The Kogi State House of Assembly candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Okene I, Suleiman Abdulrazaq Sariki has recounted how he cheated death in an assassination attempt on his life.
Sariki in a message of gratitude shared on Facebook on Saturday, revealed the attack occurred before commencement of campaigns for the 2023 general elections.
He narrated that his attackers tried to abduct him, but he resisted, and they shot him.
“When I resisted the forced attempts to drag me into their vehicle, they made an attempt on my life, but God showed up for me, as they couldn’t take what they didn’t give. I however sustained some degrees of injuries from the gun shots I received from them.
“Thank God I am alive today and recuperating after series of surgeries and treatments that have kept me away for some months now.
“I want to thank and appreciate members of my family for their love, support and care. In the same vein, I want to appreciate my friends and associates for their love, prayers, words of encouragement and for their unending support during this trying period of mine.
“To my supporters across the seven wards in Okene 1, that have stood firm and have shown unwavering support and dedication to the course, for the Rebirth of Hope in Okene 1 through their continuous canvassing, campaigning and selling of my candidature as APC flag bearer in the forth coming elections to represent them in KSHA, I salute you all. Indeed, your resilience and doggedness remain a very strong motivation for me and I pray that God will honour you all,” he said.
The APC candidate sued for peace, urging the youths to shun thuggery and violence.
He added: “I want to also use this opportunity to urge my supporters to remain calm and continue to preach peace while engaging our teaming voters in Kogi central and the state in general on the various ongoing/completed developmental projects executed and are still being executed by the ever focused, youths friendly, security conscious and people oriented administration of our father and leader, His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, that our dear state has been so graciously blessed with, by the Almighty God at a time like this, when we most needed it.
“I also want to urge my fellow youths in Kogi central and the state at large, not to allow themselves to be used as tools and instruments of political thuggery and anarchy, while also asking them to shun all forms of violence, social vices and any act that can cause political unrest before, during and after the coming elections, that has the tendency to negatively affect the peace and security of lives and properties that we have been enjoying since the inception of this current security-conscious administration of GYB in Kogi state. They should rather take advantage of the huge opportunity this administration has given to young people to be politically relevant in politics, governance and leadership in general.
“To the leadership of our dear party the All Progressives Congress at various levels, stakeholders and all her supporters at units, wards, local government, and at the state level, I say a big thank you for all your efforts so far, in wards rallies and meetings, local government mobilization and state level strategic supports and engagements, geared toward ensuring that the party sweeps-it-clean across board, on the various elective positions from the President, to Senate, to House of Representatives and of course, to the various Houses of Asembly cross the state.
“Finally, I appreciate each and every one’s efforts toward my aspiration to represent the good people of Okene 1 constituency, at Kogi State House of Assembly in the next dispensation, and I am looking forward to joining the campaign train very soon InshaAllah, once I am done with all my medications and certified fit enough by my doctor.”
