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Group pledges support for APC guber candidate in Kogi
A political support group, “Okun United 4 Ododo’’, on Sunday in Lokoja pledged to support the All Progressives Congress (APC) at the Nov. 11 governorship election in Kogi.
Okun is a major ethnic group in Kogi and is home to Sen. Dino Melaye of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) one of the major opponents of the APC candidate, Mr Ododo Usman at the election.
Mr Onogwu Mohammed, media aide to Gov. Yahaya Bello, stated that “Okun United 4 Ododo’’ gave the assurance of support to Melaye’s opponent at a solidarity visit it paid to the governor.
The group was led by retired Commodore Jerry Omodara, Security Adviser to the governor.
It described the APC as a formidable party that had brought significant development to Kogi.
“Since the launch of this group on June 8, it has actively canvassed support for Ododo Usman, engaging in consultations with traditional rulers, market women, and other crucial election stakeholders in Okun land.
“Our primary agenda is to unite all Okun sons and daughters with a common goal of delivering a bloc vote for the APC at the Nov. 11 election.
“This is because we acknowledged that you, Gov. Yahaya Bello, have fulfilled the long-standing aspirations of the Okun people with the establishment of Kogi State University (KSU) in Kabba.
“The KSU is our source of pride and well-celebrated within and beyond the country.
“This visit is a message that Okun community is aligning with Gov. Bello’s administration to ensure victory for Hon. Ododo, rather than supporting someone else,’’ Omodara reassured.
Responding, Gov. Bello expressed gratitude to the group for its support and dedicated efforts in canvassing and mobilising voters to support the APC’s gubernatorial candidate at the election.
Bello emphasised the significance of the November election as he stated that it would go a long way in shaping the future of Kogi.
“Since you displayed support and loyalty, I implore you (the group) to campaign vigorously across Okun land to secure a resounding victory for APC on Nov 11.
“I really appreciate the unity and collective voice demonstrated by the people of Okun land at this moment of Kogi’s political history,’’ the governor said.
The Minister of Justice, Lateef Fagbemi, SAN has warned against obstructing the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) from carrying out its lawful duty .
Fagbemi’s warning is contained in a statement in Abuja.
“This is a matter of very grave concern, it is now beyond doubt that the EFCC is given power by the law to invite any person of interest to interact with them in the course of their investigations into any matter, regardless of status.
“Therefore, the least that we can all do when invited, is not to put any obstruction in the way of EFCC, but to honourably answer their invitation.
“A situation where public officials who are themselves subject of protection by law enforcement agents will set up a stratagem of obstruction to the civil and commendable efforts of the EFCC to perform its duty is to say the least, insufferably disquieting’’.
He added that running away from the law will not resolve issues at stake but only exacerbate them.
“Nigeria has a vibrant judicial system that is capable of protecting everyone who follows the rule of law in seeking protection.
“I therefore encourage anyone who has been invited by the EFCC or any other agency to immediately toe the path of decency and civility by honouring such invitation instead of embarking on a temporising self-help and escapism.
“This can only put our country in bad light before the rest of the world’’.
He said institutions of state should be allowed to function effectively and efficiently.
“I stand for the rule of law and will promptly call EFCC, and indeed any other agency to order when there is an indication of any transgressions of the fundamental rights of any Nigerian by any of the agencies’’.
NAN reports that the EFCC had on Wednesday warned members of the public that it was a criminal offence to obstruct officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties.
Section 38(2)(a(b) of the EFCC Establishment Act makes it an offence to prevent officers of the Commission from carrying out their lawful duties. Culprits risk a jail term of not less than five years.
The warning , the EFCC said, became necessary against the background of the increasing tendency by persons and groups under investigation by the Commission to take the laws into their hands by recruiting thugs to obstruct lawful operations of the EFCC.
On several occasions, the anti graft agency said, operatives of the Commission have had to exercise utmost restraint in the face of such provocation to avoid a breakdown of law and order.
Some unknown gunmen have kidnapped Joshua Rogers, the ChannelsTV reporter in Port-Harcourt, the Rivers State capital.
Politics Nigeria learnt that Rogers was picked up close to his residence at Rumuosi in Port Harcourt and to an unknown destination by the gunmen around 9pm on Thursday, April 11.
The reporter was driving his official ChannelsTV branded car when the hoodlums accosted, pointed a gun at him and took him away in the same vehicle.
Rogers was said to be returning from his official assignment in Government House after a trip to Andoni for a government event when the incident happened.
Already, the gunmen were said to have contacted his wife and demanded a N30million ransom for bis release.
His cameraman confirmed the incident and appealed to his abductors to set him free unconditionally.
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