Assassination attempt on Muri: Group writes Tinubu, lists Bello’s attacks in Kogi

A political alliance group operating under the auspices of G15 Political Movement for Muri, (G15 PM 4 M) has condemned the attempted assassination of the Kogi State governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party, SDP, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka while on his way to Lokoja on Saturday.

In a statement which was signed by the Interim Management Committee of the group and made available to CAPITAL POST on Sunday, they explained that governor Yahaya Bello’s convoy which was returning from Abuja to Lokoja blocked the entourage of the SDP and disallowed them from entering Lokoja.

The statement explained that Ajaka’s team had a prior information of the planned attack the Commissioner for Water Resources-led thugs, but was foiled.by the Koton Karfe youths.

They urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to wade in and caution Kogi State against attacks on his perceived political opponents which has been his way of crude politics in Kogi State.

The group called on the Inspector General of Police, Director General of the Department of State Services DSS to carry out a thorough investigation and prosecute those behind the dastardly act.

The statement read: “While waiting for the arrival of Alhaji Yakubu Ajaka, we had received intelligence report about the planned attacked by thugs led by Hon Bashiru Gegu, Commissioner for Solid Minerals which was foiled by youths of Koton Karfe.

“It is how ever unfortunate to state that the Governor of Kogi State whose convoy had travelled from Abuja to Lokoja and over took that of the candidate of the SDP and blocked the highway preventing him from entering Lokoja.

“We are confident in the proactive and decisive leadership of our newly sworn in President, His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR and await his actions as a democrat and nationalist to ensure a free, fair and credible governorship election come November this year.

“The G 15 PM 4 Muri condemns in very strong terms the unprovoked attack on the SDP Governorship candidate, Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka (Muri), by thugs loyal to the Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello.

“It is on record that the SDP candidate had embarked on a courtesy visit to the major traditional rulers in Kogi State which was planned to take him to the palaces of the Ohimege of Koto Karfe, the Megari of Lokoja, the Ata Igala, the Ohinoyi of Ebiraland and the Obaro of Kabba.

He was received by a mamooth crowd at Koton Karfe on the high way and the palace of the Ohimege of Koto. He was blessed by the royal father and was already on his way to see the Maigari of Lokoja when the attack happened.

“The thugs led by Hon. Bashiru Gegu and Hon Friday Makama then opened gun fire on the vehicle of the SDP candidate and that of his followers in an attempt to assassinate him.

“Several cars were riddled with bullets and some burnt to ashes in the process. Some of the followers of the SDP candidate sustained bullet wounds and were rushed to a nearby hospital before being taken to Abuja for further treatment of their injuries.

“It is on record that the Governor of Kogi State is known for violent acts of aggression against political opponents within his and outside his party, the All Progressives Congress (APC).

“In 2017 there was an attack on Senator Dino Melaye and his convoy at the Kogi State Polytechnic, Lokoja, which led to the death of one person and injuries to several followers, this was repeated in Kabba and Koto in 2018 with injuries sustained by many followers and destruction of many cars and valuables.

“The case of the attack against Barr Mrs Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan, a candidate of the SDP for Governor of Kogi State in 2019 and another attack against her in 2023 when she contested for the Senate seat in Kogi Central under the PDP are fresh in our minds.

“You will recall that the 2023 attack against Mrs Natasha Akpoti Uduaghan included the digging of large craters and destruction of the roads leading to her village, with the ridiculous trumped-up allegation of fighting criminals and terrorists.

“Similarly in 2019 Former Governor Idris Ibrahim was stopped by government sponsored thugs from entering into Kogi State for the governorship elections. The same election in 2019 saw the use of a police helicopter in shooting at voters and the snatching of ballot boxes.

“These are just very few cases of violent suppression of political opponents and the use of terror in manipulating the political will of the people.

“We are appalled at the continuous show of cowardice and shameful use of force by Governor Yahaya Bello and his cohorts on political opponents and this time on the candidate of the SDP Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka.

“The G 15 PM 4 Muri call on the President and Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces of the Federal Republic of Nigeria His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu GCFR, the Inspector General of Police and the Director General of the State Security Service to thoroughly investigate and prosecute all those involved in this assassination attempt on Alhaji Muri Ajaka and call the Kogi State Governor to order.

“This becomes imperative as the rising profile and popularity of our candidate which is seen as a threat to the political projections of the Kogi State Governor is going to make him take more desperate measures to save himself and his cronies from imminent political defeat at the November 2023 governorship polls.

“We believe he will set the record straight at his handling of this first election under his watch and make it a departure from the violence ridden processes we have witnessed in Kogi State.”