vote en masse for the ADC as it is the only party trusted to deliver on its campaign promises to the electorate based on the antecedents of Abejide and himself.