Okai Rejects Claims of Bello’s Role in Kogi’s Peace

The 2023 Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate for the House of Representative election in Dekina/Bassa, Kogi State, Usman Okai Austin, has dismissed claims that former governor Yahaya Bello is the reason youths shunned the #EndBadGovernance protest in the state.

Okai stated that contrary to assertions, Bello is not maintaining peace in Kogi State, but rather, his actions and policies have been detrimental to the state. The socio-political commentator was reacting to an article by Sulaimon Adejoh, which suggested that Bello saw the protest as an agenda that must not be allowed to fly in Kogi State due to his support for President Bola Tinubu’s presidency.

Adejoh had written that Bello rallied stakeholders, especially the youths, to ensure that no one joined the protest in the state. However, Okai faulted this claim, noting that Bello’s past administration had brought about severe hunger in the state, making Kogi one of Nigeria’s hungriest states.

Okai stated that Muri Ajaka, who was allegedly cheated and defrauded in the last election, could have been the catalyst for unrest in Kogi State during the protest. However, he wisely appealed to his supporters to remain calm. Similarly, Senator Echocho and Karimi issued strong statements urging peace in their various Senatorial districts in Kogi state.

The PDP candidate argued that Bello should respect himself and remain quiet, acknowledging his own failures, as the people of Kogi are already accustomed to hunger, which Bello’s leadership has exacerbated.