The grand finale of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Governorship Campaign in Kogi State held on Thursday has been described as colourless, shameful and a celebration of mediocrity and bad governance.

The Kogi State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) stated this on Thursday, noting that APC leaders including Governor Nasir el-Rufai; Comrade Adams Oshiomhole, APC national chairman; wife of the president, Hajia Aisha Buhari and others should cover their faces in shame that they could be campaigning for Governor Yahaya Bello, who had no single achievement to point at in four years.

The party called on Kogi State electorate to issue a red card to Bello and vote for a new dawn, which Mr. Musa Wada, its standard-bearer in the election represents, noting that it was funny that APC leaders could still be pointing accusing fingers at PDP four years after Yahaya Bello had been in the saddle with nothing to show for the huge resources accrued to the state.

The PDP described as shameful and saddening the action of the Kaduna State governor, El-Rufai, who knelt down to beg for forgiveness for Bello, warning the Kogi State electorate not to be deceived by the ‘crocodile tears’ being shed by those pleading for forgiveness for Bello.

According to the PDP, in a statement signed by the Director, Media & Publicity, Engr. Musa Wada/Sam Aro Campaign Organisation, Faruk Adejoh-Audu, the fact that Bello could not point to any tangible achievement in four years but could only babble about Kogi being one, was enough evidence for the people of the state to sack him on Saturday.

The party added that Bello, an unrepentant bad administrator also lied to the entire world during the campaign that he owed no salaries even when the wife of the president and the national chairman were truthful enough to accept the reality that their candidate has failed workers and the citizenry in the state.

Similarly, the PDP said that it was vindicated in its call to OPC leader, Gani Adams and Yoruba traditional rulers to warn Fayemi to take his OPC thugs out of Kogi, noting that the APC campaign revealed the true state of things when Fayemi said he had come to pay Bello back for what he did during his (Fayemi’s) election.

“Today, the entire country watched the show of shame staged by the APC in Kogi State where the party owned up to its failure and irresponsibility in the state. The party’s leaders including Nasir el-Rufai; Hajia Aisha Buhari and Adams Oshiomhole all accepted that Bello should not and cannot be trusted to lead Kogi State ever again, because he is a let-down.

“Yahaya Bello has failed. He had no single achievement to point at in four years. And the APC campaign sold him out for who he is, a failure and a liar. This is enough evidence for our people to vote him out on Saturday.

“We urge our people not to be deceived by the actions of the APC leaders in begging for Bello; they cannot be trusted. The Vice-President, Professor Yemi Osinbajo knew this much and that was why he boycotted the campaign. No well-meaning leader will campaign for a governance disaster, which Yahaya Bello embodies,” the PDP concluded

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The Chairman, House Committee on Information, National Orientation, Ethics and Value also tasked the leadership of the Oodua Peoples Congress (OPC) to put the necessary machinery in place so as  to ensure smooth operation and success of the agenda.

Speaking  as a special guest at the National Coordinating Council of the OPC held in Ogbomoso, Odebunmi averred  that  ” the  Inspector General’s pronouncement is a statement that OPC is a credible organization that is fighting  for the interest of Yorubaland”.

“Security is about information and networking. The OPC members reside in the society, with their involvement now, they will be able to embark on thorough surveillance activities in their areas which will help them and the police special squad to tackle and curb insecurity in the region.

“The Southwest governors should also ensure prompt provision of logistic and other necessary support for the team”, the lawmaker advised.

Speaking further, the APC lawmaker lauded  the Governors and the Inspector General of Police for deeming it fit to organise a security summit and coming out with a concrete resolution that will chase out criminals from the region.

Odebunmi,  however urged members of the OPC not to embark on jungle justice but handed over anybody found guilty of criminal offence to the appropriate authority.

In a related development, the National Coordinator of the Oodua Peoples Congress OPC, Aare Gani Adams charged members to renew their charms and be ready to  work with police in combing the forest and fish out criminals in the region .

Adams expressed optimism that OPC will corporate with other organizations  as a team to restore safety of lives and properties in Yorubaland

He commended the lawmaker, Odebunmi for his commitment to his constituency and Ogbomosoland.

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The Governor, who was represented at the public presentation of an autobiography titled Awo,  by his Deputy, Engineer Rauf  Olaniyan,  said that without unity there cannot be development.

The book was translated  to Yoruba by Mr. Alao Adedayo, the Publisher of Alaroye Newspaper.

The Governor, according to a statement by his Chief Press Secretary, Mr. Taiwo Adisa, decried the security challenges in the Yoruba speaking states and in the nation in general.

According to him, collaboration and exchange of ideas among the South West States would enhance efforts geared towards tackling the insecurity.

He also urged the Yoruba to remain, united, adding that by speaking in one voice the forces of darkness attempting to overwhelm the region would be defeated.

Also speaking at the public presentation, the Alaafin of Oyo, Oba Lamidi Adeyemi, said that vices such as kidnapping, harassments from herdsmen and other criminality have enveloped Yoruba land.

He said: “What is worrisome is that most of the herdsmen perpetrating these criminal activities are alleged to be non-Nigerians, but migrants from some West African countries.

“The Yoruba are proud of their harmonious relationship with indigenous Fulani.”

The monarch also stated that the solution to the current security challenges lies in restructuring of our federal system, noting that the central government  is too powerful.

In his contribution at the event, the Aare Ona Kakanfo of Yorubaland, Iba Gani Adams, said that the Yorubas were against Federal Government’s proposed cattle ranches in the South West states and other Yoruba- speaking towns and villages in Kogi and Kwara states.

He also cautioned  Governors of the South West states against ceding any portion of their lands for the purpose of Cattle ranch adding that everyone must close ranks to tackle insecurity.

Some of the dignitaries at the event include the Olubadan of Ibadanland, Oba Saliu Adetunji, Alaafin of Oyo, Prof. Bamiji Akintoye, a representatives of the Ooni of Ife, Oba Adeyeye Enitan Ogunwusi, Chief Kessington Adebutu, Pa Ayo Adebanjo and  the Chairman of African Newspapers of Nigeria, PLC, Ambassador Tokunbo Awolowo Dosunmu among many other Yoruba leaders.

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Until recently that the states called Yorubaland begin to experience wanton killings of innocent farmers by herdsmen, the usual reports and experience that time were pockets of conflicts and inescapable feuds between one farmer and another herdsman. That time, it was difficult to describe the experience as social problem calling for urgent and collective action.

The farmers -herdsmen problem has taken a new dimension giving the rate of escalation and sophistication of arms and ammunition being deployed in the perpetration of the heinous crimes of kidnapping and communal strife.

As the situation is now in Yoruba speaking states, the spate of the organized crime of kidnapping has raised the tempo of ethnic nationalism. A good manifestation and prevalence of ethnic feelings was the recent proclamation and riot act read by Aare Iba Gani Adams, the leader of Oodua Peoples’ Congress (OPC) and Generalissimo of Yorubaland through which he has sent a signal to the whole world that Yoruba as an ethnic nationality is posed to wage war against the murderous herdsmen and kidnappers who have turned many people to aliens on their own lands.

The message he has tried to echo was that Yorubas are gradually becoming subjugated by armed invaders. Before now, South West is a safe haven for investors and business men from other geo-political zones.

From the media statements and body language of Aare Iba Gani Adams, incessant activities of the kidnappers in the south west has spun off ethnic sentiments and raised other national questions. With the kind of braveness which the leadership of Pan Yoruba Cultural Group (OPC) has mustered up, I am sure the invaders under whatever guises would have no other option than to retreat and look else where to thrive.

I must acknowledge that kidnappers who appeared to have completely taken over South West now live among us even if they are from neighbouring countries. And of course, the identity of these marauders may not be properly understood except our assessment and judgment are devoid of stereotype, prejudice and egocentrism.

We need to unravel the psychology and the mind sets of the kidnappers as a factor for consideration to actually understand the prevailing culture of ‘anything for money’ or quick money syndrome that has become a normative in the current social order. Through the narration by the victims of their ordeals in the hands of the kidnappers, how they usually get police and army uniforms remain a puzzle.

I share the pains and agonizing effects of kidnapping when I watched the video clip released by Hon. Bisi Ogungbemi, the Ondo State Chairman of African Democratic Congress (ADC). The video presentation is an eye opener to evil machination and sophistication of the kidnappers and armed bandits currently operating in major Yoruba Cities like Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Oyo States.

Unarguably, the spate of the menace is now a source of nightmare to Yoruba leaders, for one can no longer sleep with the two eyes closed. And passing through our highways nowadays could result into uncontrollable perspiration and increase in ones blood pressure.

In a similar circumstance, Dayo Adewole, the son of the former Minister for Health was recently held in captivity by the suspected kidnappers at a gun point in Iroko, near Fiditi, in Afijio Local Government Area of Oyo State. Before Adewole could regain his freedom 24 hours after he was kidnapped,  the parents and family have to pay huge ransom according to reports.

A dimension to this kidnapping brouhaha which is comical were those ones conceived, planned and executed by the supposedly held captives themselves. Some of the reported cases we have heard in the recent past ended as cases of self -kidnapping by the victims themselves.

One particular case that could best be described as heart break news was the report of a Pastor of an orthodox church in Ekiti, Pastor Adegoke Adewuyi, that lodged himself in an hotel to draw ransom of three millions naira from his church members. Whoever watch the video clip of the arrest and self confession by the culprit, one will cry for this country.

If the advocacy by the OPC doesn’t receive the support of the traditional rulers, particularly in the South West,the zone will remain endanger, unsafe and haven of the kidnappers and bandits. Truly we have sufficient laws and with budgetary provision for security architecture annually, the success so far recorded by the security agencies in combating the menace of insecurity in the country is below public expectation.

Given the efforts which the nation’s security agencies have so far made to halt the spate of banditry and kidnapping in the country,nothing suggests that the culprits have seen the reasons to change and give peace a chance. Also,the war cannot be successfully waged and won using only legal instrument and moral control, we must equally pay attention to education, counselling, rehabilitation and value re -orientation.

Besides,each community must improve on security consciousness and awareness. There should be cooperation and synergy among the various social community to guarantee for us an effective social security devoid of devilish activities of the kidnappers and bandits.

Rahaman Onike, writes from Oyo town, Oyo state, a public affairs analyst

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