Igala nation has rejected the candidacy of current governor of Kogi state, Yahaya Bello for the November governorship election.
The ‘Ukomu Igala’ which represents the entire race and Diasporas, said in Jos, capital of plateau state that it has rejected the purported endorsement of the incumbent governor Bello by traditional rulers at a recent visit to President Muhammadu Buhari in Aso Villa, Abuja.
In a statement signed by its National Leader, Rtd. Comptroller Abdul Amade and made available to newsmen, states: “Arising from its emergency general meeting held in Jos, the Plateau state capital, the Ukomu Igala Organisation,UIO, in a swift reaction to the numerous calls from various Igala sons and daughters within and outside Nigeria over the evidently stage -managed visit of our Traditional Rulers from Kogi state to President Muhammad Buhari in an attempt to seek his support for the imposition of a particular candidate on the good people of Kogi state in the forth coming governorship election in November 2019, wish to state in clear and unambiguous terms, that the entire Igala race which the voice (Ukomu Igala) represents, is not happy with the ongoing siege on our Traditional Rulers.
The people stated: “That the presentation made during the said visit, is not a true reflection of the wishes and aspirations of the good people of the Igala Kingdom as the Traditional Rulers were merely arm- twisted to make a commitment in favour of the ongoing political aspirations of individual interests in Kogi state and urged the President to disregard the tele-guided message in the interest of peace and justice that informed the massive support of Kogites for the change mantra.”
The statement further reads:
“That the people of Kogi state who overwhelmingly voted for President Muhammed Buhari in the last Presidential election, did so in solidarity with the President who has been adjudged to be one of the most upright and financially disciplined Nigerian. This position of the President must not be allowed to be stained as we urge the President not to allow individual interests to becloud his political judgment based on the contents of the speech during the visit by our Traditional Rulers.”
The Igalas’ warned, however, ” That the Traditional Rulers remain the custodian of the culture and tradition of our people and are by their status, expected to sacredly be respected as such and not coerced into any form of political manoeuvring.”
“We therefore call on President Muhammad Buhari, National Officers of the APC and other Political Parties to disregard all clandestine and deceptive moves by any individual or groups to misrepresent the feelings and yearnings of the good people of Kogi state by ensuring that only credible candidates with good track records should be allowed to fly their governorship tickets in the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi state.”
According to them, “Indeed, our people are tired of the extreme insecurity, hunger and pestilence in Kogi state.”