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From Sylvanus Viashima, Jalingo
Ahead of the November Gubernatorial polls, a Chieftain of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) Honorable Ben Adaji has called on President Ahmed Bola Tinubu to declare a state of emergency in Kogi State before November 11, a date set aside for the polls, to give way for free and fair elections.
Adaji who made the call in Jalingo on Monday shortly after he returned from a campaign tour of Kogi State said that the situation in Kogi does not guarantee free and fair elections as there were alarming security threats and cruel harassment of perceived opposition members by the ruling APC thugs.
Adaji a former House of Reps candidate for Ankpa, Olamaboro and Omala federal constituency said there is no way INEC can guarantee free and fair elections in Kogi State in a situation where candidates of opposition political parties cannot move freely to campaign for fear of attacks and assassination.
“The spate of political killings currently going on in Kogi State, especially Kogi East calls for concern. As it is today, a good number of us working for SDP governorship candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka have been pencilled down for elimination.
“Before I left Ankpa yesterday, several people warned me to stay clear of Kogi State. A particular council Chairman had sent people to warn me and threatened to deal with me. Let me send this appeal to the president to declare a state of emergency so that even if I am killed during the election it will be on record that I raised the alarm.
“Let me also call for the deployment of soldiers to Kogi State. It is unfortunate that a sitting Governor who is doing his last term in office, has taken the election as a do-or-die affair. Is this the legacy anyone in leadership will want to leave behind? Turning the state into a war zone and creating serious divisions that may never heal?
“Let me inform all those concerned that if urgent measures are not taken to address the situation, the November polls will be like searching for peace in a graveyard. There may be a serious bloodbath and the wishes of the people will not be reflected” Adaji said.
The SDP Chieftain maintained that under a democratic system of government, it must be the will of the people but not through the barrel of the gun as was the case in Kogi State.
He added that it was absurd for a sitting Governor who had sworn an oath to protect the lives and property of his people to pick up arms against the people using instruments of authority.
“We are all waiting to see whether President Tinubu will address the security situation in Kogi before the election, otherwise conducting that election under the perceived instability will be tantamount to an effort in futility,” he warned.
