Kogi 2023: Stop violence to avert ‘State of Emergency’ – ACF Chair, Aduku warns politicians

 The Chairman of Arewa Consultative Forum, ACF, Arch. Gabriel Yakubu Aduku has called on all stakeholders in Kogi State to conduct themselves peacefully and in a non-violence manner.

He gave the advice ahead of the governorship election in the state.

He equally said that the build up to the election has not been encouraging as there have been a series of violence in some parts of the State, especially Kogi East.

Aduku stated this in his admonition made available to journalists in Jos, Plateau State Capital.

He said, “If such violence continues, it could make the federal government to strongly intervene and take several measures to curtail it, including declaring the ‘State of Emergency’ on the state, which is what many individuals, groups/parties are already calling for.”

Aduku, a former Minister of State for Health, maintained that, “Many persons and groups have equally been fingered in the violence, including the state government.”

The ACF chairman admonished that people should be allowed to go about their electoral participation peacefully without any intimidation whatsoever from any quarter.

“I will call on governor Yahaya Bello to ensure a violence-free process as well as the protection of lives and properties, being the number one security officer of the state.

“Even some lawyers and civil rights groups took to the street recently to protest the killings in the state under Governor Yahaya Bello, and calling on him to stop all forms of violence.

“Also, some editorials in national dailies have recently been writing on the violence in the state (which has been tagged Kogi political trademark), and the urgent need to halt it without delay,” he added.

The ACF Chairman urged the governor to, as a matter of urgency, heed all the calls and do everything possible to tackle the rising spate of political violence, killings and thuggery so that he can redeem himself from the tainted image of his complicity.

Meanwhile, Aduku also called on all aspirants and their supporters to go about their electioneering campaigns peacefully and in an unprovoked manner, and that people should be free to hold rallies, campaigns for their candidates and eventually vote for them.