…Demand Prosecution Of Culprits
A sociopolitical group, Coalition of Masses’ Political and Civil Society Organizations, COMPOSOC, consisting of over 100 civil society organizations, CSOs, and political parties/associations has seriously frowned at what it described as an “attempted assassination” on the incumbent governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, which occurred on Saturday June 3, on his way back to the state capital from an official trip.
It was reported by many newspapers that the governor ran into a vehicular barricade allegedly mounted by armed supporters of the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, in the state, one Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka.
In a press release signed by the group’s National Convener, Comrade Mark Adebayo, this Sunday in Abuja, the group stated that “it has shockingly come to our notice the unprovoked and utterly senseless attempted assassination on the executive governor of Kogi State yesterday, while on his way back to the state capital from an official engagement. It was a barbarically orchestrated attack with the sole intention of assassinating Nigeria’s youngest governor and this is so reprehensible, unacceptable and totally condemnable.”
It continued, “Such an incident, if it had cost the governor’s life, would have caused irreversible setback for our democracy and further compromised our security situation. This is nothing but treasonable felony and all the culprits and their sponsors must be made to face the full wrath of the law.
“Politics must never be allowed to be turned into war. If a sitting governor could be this viciously attacked, what hope of safety for the regular citizens of Kogi State going about their lawful businesses in the state at the hands of such monsters in the name of being a governorship candidate? What kind of governorship candidate goes about with armed thugs if not one coming to ruin the state? We call on the police and relevant security agencies to expeditiously investigate this heinous crime and bring to book all the culprits involved in it.
“No stones should be left unturned in arresting all the hoodlums who did this and their sponsors. We call on Kogi people to be vigilant and avoid voting for violent elements, who have evil agenda to return Kogi State to the fearful era of insecurity and criminality that is now a thing of the past.
“We unequivocally condemn the attempted assassination of the governor and we will not relent until all the criminals and their sponsors are arrested and prosecuted. There must not be any delay in getting this done by all relevant security agencies to serve as a deterrent to other sponsors of political thuggery in the state. Otherwise, we will embark on a mass protest to the police authorities to ensure that these sponsors of political terrorism are put away forever.
“To the Kogi people, we encourage you to reject political terrorists, unpatriotic elements and purveyors of insecurity on the ballot come November. Kogi State is the nerve-center connecting the whole country by the confluence and its in our collective interest to ensure its safety and wellbeing.”
