Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello has responded to allegations by the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Murtala Yakubu Ajaka of clandestine plot to frame and assassinate him.
Ajaka had on Tuesday made several allegations against Bello, amongst which also included plans to prevent him through abduction, from participating in the November 11th governorship election in the state.
Responding through his Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Fanwo, the governor of the state denied any involvement in “any clandestine plan to frame anyone,” particularly those it refers to as “political Lilliputians of questionable character.”
The governor said he has had no time for Ajaka and noting that the state government will not succumb to the blackmail of the unpopular candidate of the SDP.
Bello described Ajaka’s actions as “watery, evasive, and sympathy-seeking,” candidate, who is dipping himself in the messy mud and performing an ignominious macabre dance on Kogi citizens’ sensibilities.
He also accused Ajaka of spreading misinformation and attempting to create unnecessary hype around his candidature, emphasising Ajaka’s efforts to portray himself as a contender.
“It is important to tell Nigerians and the world that Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, the said Governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, is on a blisteringly shameful agenda of whipping sentiments, spreading falsehood with reckless abandon so as to put on himself, a garment of importance and create unnecessary air around himself as a contender that he is not,” Fanwo stated.
“Kogites and Nigerians know Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, and they know that his intention is to create ethnic division and blow his own ego. We know the contenders and the pretenders, and he is not a political threat as far as Kogi State is concerned.
“The ignorance of Muritala Yakubu Ajaka and his team is such a flourishing folly, thinking that the Governor is an interested party and would therefore allow his state to become a state of anomie and lawlessness.”
He urged the security agencies to arrest the current trend by acting decisively against inflammatory statements, noting that the state government will not condone reckless statements.
He also noted that a lack of action has emboldened some political opportunists to think they can spread lies, incite the people, play the politics of ethnic profiling, and still get away with it.
“Muritala Yakubu Ajaka knows what he has done and should carry his cross boldly instead of hiding behind one finger. We have no hand in the problems that his unbridled, inordinate ambition has brought upon him,” he added.
Governor Bello further reaffirmed his commitment to the safety and well-being of all citizens, emphasising that he owes them a duty of care and security and has sworn to protect them all.
He also stated that the state government ensures the safety of all political parties and candidates while campaigning.
