Former Okene Local Government Chairman aspiring to represent the Okene/Ogori-Mangogo at the House of Representatives, Yahaya Karaku has denied allegations of his involvement in the past violent crises in Ebiraland.
Karaku who is seeking to run for Reps seat in the 2027 general elections under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), denied the allegations at his declaration event in Okene.
He stated that rumours that he started the crises were false, noting that he met the crises and did not cause it.
The aspirant further said he has never killed anybody, challenging his accusers to come up with evidence of the allegations.
“I never had issues with anybody directly since I was born.
“The crises in question, I met it on the ground when I was elected local government chairman. If you want to know what caused crises in Ebira land, come and let’s engage ourselves on TAO Radio. I have all the documents. I was not the one that caused crises in Ebira land.
“Some people will hide somewhere and say that there were crisis in Ebira land during Karaku’s tenure. Was I the cause? And I also want to tell all of you, I am not a killer. I have never killed anybody in my life. If you claim I killed anyone, come out and mention that person’s name.
“Well, I thank all the blackmailers. If they didn’t blackmail me, some people may not have known me. But, I want to tell you that whatever you say about me negatively, if they are all true you will be blessed. But if they are not true, God will judge you,” he said.
Karaku recounted his ordeals when his enemies tried to frame him up.
“I was once framed up that I killed soldier. I was arrested and detained for two and half months. In the process, I lost my younger brother, Abdulrahman. I also lost my sister’s daughter, Grace three months to her wedding. All in the name of frame-up,”he said.
The Okene/Ogori-Mangogo House of Representatives seat is one of the most heavily contested seats in the central senatorial district of Kogi State. As the election season draws near, political pundits have noted big names from across major political parties declaring their interests to oust the current occupier off the seat.
