The Barewa Old Boys Association (BOBA), Kogi State Chapter has condemned in the strongest terms the attack on Alhaji Muritala YAKUBU Ajaka (Muri), the Social Democratic Party’s Candidate for 2023, November Gubernatorial Election in Kogi State.
In a letter signed by the chairman of Kogi chapter Adejoh Ibrahim and secretary, James Agbem Amkpila and made available to Treasure times on Saturday in Lokoja reads in part:
“This condemnation is in solidarity with ‘Muri’- a BOBA who has over the cause of his ambition so far comported himself as an astute democrat, a principled politician and an honourable man who is adhering strictly to the rules of the game.
” From our preliminary findings, we discovered that Governor Yahaya Bello’s Commissioner for Solid Mineral, Bashir Gegu and one Friday Makama, a notorious thug and their boys, who were among the Governor’s convoy coming from Abuja were behind the attack. They have vowed to leave no stone unturned in ensuring that Muri does not make it to the election in November.
“By this discovery, we are warning sternly that BOBA, Kogi State Chapter will not stand akimbo and watch the hounding and intimidation of Muri without deploying all available instruments of defence in his favour.
“The Kogi State Chapter is calling on the National Body of BOBA, our Senior BOBAs and Fathers, The Sultan of Sokoto, our Former President, General YAKUBU Gowon, immediate former Governor of Kaduna State, Mallam Nasir Elrufai and a whole lot of privileged BOBAs across the world to intervene and call Yahaya Bello to order.
” We are calling on the Police, Military, the DSS, NSCDC, to refrain from prejudices and show professionalism in their discharge and service to Nigerians.
” We call on the media houses, all the print media and bloggers that misrepresented the story, stereotyped, misinform and disinform the public about the near death attack on Muri in Lokoja to be wary of posterity. “We urge them to henceforth investigate stories before making available their platforms for proliferation of lies, glorification of oppressors and aggressors.
“It is worrisome to read the piles of lies Yahaya Bello sent out, using various platforms. That a Governor was attacked close to a military checking point, just adjacent to a Naval Base is not just preposterously self condescending but very demeaning and damning.
” The political space is big enough for everyone to advance their cause and Muri’s entrance into the field of contention for the Governor of his state is his fundamental right as a Kogite and should not irk or offend anyone.
” Muri should have the place, the space and enabling environment to talk to people freely across the State without molestation, intimidation, conscription, personal or bodily attacks as every other of his contemporaries are doing.
” We rise from this emergency meeting noting the facts that BOBAs across Nigeria have been contesting and winning elections in their various States and not a time has anyone complained of being shot at by fellow contestants.
“This development is condemnable, unacceptable and would be resisted should there be semblance of it next time
” We urge Muri to remain undeterred by the threat antic, it is to weaken his spirit and dampen his moral. But as a vigorous body, we are concertedly behind him and we shall enter the trenches with him to actualise his ambition” the statement clarifies
