From Joseph Amedu, Lokoja
The All Progressives Congress (APC) has commenced screening of governorship aspirants in Kogi state as part of the activities preceding the primary election scheduled for August 29.
Addressing the aspirants at the state secretariat of the party in Lokoja on Thursday at the takeoff of the exercise,Chairman of the 7 man panel appointed by the National Working Committee (NWC), Senator Hope Uzodinma explained that they are in Kogi on a brief assignment to screen aspirants that have indicated their intention to contest the governorship election.
In all 16 aspirants purchased and returned completed nomination and intent declaration forms to the National secretariat of the party qualifying them to be screened.
The Chairman of the panel said the screening exercise is line with the relevant part of the constitution of the All Progressives Congress.
He assured that the idea of the exercise is to interact with the aspirants and to be sure of their qualifications.
Senator Uzodinma, who reaffirmed that Kogi is an APC state prayed that the party wins so as not to be fallen by the calamity in some states where APC’s victories were upturned, citing Taraba state as example.
“We are going to do a thorough job and therefore urge you to imbibe the spirit of sportsmanship as only one among you will be picked
“The task is that the aspirants cooperate and work for the governorship candidate after the primary”
Senator Uzodinma stated.
The 15 aspirants that want to dislodge the incumbent Alhaji Yahaya Bello include 2 women, Hajiya Hadiza Ibrahim and Mrs Blessing Ekele, while others are Admiral Usman Jibrin, Mustapha Muna Abubakar Audu and Seidu Mohammed Ogah.
Two sons of late Prince Abubakar Audu, former governor of Kogi state Muhammed Audu and Mustapha Audu are also on the race.
Others include Bashir Abubakar, former NFF President Sani Lulu, and veteran Journalist Yakubu Mohammed of the then News watch magazine.
Also in the race are Yahaya Audu, Danlami Ahmed and Bashir Gegu.
Meanwhile, Jibrin has raised the alarm that the state is under siege with the illegal arming of thugs by politicians.
Admiral Jibrin, who addressed APC delegates on Tuesday at Kewon hotel in Lokoja, alleged that the governor Yahaya Bello and his team have armed youth to terrorise the people during the forthcoming election.
He said “youths can only be empowered through training and proper education and not thuggery”,promising that jobs will be created to curb the danger of idleness.
While advising the people not to be intimidated, the former Chief of Naval Staff told them to be vigilant and report suspicious terrorists to security agencies.
Jibrin promised to adopt the economic blueprint drafted by a committee under the leadership of the Ohinoyi of Ebira, Alhaji Ado Ibrahim when the state was created in 1991.
He appealed to the people to unite and rescue the state from the wicked grip by politicians who stumbled on power as a result of the death of Prince Abubakar Audu.
He lamented that Lokoja which was the capital during the colonial era has remained a glorified local government headquarters.
“Lokoja is the least developed state capital in Nigeria.What we thought was infrastructural development when late Prince Abubakar Audu governed the state were allowed to decay ”
The aspirant also regreted the neglect of tourism potentials that are abound across the state and therefore promised to give the state capital and the entire state a facelift.
