Following the Thursday appointment of the All Progressive Congress (APC) Presidential Campaign Council, Kogi State chapter, a Socio Cultural group, under the umbrella of Igala Vanguard has accused the APC of ruling the state as a Kogi Central ( Ebira) Affairs.
It would be recalled that the Kogi State chapter of APC, had on Thursday, September 29, 2022, announced Asiwaju’s presidential campaign, with Pharm Abdulkareem Jamiyu Asuku
as Campaign Director General; State Coordinator, Governor Yahaya Bello, and Deputy Coordinator, His Excellency, Chief Edward Onoja.
Meanwhile, Bello was appointed BAT/Shettima National Youth Coordinator, and also the Governor Bello Youth Network,Hadi Amteuo is an Ebira man.
Reacting in a statement signed by its National Coordinator, Engr Lawrence Akpa, the Igala Vanguard kicked against the composition of the campaign council, emphasising that they have been sidelined. The group also lamented that the appointments is in breach of democratic decorum.
He noted that the party that condemned tribalism, favoritism, and preaches tolerance on national television and other media spaces is now guilty of what it condemned. “This is unacceptable and also a slap to Kogi East”, the statement said.
According to the statement, what happened on Thursday in Lokoja, is a wake-up call to all Igala sons and daughters that the speculation about Governor Yahaya Bello and Ebira Agenda is nothing but true.
“The state chairman is an Ebira man, Governor is an Ebira man, Campaign Cordinator is an Ebira man ,the National Youths Cordinator is an Ebira man . GYB Network for Asiwaju is Haddi Amteuo and An Ebira man and all we can see here is Ebira family forum”, statement said .
“Kogi State governorship seat is every tribe’s inheritance, hence, the process should always be open for everyone to come and contest, instead of suppressing a section, just because you are in power.”
“If you look at the whole appointments, you will see that it is tilted towards the Bello’s allies, and the message this is sending out is that Ebira would provide the next governor come 2023 and it does not reflect the true character of democracy.