Kogi Guber: Count me out of Igala agenda, bigotry, Shuaibu Audu slams kinsmen

The Minister of Steel Development, Prince Shuaibu Audu has slammed those accusing him for supporting the All Progressives Congress, APC Governorship candidate, Ododo Ahmed Usman in the November 11 election in Kogi State.

He described any group or individuals calling on him to support another party as a bigot adding that he should be excused from Igala Agenda, saying he was not brought up by his parents a ‘bigot’.

The Minister’s outburst was at the backdrop of accusation for his support for APC’s Ododo, a cousin of Yahaya Bello who is seen as a third term for Bello, if he is votes into office.

Prince Shuaibu Abubakar Audu is the Director-General of the Kogi State APC Governorship Campaign Council.

The recent expression of this ire came from the Forum of Igala Journalists, who expressed their disappointment in the Minister. In an open letter, the Forum of Igala Journalists conveyed their concerns and criticized his endorsement of the candidate, leading to his outburst in the form of a press statement signed by him and circulated on social media.

In a letter signed by Omonu YG Nelson, Secretary of the Forum, it said, “We believe that your decision to support Governor Yahaya Bello’s Proxy Third Term bid is a betrayal of your father’s legacy and the goodwill he earned for your family.”

Addressing Prince Shuaibu, the Forum described Bello’s eight years as catastrophic for Kogi people. According to the Forum, Governor Yahaya Bello “presided over a corrupt, incompetent, and repressive government. He has failed to deliver on any of your father’s campaign promises and has plunged the state into debt.”

“The people of Kogi State deserve better than Bello’s right-hand man (Ododo). They deserve a leader who is honest, competent, and committed to their well-being,” the Forum said.

Addressing the leaders and members of the Forum of Igala Journalists, Prince Shuaibu began with a plea for objectivity, lamenting the subjectivity he perceived in their political discourse. “Where is the sacred doctrine of objectivity?” he questioned, setting the tone for his defense.

He went on to speak about his father, the late Prince Abubakar Audu, a man known as the most celebrated icon Igala has ever produced. Prince Shuaibu emphasized that his father was not an ethnic bigot, unlike Igala people who are clamoring and pushing for the Igala Agenda.

In a swift reaction to the unfortunate statement made by Prince Shuaibu, which has infuriated many sons and daughters of Igala extraction, a social media user described Prince Shuaibu’s statement as the most unfortunate, especially coming from Prince Abubakar Audu’s son. “It is unfortunate that Audu’s son could make such a statement. I’m very sure that Audu is not happy with his son for supporting the most incompetent individual.”

He further said this: “Audu was known for excellence. Yes, he wasn’t known for bigotry, but he was a direct opposite of all that Yahaya Bello epitomizes.

Prince Abubakar Audu did not excavate public roads to deny people of their rights during elections. Audu allowed his works and achievements to speak for him during elections, which is the reason he was celebrated, elected, and re-elected.”