Kogi Governor, Ajaka Trade Blames After Gun Attack

There was a clash Saturday between the campaign team of the Kogi State governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Yakubu Muritala Ajaka and the convoy of Governor Yahaya Bello.

Ajaka, a former national officer of the All Progressives Congress (APC), had dumped the ruling party and secured the governorship ticket of the SDP following his inability to get the APC ticket, which was clinched by Ahmed Usman Ododo.

The SDP’s candidate, an Igala from the Kogi East Senatorial District, is perceived to be one of the popular contenders in the November election.

He is also seen as the main challenger to Ododo, who is believed to be Governor Bello’s anointed candidate.

Daily Trust on Sunday reports that Kogi had witnessed electoral violence in the past.

During the November 2019 governorship election in the state, a report by the Centre for Democracy and Development (CDD) revealed that 10 persons were killed in 79 cases of violence recorded across the 21 local government areas of the state.

Violence was also recorded in Kogi during the February 25 presidential election. An instance was the killing of a young man, simply identified as Akayama, who was said to be gunned down by thugs who invaded Anyigba in Dekina Local Government Area of the state to cart away election materials.

There were also reports of violence at Mopa in the Kogi West Senatorial District and some areas of Kogi Central Senatorial District during the poll.

Saturday’s incident, it was learnt, happened around the Navy Quarters, near Lokoja, when Governor Bello was returning from Abuja.

Bello and Ajaka traded blame over the incident, accusing each other of being responsible for the attack.

While Bello alleged that his convoy was attacked by the SDP’s team; Ajaka claimed that it was an assassination attempt on his life by Bello and his men.

An eyewitness said the governor’s convoy ran into the SDP’s stalwarts and their supporters who were on the way to Lokoja, after paying a courtesy call on the paramount ruler of Kotonkarfe, Ohimege Igu, Alhaji Abdulrazaq Isah Koto.

The source added that the SDP supporters, who were moving in a long convoy of vehicles, took over the road, thus preventing the governor’s convoy from negotiating out of the highway at that particular time.

According to the source, the melee that followed led to sporadic shootings by alleged “miscreants” and bullets hit many cars, though no life was lost.

However, the Kogi State Government in a statement signed by the Commissioner for Information, Kingsley Fanwo, alleged that the governor’s convoy was blocked and attacked by people believed to be supporters of Ajaka.

“The attack took place near the Naval Base, a few kilometres from Lokoja where the convoy of Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, having sighted that of the governor, blocked the road and some of his armed thugs started shooting sporadically at the convoy of the governor.

“The governor left the scene unscathed and there is no cause for panic as the Governor is in high spirit”, Fanwo said.

The state government alleged further that “some security aides and other aides attached to the governor sustained injuries and had been rushed to medical facilities for medical attention”.

Fanwo said while the state government promised to ensure that law and order is maintained, the “governor warned that no APC member should be involved in any reprisal as insecurity from any quarter will be met with stiff penalties”.

Bello, while speaking on the incident at the Government House, vowed that his administration would deal with anyone or group of persons threatening the peace and progress of the state.

He said there was no hiding place for any political thug, miscreant or whoever is hiding under politics to perpetrate evil in the state.

“In the game of politics, I don’t take anything for granted. In this particular game , I will leave no stone unturned. We are sure of an overwhelming clean victory in the coming governorship election.

“On lion’s day, an antelope blocked my way. Let this be the first and last. We are looking forward to the law enforcement agents to take action.

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