Prince Audu’s Demise: ERG and EYC hold Press Conference

TEXT OF A PRESS CONFERENCE JOINTLY ADDRESSED BY THE EBIRA RENAISSANCE GROUP (ERG) AND EBIRA YOUTH CONGRESS (EYC) ON THE POLITICAL CRISES CREATED BY THE DEATH OF PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU ON NOVEMBER 30, 2015 AT THE NIGERIAN UNION OF JOURNALISTS CENTRE, LOKOJA, KOGI STATE

The gentlemen of the press, distinguished ladies and gentlemen. We would like to, first and foremost, once again, express our hearty commiseration with the immediate family of Prince Abubakar Audu, the All Progressives Congress (APC) and the people of Kogi State over the painful and untimely death of our first executive governor of our dear Kogi State.

As widely anticipated, the awkward timing of the death of Prince Abubakar Audu in the wake of his inconclusive victorious outing in the Kogi State governorship election of November 21, 2015 has ruptured the dynamics and permutations of politics in the state. Unfortunately, the mournful events of his death is assuming a centrifugal force for the politics of the State as many interest groups are presently jostling to fill the vacuum created by his sad exit. While we recognize that every political process is in itself a conflict crying for solution before it can effectively serve as instrument for resolving other conflicts. We, in ERG and EYC take particular exception to the ethnic dimensions which the present political logjam has triggered in the state. This is a sad reversal of the little gains we have achieved in the last 24 years of our togetherness as a State.

From the ground swell of agitations, it would seem that those from the East are rooting for one from the zone, west for the west and Central for the Central. This trend should not be allowed to degenerate, hence this press conference. We are in a constitutional democracy which is a clear departure from monarchy which favours heredity in succession process. On the other hand, legal luminaries of SAN status have vented their feelings on this vexed issue. What could be passed as their common denominator is that the party (APC) holds ace in determining who steps into Audu’s shoe, working in tandem with the constitution and electoral provisions pertaining to the vexed issues at hand. Why are we all of a sudden losing faith in this vehicle of change (APC)?

With respect to constitutional lacuna being alluded to in certain quarters, we have faith in our learned men to resolve this matter with their expertise. Thereafter, unsatisfied individuals or interest groups can make recourse to judiciary for appropriate redress. In this wise, we condemn in its entirety, the recent spate of protests in Eastern parts of the state- This, if not checked immediately, is a sure road to anarchy. We therefore call on the State and the Federal Governments to be alive to their responsibilities and protect law-abiding citizens. We regret to acknowledge the meddlesomeness of some of the Honourable members of Kogi State House of Assembly. As Honourable members, they are expected to be circumspect on sensitive issues such as the one at hand. By now, they should have known the moral vacuity of their hurriedly taken position. They are expected to show the light where there is darkness and pave way where there is none. We wish to remind our Eastern brethren that we have a common ancestral heritage. If for nothing else, our ancestral brotherhood should restrain us from this whipping of ethnic emotions and outright campaign of hate. The issues of inferiority or superiority of tribe suggested by such campaigns and protests should not be allowed in-road into our consciousness. We hasten to caution. If the issues of power rotation as canvassed by the two major parties in the State are indeed desirable, why are some forces so vehement against this divine incursion into our polity? Who is deceiving who?

To our Okun brethren, we wish to remind them that we have a long standing history of political and socio-cultural affinity. This little political disagreement should not be allowed to rock the boat. We have both suffered deprivations for too long.

The place of primary election in all electoral contexts is too well known to merit an elaborate exposition. The recent Taraba State case is a case in point. The absence of what we desire should not blur our sensitivity to what is providentially made available to us, as no constitution is superior to God’s design.

In conclusion, we wish to align ourselves with the position of All Progressives Congress (APC) to nominate Alhaji Yahaya Bello as a replacement to late Prince Abubakar Audu which is in line with the Electoral Acts. We therefore pledge our support to Alhaji Yahaya Bello and urge him to reach out to all aggrieved parties with a view to restoring the unity of Kogi State. Afterall, when the elections are over, we shall still have to live together as one citizen and under one government. God bless you all.

Pastor Joseph Suleiman      Baba Razaq

Coordinator, ERG       Secretary, EYC