By Thompson Yamput
The indigenes of Okun land in Kogi west on Thursday declared their loyalty and confidence in Gov Usman Ododo and Ex-Gov Yahaya Bello as APC party leader in the State.
“This is because no okun man or woman repays good with evil, considering the goodies Bello did to us and what Ododo is doing as our abled Governor.”
Mr Eniola Olayemi, Spokesman and Coordinator, Okun United for Justice, made the remarks during a news conference held in Lokoja on Thursday.
Olayemi, who expressed dismay over a comment credited to one of its sons, Bashorun Adeyemi, said that the Okun nation was not known for ethnic bigotry and was fully committed to the success of the present administration in Kogi State.
Adeyemi, in his comment, had attacked Ex-Gov Bello and Gov Ododo of not doing well for the people of Kogi and the handling of the Nov 11, 2023 off circle election.
But Olayemi condemned Adeyemi, whom he accused of playing the card of his pay masters in Abuja in trying to tanish the image of Ododo and Ex-Gov Bello.
“To set the record straight, Bashorun Adeyemi has no right whatsoever to speak for or on behalf of the Okun nation.
“He was just the mouthpiece of some Abuja-based political jesters who failed in their political conquest agenda on the Okun people and the people of Kogi State.
“The Okun nation is made up of intellectual giants and we are known to be grateful people. The establishment of the Kogi State University, Kabba has wiped away our shame as a nation, ” he said.
According to him, Adeyemi’s comment is not the position of Okun people who have gained so much from the administration of Ex-Gov Bello and the present administration of Gov Ododo.
“An Okun man or woman doesn’t repay good with evil. That was the reason our people in all the towns and villages came out in their numbers to vote for the candidate of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in the Nov. 11, 2023 polls.
“Okun is not known for ethnic sentiments. Our judgment is based on who will deliver good governance.
“Henceforth, we will not sit by and watch a few sadists pitch us against the people of Kogi Central with whom we share a lot of affinities, including our being together in the old Kwara State.
“The Government of APC showed beyond doubt that Okun is at the centre of its plans, and our results showed clearly where we belong.
“We make it categorically clear that the election of November 11, 2023 in Kogi State was free, fair and credible. No incident was recorded in Kogi West and Kogi Central from their dust of defeat to throw tantrums on the intelligence of the Okun nation.
“Now, our children can go to a state-owned University in Kabba. This must have been a big pain to those who said GYB doesn’t love Okunland.
“Unfortunately, they have nothing more to say to demarket the most successful Governor in the history of our state. They have chosen to resort to dropping the name of Okunland in their shameless dance, ” he said.
He reiterated that the people of Okunland were solidly behind the administration of Gov Ododo as big stakeholders, having delivered over 90 per cent of their votes to him.
The APC, he noted, lost only Yagba East marginally to Elder Leke Abejide, while all the other Okun local government areas delivered to the APC massively, including the Local Government of Sen. Dino Melaye.
“The Kabba Township roads rehabilitation, construction of the GYB Model Secondary School at Okebukun, establishment of a Rice Mill at Ejiba, building and equipping of an ultra-modern GYB Model Hospital in Isanlu as well as the remodelling of GDSS Takete Ide, among others, are enough to remain grateful to the administration of Yahaya Bello forever,” he said. NAN
