By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi has directed all aspirants in the forthcoming All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship primaries in the state to focus on their strengths in wooing party members rather than taking centrifugal dispositions.
The governor gave the directive in a statement signed by Mr Kingsley Femi Fanwo, the state Commissioner for Information and Communications on Saturday in Lokoja.
He urged the aspirants to refrain from divisive tendencies in the interest of the party.
Bello said that the caution had become necessary against the backdrop of series of publications, back and forth insinuations on the suspension of a member of the Party’s National Working Committee (NWC) from the state, Hon. Murtala Yakubu.
The statement added that the governor, as leader of the party in the state, warned against “bickerings” that could undermine the peace and unity that the APC had achieved in the state under his leadership.
He therefore, urged the aspirants to test their strengths in wooing party members to support and vote for them during the primaries coming up in April and stop whipping up sentiments.
“Our party will ensure a fair playing ground for the best candidate to emerge in the primary election and together we shall win the governorship election, with a wide margin, in November”, he said.
The Nigerian Pilot recalls that the NWC member, Murtala Yakubu (Ajaka) was suspended by the Executive Council of the APC, Ajaka Ward 1, Igalamela/Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State.
Yakubu who is also the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the party, was suspended via a letter dated March 20.
His alleged offences as contained in the letter include anti-party activities, insubordination, gross misconduct, unguided statement, running parallel party structure and encouraging factionalism in the party.
The state Secretariat of the APC in a statement signed by the State Secretary, Joshua Emmanuel, upheld Yakubu’s suspension and consequently, barred him from participating in all party activities in the state.
The suspension has however generated a lot of controversies rocking the APC boat in the state especially with the party’s governorship primary fast approaching.
