Gov. Yahaya Bello Denies Ordering Traditional Rulers To Shun SDP Gov’ship Candidate.

– Reiterates Endorsement Of Recent Joint Security Operation

By Abubakar S. H

Gov. Yahaya Bello of Kogi has debunked the widespread speculations by the governorship candidate of Social Democratic Party, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka who made a spurious allegations saying a circular was issued to traditional rulers in the state not to receive him.

In a press briefing organized by the Commissioner for Information and Communications in the state,  Evangelist Kingsley Fanwo said the governorship candidate of SDP, Murtala Yakubu Ajaka was said to have accused the state govern-
ment of issuing a circular
to traditional rulers not to
receive him.

Fanwo however said the SDP candidate must produce a copy of the circular within seven days or face legal action.

Kogi State Government thereby gives the candidate of the Social
Democratic Party (SDP), Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, seven-day ultimatum to prove that the state government directed traditional rulers not to receive him or face legal action.

Fanwo further stressed that other governorship candidates like the PDP, AA, APC and others have been visiting traditional rulers in the state, why would the state government issue circular to them not to receive Murtala Ajaka, it’s a spurious and mischievous allegations, he said.

Similarly, Kogi State Government has reiterated its endorsement of the recent joint operation carried out by security agencies in the state, in which a notorious gang leader was neutralised, saying that the operation has reduced crime in the area by over 40 per cent.

The Commissioner for Information in the state, Kingsley Fanwo stressed that no amount of blackmail by desperate enemies of the state would stop the government from protecting lives and property of Kogites and cooperating totally with law enforcement agencies to rid the state of crime.

He said the Kogi State Government would not submit its authority to criminals, while calling on security agencies to invite those tagging the operation an extrajudicial killing and inciting violence for thorough investigation.

“They must be held to account for their claims,” he stressed, adding, “We can’t come this far taming terrorists for the past 90 months only to lose it to the garrulous crime-sponsors defending a criminal.”

The Commissioner said the government would do everything within the curve of law to guarantee a peaceful poll in November, warning that intimidation, ethnic/ religious profiling and other anti-social and unconstitutional acts would be met with stiff resistance.

“It is our responsibility to give confidence to our people that they are free from attacks while exercising their franchise,” he noted.

Fanwo stated, “The recent happening at Ejule was a necessary stitch-in-time led by security agents in the state to rid our state of criminalty. For the upteenth time, we reiterate our endorsement of the operation that has brought down insecurity in that area by over 40%.

“The late Kabir Bala popularly known as Okwo was a terror in the East, kidnapping and raping young women and housewives and terrorising the entire Kogi East.

“Motorists traversing the state were subjected to ‘Okwo levy’ to the embarrassment of the State, among other acts of extreme intimidation and criminality.

“Chapter 4, Section 33 of the Constitution of Federal Republic of Nigeria talked extensively about the various rights conferred on the citizens of Nigeria, one of which is the right to life. But these rights have limitations.

“Kabir Bala opened fire on security operatives with the intent to murder them. According to the report by the security agencies, they engaged his gang at this point and he was neutralised in the process.

“A person who attempts to evade lawful arrest and even attempts to kill security agents can no longer hold on to such rights. His killing couldn’t be termed extra-judicial by any standard.

“The question you need to ask the SDP fans of the late Kabir Bala is: What is their interest in the criminal enterprise of the late crime-lord? Was there a pact between them and the late notorious leader to assassinate members of other parties?

“We are patiently waiting for the Law Enforcement agents to unravel the mystery by inviting those making unguarded, reckless statements without minding the approbrium of being associated with a serial killer.

“Our Government will not submit its authority to criminals. We can’t come this far taming terrorists for the past 90 months only to lose it to the garrulous crime-sponsors defending a criminal. We call on security agencies to call the actors inciting violence for thorough investigation. They must be held to account for their claims.”