By Kingsley Fanwo
A power rotation advocacy group in Kogi State, Yagba Union has condemned the choice of Hon. James Abiodun Faleke as running mate to the APC governorship candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu, saying the choice was aimed at shutting Yagba out of the political equation of the state in the next dispensation.
Rising from its extraordinary meeting in Odo Ere, headquarters of Yagba West Local Government Area, the Union said it has resolved to mobilize for any party which picks a Yagba man or woman as running mate in the spirit of equity and justice.
Briefing newsmen at the end of the meeting, the spokesman of the group, Hon. Joseph Fagbemi said APC has been unfair to the people of Yagba.
“During the run-up to the 2015 general elections, everyone knew it was the turn of Yagba to produce Kogi West Senator. Between 1999-2007, Sen. Tunde Ogbeha from Lokoja/Koto was in the Senate. Sen. Smart Adeyemi from Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu took over from 2007-2015. As the third federal constituency in the tripod, Yagba should have produced the Senator during the last Senatorial poll, but Prince Abubakar Audu deprived us of the opportunity to have a Senator by hijacking the process.
“Prince Abubakar Audu used the oil subsidy trial to stop our illustrious son, Hon. Samuel Bamidele Aro. But the same party has refused to stop Audu who is standing trial for …allege. They coerced our highly respected son, Prince Babatunde Irukera to step down from the governorship primary of the party.
“Everyone had thought APC will compensate Yagba with the choice of a governorship running mate, but they have gone to the same Ijumu to pick someone who is representing Ikeja 2 Constituency in the House of Representatives. Where was Faleke when Yagba people were toiling to build APC in Kogi State?
“As a result of this avalanche of injustice to Yagba people, we have decided to withdraw our support for APC. We will still be watching to see the party that will pick a Yagba person as governorship running mate. We owe our people protection from political victimization and marginalization”.
The Union also directed its members to brace up for massive participation in the next governorship election, saying the election will determine the long-term relevance of Yagba people in the politics of the state.
“A party that prides itself in justice and anti-corruption has shown that it was only paying lip service to those values. If we vote APC in Yagba, what will be our political gain? This is the reason all Yagba people must come out to speak with one voice against a party that is against our interest. Marketing the candidature of Prince Audu to the people he denied the Senatorial ticket will not be a wise adventure”, he said.
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