The Minister of Steel Development, Alhaji Shuaibu Audu, said on Saturday that issues of ethnicity are totally dead and buried in the state as far as the Nov. 11 governorship election is concerned.
The minister made the assertion in Anyigba, Dekina Local Government Area of the state, during the All Progressives Congress (APC) Zonal Campaign Rally.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that Audu’s remark was sung to the people of Kogi East Senatorial District, who trooped out in their thousands to demonstrate their solid support for the APC governorship candidate, Usman Ododo.
Audu, who is the Director General of, the Kogi APC governorship campaign council, said that the only agenda for the APC was the Kogi Agenda, adding that the party’s candidate is coming to build and consolidate on the laudable legacies of Gov. Yahaya Bello.
“The only agenda for the APC is the Kogi Agenda. The Party has the interest of the whole state. Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo has a vision for the development of the entire state. He will build and consolidate on the legacies of Gov. Yahaya Bello.
“We are proud today that Kogi is the most secure state in North Central Nigeria. The APC will provide massive jobs for our teeming youths through the agricultural revolution. The APC is working on expanding its capacity to be able to produce several agricultural products, particularly in Kogi East.
“I urge you to support the APC and Alhaji Ododo. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who appointed me as Minister of Steel Development, is interested in the vision and success of Kogi State through the development of Ajaokuta Steel.
“This will enable the provision of massive jobs for the entire youths of our dear state. He has asked that we do not hand over the state to a hustler government or an opposition government.
“The president is concerned about the state and has said we cannot afford to hand over a strategic state to the opposition,” he said.
The state chairman of APC, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, expressed satisfaction with the massive turnout and enthusiasm displayed by the people of Kogi East and urged them to sustain the tempo to pave the way for a landslide victory in the governorship election.
Also, the lawmaker representing Kogi East in the National Assembly, Sen. Jibrin Echocho, called on the people of the zone who had yet to come into the APC fold, to embrace the party, pointing out that elections are won on party structures.
“Let me appeal to our people to be passionate with the APC. Our candidate is marketable. Elections are won based on party structures. The people of Kogi East voted for APC in the general election. We cannot afford to do otherwise in the forthcoming election.
“Gov. Yahaya Bello has laid a solid foundation in infrastructure and human capital development across the state. His achievements have done a major part in the election. Let’s all join hands in ensuring collective victory for the APC,” Echocho said.
Addressing the people, the Deputy Governor of Kogi, Edward Onoja, urged the people of Kogi East to vote on the strength of continuity and cautioned against sentiments, saying that elections are about political parties and not tribe, religion or region.
Governor Yahaya Bello also cautioned the people against ethnicity, stressing that tribal politics has no place in this time and age.
“Ethnic politics is selfish interest. Igala's agenda is about job creation, development, and prosperity. Don’t be deceived. The APC will win a landslide. Victory will be ours at the election. Alhaji Usman Ahmed Ododo is a refined gentleman with cognate experience in public service and in politics.
“On assumption of office, we met a state divided along ethnic and other fault lines. We have been able to cement all those fault lines. Today, issues of ethnicity have been buried. Fairness, equity, and justice have replaced mediocrity and ethnicity.
“We have raised youths and women across the board. We have built and distributed projects, infrastructure and empowerment across the board. So much has been achieved in the state and we cannot afford to go back to our dark days,” the governor declared.
Addressing the unprecedented crowd, the APC governorship candidate, Ododo, said his aspiration was about the people, progress and unity of the state.
“Let me appeal to the people of Kogi East. Let’s build a united and stronger Kogi state which we all can be proud of. Let this election be about our people, development, unity and prosperity. It is my fervent appeal that I’m ready to be a servant leader with no barrier,” he said.
The APC governorship flagbearer thanked Bello for his outstanding achievements and promised to build on the legacies.
While reminding Igala people that it would be counter-productive to play ethnic and minority politics, he specifically thanked Tinubu for his outstanding leadership and commitment to the growth and development of Kogi and Nigeria at large.
NAN reports that the rally was climaxed by the official welcoming of defectors from the PDP, SDP and other political parties to the APC.