Nigeria: PDP Candidate Disputes Claim of Former Governor Maintaining Peace in Kogi State
A 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the House of Representatives election in Dekina/Bassa, Kogi State, Usman Okai Austin, has dismissed claims that former governor Yahaya Bello is the reason youths shunned the EndBadGovernance protest in the state. Okai, a socio-political commentator, stated that Bello’s actions and policies were detrimental to the state, contradicting claims that he is maintaining peace in Kogi State.
Okai’s reaction came in response to an article by Sulaimon Adejoh, which suggested that Bello saw the protest as an agenda that must not fly in Kogi State due to his support for President Bola Tinubu’s presidency. Adejoh claimed that Bello, who restored security in Kogi State during his tenure as governor, pulled strings to ensure that not a single soul joined the protest in the state.
However, Okai faulted Adejoh’s claim, noting that Bello’s past administration brought about severe hunger in the state. Okai wrote on his Facebook wall that Muri Ajaka, who was cheated and defrauded in the last election, could have been the catalyst for unrest in Kogi State during the #EndBadGovernanceInNigeria protests. He also mentioned that Senator Echocho and Karimi issued strong statements urging peace in their respective Senatorial districts in Kogi state.
Okai criticized Bello for claiming to be the one maintaining peace in Kogi state, stating that this is far from the truth. He argued that Bello’s actions and policies have been detrimental to the state, and that he secretly hopes for a serious protest in Kogi, believing it would distract from his own troubles with the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC).
Okai concluded by saying that Bello should respect himself and remain quiet, acknowledging his own failures. He noted that Kogi people are already accustomed to hunger, which Bello’s leadership has exacerbated, making Kogi one of Nigeria’s hungriest states. The people feel unlucky under the APC-led federal government.
This development comes as a surprise to many, as Bello’s administration was known for its efforts to maintain peace and security in Kogi State. The controversy has sparked heated debates among political analysts and citizens, with some calling for a more thorough investigation into the matter.
