From Noah Ocheni, Lokoja
The chairman of the governorship campaign organisation of the Muri/Sam of the SDP in the state, Col. Suleiman Babanawa, (RTD) on Thursday in Lokoja called on the Inspector General of Police to intervene in the compromise of Kogi Police command and incessant attacks by APC thugs on SDP supporters in Kogi state.
Col. Babanawa, (rtd) who made the call while addressing the Press at the Party’s secretariat in Lokoja noted that the rate at which APC’S thugs in collaboration with the Police are attacking SDP members
is at alarming rate.
He pointed out that Gunmen working for Kogi State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on Wednesday this week attacked and dispersed a Socail Democratic Party (SDP) Governorship Ward Rally at Ejule in Ofu LGA of Kogi State destroying property worths thousands of naira.
The chairman further disclosed that at about 9: 30am about two hours before the rally was scheduled to commence that day, the thugs had descended on the St. Matthews Primary School venue and destroyed canopies, Public Address Systems, Chairs and the podium arranged for the event.
On the same day night, he pointed out that similar assault was carried out on the SDP members in Ajaka, the headquarters of Igalamela/ Odolu local government by the outlawed chairman of the Taskforce on Firearms in Kogi state, comrade Friday Sani Makama and some police officers assigned to him by the police command.
Col. Babanawa, (rtd) disclosed that luck therefore ran out of one ASP Sani Ademu of Police Quick Response Units who was arrested where they laid ambush at Okpachala village to assassinate the governorship candidate of SDP, Alhaji Muritala Ajaka.
“After gun battle with security officers attached to SDP candidate in Kogi, the operation vehicles of the outlawed Friday Sani Makama were abandoned while he, ( Friday) escaped with other police officers and thugs.”
“During an interrogation, on a viral video, ASP Sani Ademu said his boss, CSP, Femi Ojo, of Quick response unit of the police command assigned him to Friday Makama for an operation at Anyigba before their leader diverted to Ajaka community.” Babanawa said.
He said the SDP has on several occasions in the state cried out to the Inspector General of Police over the compromise by the Kogi Police command with Governor Bello to revolt attacks on SDP supporters in the state but to no avail.
“Recalled that Hon. Justice Omotosho of the Federal High Court Abuja in his recent judgement declared that the Governor of Kogi State does not have the powers to constitute any task force on Firearms, or appoint Mr. Friday Sani Makama as it’s Director General.” He said.
“The Court thereafter voided the appointment of Mr. Friday Sani Makama as Chairman of the Task Force and ordered the Police, the DSS, and the NIA, to invite, investigate, and interrogate Mr. Friday Sani Makama and all persons working with or under him, to repossess and retrieve all firearms in their possession.”
Despite the court’s judgement and order, Col. Babanawa rtd, expressed shocks why such person could be given freedom and even be assigned an ASP by kogi police command for an illegal operation?.
He said SDP members remains law abiding, committed, resolute and focused in abiding by campaign guidelines with the aim of capturing the state in the November election in Kogi state.
In her contribution, the Director women wing campaign organisation, Hajia Mariam Salifu
expressed sadness over the incessant political violence against women in Kogi state.
She therefore appealed to the Nigerian first Lady, Senator Remi Tinibu to as a matter of urgency put all the necessary measures in place to give Kogi women a sigh of relief in the November Governorship election in the state.
