***Kingsley Fanwo, alleges attack on Bello’s convoy
The Alhaji Muritala Yakubu campaign organization has appealed to the new President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu to demonstrate that his administration will not permit brigandage and totalitarianism by calling the Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello to order.
Director of Communication of the organization Faruk Adejoh-Audu alleged that the candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka on Saturday afternoon escaped assassination when his motorcade was attacked by gunmen personally led by the Governor of Kogi State Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
He said, election is still five months away, but if Mr Bello does not get a strong signal that violence would not be allowed in the new Tinubu administration several of Kogi citizens will be killed by his thugs and gunmen before the polls.
This was coming just as the Kogi Government also claimed that the convoy of Gov. Yahaya Bello was attacked by gunmen, along the Abuja-Lokoja highway.
The Kogi Commissioner for Information, Mr Kingsley Fanwo who made the disclosure in a statement in Lokoja said the attack took place near a Naval Base, few kilometers away from Lokoja, the state capital.
Adejoh-Audu had claimed that Alhaji Ajaka and some vehicles accompanying him were approaching Lokoja at the vicinity of the ram market at about 300pm when two powerbikes and Toyota Hilux overtook his car and forced it to a stop.
The assault he said was heralded by a Mercrdes Benz Limousine with Bellos official crest accompanied by an open pick-up van loaded with masked and hooded men bearing AK 47 Assault Rifles.
“The men jumped down and began shooting at Ajaka’s car and all other cars in the motorcade. They shot for over 5 minutes at Ajaka’s bullet proof car unprovoked.
“All this were happening while Bello’s car was parked a few meters in front and was used to barricade the road while the gun men had a field day.
“When they ceased, Ajaka’s car, a Lexus SUV though a bullet proof was totally damaged and demobilised.
The Director explained further that among the gunmen is one Friday Makama a notorious thug and a former member of the House of Assembly who recently appointed Director General for Fireams Recovery by Mr Bello. Also identified among the hoodlums accompanying the governor is one Bashir Gegu the commissioner for Solid Minerals who has a gross reputation for thuggery.
According to him, Ajaka who was on his way to keep an appointment with the Mai Geri, The first class traditional ruler of Lokoja and The Attah Igala in Idah decided to abort the journey and return to Abuja after conferring with the Commander of the Lokoja Naval Base.
This again he said is another low scored by Mr Yahaya Bello in the exercise of crude power and brute force.
“Bello is on record to have unleashed guns and gunmen on several citizens in the course of his Eight years draconian rule. Several persons have been killed by his hoodlums during electioneering while others are missing .
“Ajaka until recently was a member of the APC who was forced out of the governorship nomination by Mr Yahaya Bello who used minions and proxies to obtain an injunction from a Lokoja High Court restraining him from participating in the primaries.
“The brute action today is obviously in a continuation of Bello’s desperation to stop Yakubu from continuing in the election.
Continuing, Fanwo alleged that the gunmen were political thugs of an opposition political party in the state, the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
The commissioner said the incident which occured at about 12.30 p.m., left several people including security aides injured and taken to the hospital for medical attention.
“The gunmen suspected to be political thugs of the SDP, having sighted the convoy of Bello approaching, blocked the road and started shooting at the convoy.
“A Tundra branded with the logo and flags of the party also blocked the governor’s vehicle and the occupants were armed with rifles and short guns. .
“But thank God our governor left the scene unscathed and there is no cause for panic.
“Some security aides and other aides attached to the governor sustained some degrees of injuries and have been rushed to medical facilities for attention.
“We urge the people of Kogi to remain calm as security agents are in full control to ensure the arrest of the hoodlums behind the attack, ” he said.
Fanwo said the state government would not allow any breakdown of law and order but would do all it could to bring the attackers to justice.
According to him, the governor has warned that no APC member should get involved in any reprisal attack as insecurity from any quarter will be met with stiff penalties.
A Media Aide to the SDP Governorship Candidate, Mr Kunle Afolayo, denied the allegations saying: “it was the other way round because it was his political thugs that attacked us.”
“Is it possible for an opposition political party to attack a governor just like that?
“We were on our way to the Palace of Maigari in Lokoja from Koton Karfe this afternoon, when the governor’s convoy, heading to Lokoja from Abuja, met us on the way and launched an attack on us just like that.
“God knows the truth. It’s unfortunate that APC administration in Kogi is using government might against us and to lie against us for a crime they committed against us, ” the media aide said .