The gubernatorial candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) in Kogi State, Engr. Musa Wada has described Kogi governor’s second term inauguration as a “birthday party.”
Speaking with journalists at the home of Elder Simon Abuh who’s wife was burnt alive immediately Yahaya Bello was declared winner, he said, invitation was only extended to few individuals and agents of government who connived to rig the November 16th governorship election for Bello.
He said, while the birthday party, which was disguised as second term inauguration was going on secretly, Kogi people were lamenting outside as a result of their temporary dashed hopes.
Wada and his entourage who dressed in black, said, they were mourning the death of Salome Acheju Abuh who he described as a heroine of Kogi State democracy.
“Today is 27th of January 2020, the supposed date for the inauguration of the elected Government by the people of Kogi State, but of course the opposite is the case for reasons best known to you all.
“We are in the home of the heroine of the election of the popular mandate that Kogi people gave to the PDP and its candidate. Instead of the celebration, we are here to mourn the temporary death of democracy in Kogi State.
“The heroine of the struggle is no other person than Mrs Salome Acheju Abu.
“We liken what is happening in the capital city of the state Lokoja as a case of somebody who stole a vehicle that is not his own, the person can not drive the vehicle around publicly.
“That is why the inauguration has become an invitation affair. In a popularly elected scenario, there would have been celebration in town and the Stadium would be agog, but of course, we learnt that there is tension in Lokoja, it has become like a birthday party where invitations are sent to people who conceived with them to rig the election, to perpetrate the violence, so, I say, it is like a stolen thing he cannot enjoy it publicly.”
Engr. Wada was upbeat that he would retrieve the mandate through the Tribunal, while urging the electorate to be law abiding.
“I assure the people, I assure all of you present here, the family of this late woman that the popular victory for PDP by the people of Kogi State would come back soon.
“Like you know, we are in court, because we believe the judiciary is the hope of the common man.
“I have come to see Mr. Abu who of course is the worst hit because the life of the home sacrificed her soul for democracy and the people of Kogi State.
“Right now, Kogi State is under bondage, Kogi State is being ruled by people who don’t even care about them.
The widower, Simon Abu, filled with emotion insisted on justice for his deceased wife.
He said those who were actually involved in the dastardly act with their sponsors have not been apprehended yet.
According to him, the thugs were praising their godfather while perpetrating the heinous act.
“My wife left as a political celebrity. If look at the departures of women in Nigeria, starting from Hajia Gambo Sawaba from the North, Kudirat Abiola from the West, Margaret Ekpo from the South south and here in the North central is Salome Acheju my wife.
“The way she left is different from how others left. She was burnt alive for the cause of the land. We pray that the land and the God we serve will give us justice.
“I dont have any government on my side, because these guys that did it were chanting a song praising their Godfather.
“They were shooting sporadically scaring people away from the home. I have written petition to the President, I have made my statement with the police, I have done the statement with the public and aid remain consistent that my wife was burnt alive for the trust she had for democracy and for PDP.
“We have forgiven those who did it and if Government forgives them so be it.
He wondered at how those who perpetrated the act were still moving freely, adding that they are those known to every body in the community.