By Ademu Idakwo
Leaders under the aegis of the Kogi East Movement have condemned the alleged reconciliation between former Social Democratic Party (SDP) governorship candidate, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, and his former political benefactor turned rival, ex-governor Yahaya Bello.
Ajaka was recently seen with Bello in what appeared to be a reconciliation meeting, a development he later confirmed, admitting that he apologized over the political disagreements that arose between them ahead of the 2023 governorship election in Kogi State.
In what appeared to be a continuation of the reconciliation moves, Ajaka was also spotted with Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo on Wednesday at the Government House in Lokoja.
Shortly after the meeting was publicized by his media aides, leaders from the Igala/Bassa-speaking areas of Kogi East, under the platform of the Kogi East Movement, convened a meeting in Abuja where they expressed disappointment in the former governorship candidate.
The group described Ajaka’s reconciliation with the APC leadership in the state as hasty and unfortunate.
According to the group, the decision taken by their son was not in the best interest of the Igala nation, especially as many people were still nursing the pain of deaths and destruction of property recorded during the last governorship election in the state.
Speaking to journalists in a video shared on social media, the group leader, Alhaji Hassan Yakubu Enape, said Ajaka was wrong to have allegedly surrendered to former governor Yahaya Bello.
“Did he apologize for contesting the governorship election or for listening to the call of his people?
“The ugly scars left by the election on our land have not healed, yet the same son for whom we made sacrifices has gone back to apologize to him,” he said.
Enape further stated that the people of Kogi East were now more determined than ever to collectively
elect credible leaders in the 2027 general elections without external interference.
“We will speak with one voice in the 2027 general elections by choosing credible candidates our people can support for the House of Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate, and of course, the governorship,” he added.
Recall that the former SDP governorship candidate, Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, recently defected to the APC, where he is expected to contest for the Kogi East senatorial seat.
Meanwhile, an APC chieftain from Yagba West, Somunu Adeyemi, has cautioned leaders of the Kogi East Movement against fanning the embers of disunity in the state, warning that the quest for political power should not be turned into a war among brothers.
“All of us in this state are brothers and sisters. I expect the group to commend Muri for embracing peace instead of casting aspersions on him.
“He may have been wrong not to inform the people before taking such a bold decision, but regardless of how anyone feels, we should forgive one another and move on,” he said while speaking with our correspondent.
