By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja.
SUDDEN withdrawal of Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, member of the House of Representatives, from Kogi State governorship race has shocked his followers who had earlier shelve their ambitions for him to clinch the ticket.
A Frontline member of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Hajia Hadiza Ibrahim disclosed this at a Press Conference on Monday in Lokoja.
Hajia Hadiza said she had genuine desire to provide a people-oriented leadership and had the ambition to contest the governorship seat of the state as she had done in 2015 and 2019.
“You will recall that I have been in the race for the esteemed seat of Governor of Kogi State from 2015 to 2019 for which I participated in the primaries.
“In 2023, I have also been in the race for the Governorship of Kogi State under the platform of the All Progressives Congress (APC) but had to shelve it to better the chances for Rt. Hon. Faleke.
“My ambition is borne out of the genuine desire to provide a people-oriented leadership that will ensure the provision of the needed gains of democracy to our people in line with their wishes and aspirations.
“However, I reasoned that that desire can only be attained when it is not in conflict with my political leader, Hon. James Faleke, who is my political mentor and teacher.
“Having worked so closely with him on the political front for years, I consider it an affront to be in the same contest with him. A student cannot know more than the teacher”, she said.
Hajia Hadiza therefore expressed shock that Rt. Hon Faleke, Member representing Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives and Chairman, House committee on Finance withdrew from the Kogi governorship race without the faintest inkling of his supporters.
“To my surprise, I got to know this morning that Faleke has withdrawn. I won’t have stepped aside if I knew he was withdrawing. My people love me and I have no cause not to be in the race”, she asserted.
Hajia Hadiza, flanked by some other members of the party, however, called on the party to extend the sale of Nomination and Expression of Intent Forms for the party’s April Governorship Primaries to enable her join the race.
“If they can extend the date, I will pick my forms and join the race”, she said. (Ends)