Kogi cautions against reckless allegations in PDP crisis

IN swift reaction to the allegation that Kogi State Governor Idris Wada was a mastermind of the ongoing crisis between the staff of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and members of the National Working Committee (NWC), Special Adviser on Media to the governor, Jacob Edi has dismissed the allegations as handiworks of mischief-makers and political opportunists.

Edi’s reaction was coming against the backdrop of the allegation last week by the Initiative for Progressive Governance in Emerging Communities (IPDEC), which through its Co-coordinator, Dr. Musa Adejo, had said its investigation revealed that Governor Wada made available logistics and financial support to the PDP workers to initiate the crisis.

Describing such allegations as false and reckless, Edi said, “That anyone would make such wild and unfounded allegation is mind-boggling. While the protracted crisis between the workers and the NWC is unfortunate and disturbing, dragging Captain Idris Wada into the crisis is condemnable.

Edi said, “We remain unperturbed by their campaign of calumny, as the governor’s allegiance and focus remains with the people of Kogi and improving the fortunes of the state.

“They know the governor wouldn’t be drawn into a tirade, so they can just wake up anytime and recklessly publicize their malicious allegations. The unfortunate thing for them is that most people in Kogi always sees through their ruse, no matter the disguise or a concocted sincerity.”

Meanwhile, a chieftain of the All Progressive Congress (APC) and former Director General of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency (NDLEA), Otunba Suleiman Lanre Ipinmisho has faulted Governor Wada over his failure to offset the National Examination Council (NECO) fees of final year secondary schools students in the state.

Ipinmisho, who procured his N5.5 million nomination and declaration of interest forms to indicate interest to vie for the upcoming Kogi governorship poll yesterday at the APC national secretariat in Abuja also faulted the decision by Wada to engage no fewer than 200 personal assistants and special assistants (SA), while refusing to pay the NECO fees.Dr. Tim Nda Diche Nda, who also procured the nomination and declaration of interest forms promised to tackle infrastructural deficit critical to development like good road, healthcare delivery, electricity, and water of voted into power.

Lamenting that Kogi State has nothing to offer its citizenry 24 years after it was created, Nda, who was accompanied by hordes of his supporters to the secretariat noted, “Our people are all wallowing in poverty. There is abject poverty and penury in Kogi state today. I am in the race to create wealth and employment for the people.

For Dr. Yaqeen Habeeb who also procured the forms, said it was unfortunate Kogi State becoming a haven for armed robbery and kidnapping, adding it was due to the alarming level of youth unemployment in the state.

Two others, Chief Rotimi Yaqub Opadokun and Haliru Sani Shuaib were also among those who expressed interest to vie for the plum job.