LEADERS of thought, opinion moulders and other critical stakeholders from the three Federal Constituency of Kogi West Senatorial district has resolved to be resolute in their quest to produce the next governor of Kogi state.

The resolution came at a Monday meeting held shortly after the “Thank You” rally of the All Progressives Congress to the zone led by the senator of the district, Senator Smart Adeyemi.

Adeyemi had in the noon conducted some party faithfuls to Kabba, eulogizing the district for their supports in the February 25 general election, thanking them for giving 75 percents of their votes to the ruling party.

But in the subsequent evening meeting held in same town, the Stakeholders were said to have told the senator that they will not settle for less in the forthcoming governorship election.

The Stakeholderslder vowed that any party that fails to zone its governorship ticket to the West will not get votes from the zones.

One of the Stakeholders in the meeting, Jimoh Bodunde said, “We are already aware of some Anti- Zoning Propagonists. But anyone who is opposing the zoning of governorship to Kogi West is an enemy of the state. Anybody opposing Kogi West is unpatriotic and parochial, those people do not only hate Kogi but fanning the embers of dissent and disunity, capable of exacerbating crisis in the state.

“We have reiterated our stand that the ruling and other opposion parties should zone their governorship tickets to Kogi West, and vowed that any political party that refuses to adhere to the rotation protocol should not count on our support. Enough is enough.

The personal Assistant to Senator Smart Adeyemi, Mr. Katode Olorunmowaju who spoke too said the meeting was not basicly about his principal but for justice, fairness and equity to be honoured.

“My principal, Senator Smart Adeyemi gave all his support for the reelection of Governor Yahaya Bello in 2019 because that was the right thing to do. But this time around, he will not support any candidacy that is not from Kogi West. Though he is contesting but the race is not all about him. He will only support a westernal for the race.

Also speaking, Chief Ben Abdullahi said since the creation of the state 32 years ago, the Eastern senatorial district of the state, has produced three governors at various times, which spanned for 20 years and the central axis of the state also produced a governor, who will be completing his two term tenure of 8 years; stressing that it is only fair that the west which has not produce a governor be allowed to.

“We urged Governor Yahaya Bello to borrow a leave from the Northern governor who did not look at the strength of Northern population but insisted that power must shift to the Southern Nigeria. We so appeal to President -Elect, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to throw his support behind the agitation for Kogi West to produce the next governor, as he was also beneficiary of the APC zoning system that returned power to the South.

Another Stakeholderslders, Amb. Dare Olutekunbi however said if the zone should produce the next governor, Senator Adeyemi should be consider for the position.

“Senator Adeyemi, who is the current senate committee chairman on FCT, has served in the senate for three terms. He his an honest politician, a team player and someone well loved by his peoplle, he his a man of diligence and impeccable character with a zest for selfless service.

“If you get a glimpse of his manifesto, shows that there will be radical development of the state. He promised to ensure that all community are connected to national grid within his first year in office, he also said he will change Okene with massive structural development; his agricultural and natural development will bring about a socio-economic turn around for the state.”

He said the former NUJ president has the requisite experience, capabilities and acceptability to make the APC win the governorship election if giving the ticket.

The Stakeholders however said they have the supports of all traditional institution from the zone and are poised to realized their stand to produce the next governor.

Senator Smart Adeyemi on his own said he has no option than to comply with the resolution of the zone to produce the next governor.

He said he has no regret supporting the governor for his second term because the governor was also instrumental to him retuning back to the senate for 3rd term, “I have condoned the numerous backlashes I received for supporting governor Yahaya Bello in 2019. Don’t forget he was instrumental to my election and as the DG Campaign I was able to deliver for his 2nd term.

“However, the issue of powershift is different and I have no option but to support the agitation by the zone. No single zone can produce a governor. In 2015, the West and Central voted for Bello but the East voted for their son, Musa Wada yet he couldn’t make it.

“I have accepted the numerous calls by my people to contest and I wait for other aspirants to meet me for debates on national television.”
End.