Protocols
The Forum in her press briefing held at NUJ SECRETARIAT, Utako, Abuja on 24th January 2024, expresses her displeasure and deep concerns over the recent political improprieties and dysfunctional democracy in Kogi state and resolved as follows:
1. That the Forum calls on President Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu (GCFR) to intervene in the unfortunate political upheavals that had generated high tensions leading to dangerous precedents in Kogi state if not urgently averted.
2. That Governor Yahaya Bello is not just a disaster to the nation’s constitutional democracy in his chauvinistic tendencies and ethnic bigotry but also a threat to humanity and the world at large.
3. That the Forum is calling on the appropriate authorities, government agencies, Nigerians and the entire world leaderships to pay attention to the ugly political developments in Kogi state with a view to curtailing Governor Bello’s excesses in the state
4. That we reject his lopsided appointments to favour his Central senatorial district especially, Okene where he comes from as this negates the principle of equity, equality and social justice.
5. That the ill-motivated suspension, deposition and banishment of traditional rulers in some parts of the state are a philippic political vendetta that has no bearing on our constitutional democracy. Governor Yahaya Bello goofed and stands condemned. We, not only condemned the barbaric affronts against the sacred institution, but castigate, lampoon and jettison the improprieties thereto even as we call for total reversal to status quo.
6. That the deplorable and appalling state of infrastructural decay, avoidable dilapidation and decadence across the entire state especially, Kogi east has assumed unacceptable alarming proportion that requires urgent attention.
7. That the high spate of insecurity and other social vices across the state today was conceived, birthed and instigated by the state government under the watchful eyes of Governor Yahaya Bello who sponsored thuggery to intimidate opponents in the last governorship election in Kogi state. The federal government should take charge to avoid further degeneration and the accompanying consequences.
8. The attempted murder on Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho under the watchful eyes of Governor Yahaya Bello must not be swept under the carpet as we call on the federal government to bring the perpetrators to book.
9. That we are aware of the several criminal and unlawful financial infractions committed by Governor Yahaya Bello while in office and call on the security operatives especially, EFCC, ICPC and others to bear their search lights on the emperor as he leaves office on 27th January, 2024.
10. We also note with concern that the composition of the state executive by Gov. Yahaya Bello two weeks to his exit speaks volume of his third term Agenda and must be rejected by the incoming government and the entire people of kogi state as not well intended and Ill motived. Any incoming government is expected to make and constitute its own state executive Council without any over bearing interference whatsoever by the outgoing government. We therefore call for the dissolution of the State Executive Council with immediate effect and from 27th May, 2024.
11. That the incoming government should revoke all anti people’s policies of the outgoing government and never to be seen as a rubber stamp under the apron-springs of his predecessor (erstwhile Governor Yahaya Bello)
12. That the notorious outcome of the November 11, 2023 governorship election in Kogi state leaves much to be desired even as we are aware of the legal process to restore sanity in our electoral process, we should be seen as a civilize people who have been together in peace and unity over the years and must not allow ourselves to be used by Governor Yahaya Bello who have no regards for the rules of law. Both Igala, Okun and Egbira have lived together for years and shall continue to live in harmony and in pursuit of peace, good neighborliness, unity and progress.
13. The INEC Chairman is called upon to investigate and expose the new innovation in INEC Headquarters where candidates for an election or their proxies can freely purchase original INEC election result sheets through National Commissioners, for use in an election. If this is not done, and very urgently too, Nigerians may lose more confidence in INEC whose image is already very battered at the moment.
14. INEC Headquarters should distance itself from the pre-filling of original INEC result sheets, and investigate the Electoral Officers and other INEC Staff who allowed the use of same, bypassing BVAS machines at Okene, Adavi and Okehi LGAs and any other LGA during the 11 November 2023 gubernatorial election in Kogi State.
15. Lack of political will to investigate and punish this criminality is capable of undermining the integrity of future elections and democracy in Nigeria.
16. That Kogi state is blessed with mineral, human and material resources including oil and coal, yet it has the highest level of poverty. OAIF frowns at this pervasive passivism of the Kogi state government in tackling the socioeconomic crisis faced by the entire state and Kogi east in particular.
17. OAIF calls on the incoming government to expedite action on the need to stem the tide of the ugly cases of kidnapping, banditry, communal crisis and other life threatening criminalities in the state.
18. That percentage salary in the state be stopped forthwith as Kogi has no need going through unnecessary economic crunch solely imposed on the people by Yahaya Bello’s government to impoverish them.
19. That it is not difficult to predict the nature of things to come. But everything is not so hopeless yet. While bracing for the worst one must always hope for the best. And that is why we see a silver lining in the rather ominously gathering dark clouds in Kogi state.
20. And that is what gives us the hope that the situation could be retrieved all things being equal.
We thank you all.
President. OJUJUAGBADUFU IGALA FORUM. 24th January 2024.
