By Ekele Sunday
More facts are beginning to unravel about the level some political figures in Kogi State are ready to go in order to capture power and regain their political relevance.
Following the shocking revelation by police Spokesperson, Jimoh Moshood, about the culpable involvement of the Senator representing Kogi West at the red chamber of the National Assembly, Senator Dino Maleye, in the case of two nabbed suspected armed criminals there has been a fresh insight implicating a member of the Kogi State House of Assembly and Other politicians of having a stained notorious history in Kogi State.
The suspects had alleged while being interrogated by the police that they were on the payroll of the embattled senator.
Investigations have also found out that a sitting lawmaker in the Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon. Friday Abdul Sani who is wanted by the long arm of the law for countless criminal acts in Kogi state since 2007 has also been fingered.
Impeccable sources within and outside Kogi State informed that before Hon Friday’s narrow escape from the law and currently hiding under immunity as provided for by the constitution of the Federal republic of Nigeria, he has been involved in the desperate to unseat the current government in the state.
It would be recalled that between 2003 through 2012, based on the official documents that emanated from the Department of state security service (DSS), Friday Abdul Sani was a man who was entangled in diverse act of criminality while he tormented every persons that crossed his path. The Hon. Member back then together with his gang popularly called ‘Ajana Mopol’ were known within the state’s terrain for wreaking havoc and causing mayhem. From the landslide of evidence available, Friday Abdul Sani’s era was a “reign of terror” in Kogi state that many visit with fear and would otherwise, want to forget too soon.
Although the criminality of Friday Abdul Sani has been downplayed by the local media in the state out of the fear that the media outlet that would be brave enough to do so might be visited with tragedy, including physical attacks that can lead to death of prominent figures in such organizations or the particular journalist who dares the devil. It is also shocking to learn that even the diverse security agencies in the state were handicapped in handling this situation, even while they acknowledged the existence of a terrorist of Friday Abdul Sani’s pedigree, they yet remained calm and allow a popular crime perpetrator to hold a public office.
Be reminded/informed that between 2004 and 2007, it was documented that Abdul Sani committed atrocities and deadly attacks across Kogi state, for which, unfortunately, he received a lot of accolades from some political players. One worthy to note was the alleged murder of Samaila Ejima on the 14th of December, 2004. Although the police made some arrests at the beginning of the case, there were suspected foul play as enquiries by the concerned Odolu Community Members from the then Commissioner of Police revealed that the case was transferred to the Force Headquarters in Abuja and that the suspect arrested, Mohammed Omolayo, A.k.a Lessgo, escaped from police custody. That was the shocking end of that episode.
As at 2007, the group had become dreaded terror group and had spread their tentacles in different part of the state with smaller terror affiliates hiding under the canopy of ‘positive youths’ and ‘Aluta Youths. These smaller groups were said get their financing from ransoms, extortions and illegal collection of revenue from timber contractors from part of Enugu State.
Haven’t learnt of his antecedents, Governor Yahaya Bello’s government distanced itself from characters like Hon Friday, who, in what can be described as a big slap on the sensibility of the people of the state, is a forerunner of the fugitive group named “Save Kogi initiatives” a group which is aimed at offering ‘salvation’ to Kogi state.
Immediately after the launch of said Project Save Kogi, Hon Friday Sani, Pastor Fred Attah, andothers unveiled another deadly cult group with intention of perpetrating mayhem across the state. In February 2018, operatives of the Federal Anti-Robbery Squad stormed Hon Friday’s residence in Odolu, Igalamela /Odolu Local Government Area of the state following security reports where large stockpile of arms were discovered. Pastor Fred Attah has prophesied that calamity will befall Kogi State Governor Yahaya Bello and His Chief Of Staff, Edward Onoja. A prophesy from a pastor who is coordinating arm group for politicians should not be taken lightly by the government and the security operatives. The involvement of the so-called clergyman in the recruitment of cult members called for urgent investigation by the security agencies.
It is really funny the way some men play god in the name of being called to the pulpit. Pastor Attah who is the President of the Worshippers House International Church, Abuja, who is supposed to preach salvation and lead men and women away from evil and show them the path to peace and prosperity is sadly the one orchestrating and encouraging mayhem for personal gains, using the youths as launch pad.
There is no denying that many Nigerians are emotional and very well attached to their faith and would want to take up a message sent in the name of ‘God’ by people, some of who, unfortunately are only masquerading as men of God, but the youths of the state, most of who have become gainfully engaged have become wiser and would prefer productive engagement than being used to perpetrate evil against their own people. The activities of such characters should catch the attention of the Nobel Association like the Christian Association of Nigeria.
Another leading figure in the ill-fated “Save Kogi Group” is the senator representing Kogi East, Attai Aidoko Ali; the most fortunate but regrettably the worst politician the senatorial district has ever had. Aidoko has been in the National Assembly close to two decades but his performance can best be described simply as colourless as he has failed his people woefully. There was a viral video showing how the people in Aidoko’s community trek over four km before they can access water from a stream for their domestic and economic activities. The most heinous aspect of his poor leadership is in the fact after 12 years as member of the country’s House of Representativeand eight years as Senator, Attai Aidoko cannot sink a single borehole in his ancestral home.
On the 28th of January, 2016, his co-traveler and Senator Dino Melaye told an Assembly Of over 30, 000 people who gathered at the Confluence Stadium in Lokoja during inauguration of Yahaya Bello as Governor of Kogi State that, while the people of Kogi State voted for late Prince Abubakar Audu, God Almighty elected Yahaya Bello. He further stated that whoever fightsYahaya Bello should know he is fighting God Almighty and thousands of people chorused “Amen”. The same Dino today has declared Kogi State as “Gaza” where there shall be no peace for the government and the people.
While remembering this, let us not lose sight of the overwhelming evidence that have been made public by news media such as Saharareporters on the failed efforts of Senator Dino’s co-travelers in the ‘bring down Bello Government’ crusade, Muhammed Audu, who was caught on a record discussing how to rope principal members of the administration in the unfounded conspiracies, while they perpetrate their nefarious activities in the state. Let us refresh our minds about the weight of the person of Osama, the brain behind the gun-running syndicate that implicated Senator Melaye during interrogation by the police. Osama, for those who have forgotten, is the second in command to Zakariyyau, the notorious criminal in the eastern part of Kogi State who worked tirelessly for the success of Prince Abubakar Audu in the last polls in the state.
There is no doubt that actions and inactions of the characters identified in this piece are nothing but individuals desperate to take over power using whatever means necessary, including the use of violence. Little wonder there is a surge in the number attacks on locals in several parts of Kogi State just as the general elections draw near.
The need for security agents to make all necessary efforts to bring these characters to justice by interrogating them with the sole objectives of getting to the bottom of their nefarious activities cannot be downplayed here. It is okay for politicians to want to gain power through convincing campaigns using their antecedents, but it becomes overstretched when it begins to involve acts that endanger the lives of ordinary citizens of the state.
Ekele Sunday
Writes from Lokoja, Kogi State
