The leadership of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) and the MuriSam Campaign Council are aware of the heinous directives given to all hotel owners in the 21 Local Government Area of the confluence state by the government of Yahaya Adoza Bello.
In a letter addressed to Chief Executive Officers Of Hotels in Kogi state and signed on October 31, 2023 by one Alh. Oricha U. Shuaibu the Director General, Government House Administration, Independent hotel owners were directed to reserve all hotel rooms in the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State from the 4th of November to 12th of November, 2023.
We condemn such directives as we are reliably informed that the aim of such reservation across the 21 LGA’s of the State is to accommodate thugs and armed militias that will be imported into the state to unleash mayhem on the electorates, especially members of the opposition during the November 11 election.
This directive by the state government is too desperate and dangerous for our democracy as the outcome will be to destabilize the peace of the people, undermine the electoral process and endanger the security of lives and properties.
To this end, we are calling on the federal government and all the security institutions of the state to ensure the safety of the people of Kogi state by doing the following:
1.. Mounting adequate security checkpoints across all the borders of Kogi State with other states to prevent the crossing of hired thugs and militias.
2.. Ensure that security forces enforce the no movement order during the period of voting.
3.. Constituted a special response team across the 21 LGA’s of the state to deter local thugs from destabilizing the polity both during and after the election.
4.. The federal government should order the state government to withdraw the order given to all hotel owners for full reservation.
5.. Tighten security across all the Local Government Areas of the state to prevent the failure of law and order.
6.. Thorough stop and search of people coming into the state to prevent the inflow of arms.
7.. The federal government must protect local hotel owners against the fury of Yahaya Bello to affirm their rights of transacting business without intimidation.
We encourage the people to remain steadfast,calm and to point the security forces to anywhere thugs and militias are camped in their respective communities.
Signed: Isaiah Davies Ijele
DG New Media
MuriSam Campaign Council.
04/11/2023.
