From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The chairman of Kogi State Traditional Council of chiefs, the Ata Igala HRM Alaji Mathew Opaluwa Oguche Akpa has condemned the attacks on Governor Yahaya Bello over the weekend.
Traditional rulers led by His Royal Majesty, Alaji Mathew Opaluwa Ogwuche-Akpa, A pota Igala, paid a visit to Governor Yahaya Bello at the Government House in Lokoja on Monday.
Atta Igala expressed the purpose of their visit, which was to offer their sympathies to the Governor regarding the attack on his convoy by a political group on his way from Abuja to Lokoja on Saturday.
In a release made available to Journalists in Lokoja by the chief press secretary to the Governor, Muhammed Onogu said the Atta Igala condemned the attack, labeling it as a criminal act that must not be repeated in Kogi State in future.
His Royal Majesty, Alaji Mathew Opaluwa Ogwuche-Akpa, also cautioned politicians and their followers to ensure that their campaigns are conducted without resorting to violence or intimidation.
In his remarks,His Royal Majesty, the Ohimege-Igu of Koto Karfe, Abdulrazaq Isah Koto, emphasized that the state, which has enjoyed significant peace and tranquility under the leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello, will continue to remain peaceful.
Governor Bello, in his remarks expressed his surprise at the conduct of those who attacked his convoy on Saturday explaining that on his way to Abuja on May 25th, his convoy encountered a roadblock allegedly set up by protesting truck drivers who claimed to have issues with the task force.
The governor stated that after waiting for hours, enduring untold hardship alongside other commuters who were unaware of the situation, he joined the security personnel in clearing the road.
“The perpetrators, who had subjected other road users to such harsh conditions, were subsequently arrested and charged by the security forces to serve as deterrent to others.
When he noticed that the convoy was not moving, he inquired about the reason and was informed by his security details that it was Muri’s convoy causing the delay.
Despite frantic efforts by his security details to find a way through, he had no choice but to follow behind Murtala’s convoy from Koto Karfe to Lokoja, covering a distance of approximately 30 kilometers to the point his convoy was attacked.
The governor described the attackers’ actions as criminal, emphasizing that such lawlessness would never be tolerated in the state.
He therefore called on the security forces and the traditional rulers to play their parts in ensuring the continuity of peace in the state ahead of the election.
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