RE: Kogi Guber Election And Our Enemies In High Places.

We of the People's Democratic Party Youth Vanguard, Kogi State Chapter, make bold our appreciation of the sincerity of the All Progressive Congress, Kogi APC stakeholders for their courage in accepting the fact that the present political circumstances is an odd against the party, as nothing can guarantee victory for the party's candidate, Prince Abubakar Audu in the forthcoming November governorship election.

This view which was clearly expressed in an advertorial placed by the APC Concerned Stakeholders Forum, was sponsored by Prince Abubakar Audu, the party's governorship candidate for the forthcoming election in some National Newspapers at the weekend.

We are equally happy that the members of the APC, namely; Elder Okpanachi Ameh Obulo, Chief Sani Shaibu Ogu, Dr. Tom Salami Ohi, Abubakar Rajab and Abdul Adama in that paid advertorial titled: Kogi Guber Election And our Enemies in High Places as published in some of the Dailies accepted that APC in the state is now denounce of victory in the forth coming governorship election.
They group blamed the expected loss on the party's hierarchy and the Presidency for not supporting the party's candidate in the state.

Ordinarily, we in the Peoples Democratic Party Vanguard would not have taken interest in the said advertorial and its content, but we are drawn to make the following contribution when the APC members alleged that there was a grand and subtle plot of subterfuge to ensure the defeat of Prince Audu in favour of Capt. Idris Wada.

Furthermore, the APC members alleged that the hosting of Capt. Idris Wada by Mr President to a closed door meeting at the Presidential Villa recently was a preference of the PDP candidate to that of the APC.

Let it be stated for the umpteenth time that Kogi State as stated by the APC stakeholders has remained a PDP state since 1998. It was the internal wrangling within the party that brought the APP government to be in 1999 in the first place.

The period between 1999-2003 would remain a watershed in the history of the state. During this period, the state witnessed a reign of tyranny by an autocrat who ruled the state like a fiefdom. The level of corruption leading to the embezzlement of N11 billion, which the APC candidate has continuously stalled his trial are testament of the monumental corruption that was the hallmark of that administration.

Without wanting to be economical with the truth, we want to also state that following the activities and build-up to the APC primaries, commentaries and narratives from members of the APC and political watchers had evidenced that Prince Audu was a bad product. That the people of the state have chosen to distance themselves from him and his aspiration since his emergence as the flag bearer of the party is therefore not a surprise but a true reflection that a party platform cannot make a bad man to be good.

A leopard, an African adage says, cannot change its spot. little wonder even after the APC primaries, common sense would have prevailed that Prince Audu extend a hand of fellowship to other aspirants. Rather because he saw those who contested with him as enemies, his unforgiven spirit came to the fore. Only three out of the 27 aspirants that contested the APC primaries are presently associated and working with him.

For those who live in Kogi State, it is not any surprise to say the PDP is enjoying an unfettered campaign and is busy strategising on how to win overwhelmingly the November 21, governorship election. It would also be wrong to associate the PDP to the decision of the APC Appeal Panel Committee that seek the disqualification of Prince Audu for his failure to resign as BOT member, and his inability to disclose that he was facing corruption charges for embezzling N11 billion while filling the party's governorship nomination form.

We are happy at the revelation by the stakeholders in the said advert that it is the APC that is orchestrating the propaganda of the stolen N11billion state funds and also dressing her own candidate as a monumentally corrupt man. Efforts to clarify the negative issues surrounding the allegation of the alleged theft and embezzlement of the N11billion fraud by the APC candidate has casted aspersion on the party's change Mantra and the President's avowed commitment to fight corruption lives Prince Audu hiding behind a finger. On a daily basis the APC candidate lives with the unanswered question, #bringbackourmoney#

As a former member of the PDP, who feels he can actualise his political interest in the APC, we wish to congratulate Chief James Ocholi for his successful nomination and screening by the Senate. It is unfortunate that the APC concerned stakeholders sponsored by the APC governorship candidate would call a man who has risen to become a Senior Advocate of Nigeria and a Ministerial designate a 'nonentity'.

As we await November 21, when Kogi people would once again vent their anger on Prince Audu like they did on four occasion, it is certainly clear that the people would overwhelmingly vote for Capt Idris Wada, the Preferred choice, as against Prince Audu's ambition to return to office to avenge perceived enemies and for him to continue to corruptly and enrich himself.  The success of Mr President in the March presidential election was achieved based on Mr President's integrity and the love of the people of the state for his aspiration. It therefore smacks of his usual  arrogance, lies and false declaration to pounder that Mr President's success in the state was influenced by Prince Audu. This is not true more so that light and darkness can never be in agreement.

The evil that men do lives the say lives with them. It was not a hidden truth that Prince Audu's preference for supporting Olusegun Obasanjo in 2003 was in the public domain. Even while he is expected to as a supposed statesman own up to his action then, it is unfortunate that Prince Audu's paid sponsors are claiming that he was mischievously deceived to Ota not knowing that the agenda of the meeting was to endorse then President Olusegun Obasanjo.

We look forward to seeing Mr. President in Kogi some day to commission the several laudable projects of Capt Idris Wada that abound the state. But it would be unbelievable to the world if PMB whose anti corruption rating rakes high is seen in Kogi State to associate with the APC candidate. Such action would not only cast aspersion on the anti-corruption crusade of PMB but on his personality that is most revered by the international community.
It was an acknowledged fact that aside refusing to host PMB in 2003 while on a campaign to the state, recently in 2015, we are aware that Prince Audu pitched his tent with Alhaji Rabiu Kwankwaso of Kano State. Infact he once told a close associate after PMB emergence  as the party's flag bearer that the President has been caused and was not destined to rule Nigeria.

While we are certain, concerned and a fait accompli about the victory of the PDP in November election in Kogi State, we kindly call on the APC and its candidate to put its house in order and not to join issue with our candidate who is in the mould of an angel when compared to the APC candidate who had become a nightmare to Kogi State electorate.
Finally, a bad product is not marketable. We wish to thank and to commend members of the APC for accepting defeat of its candidate ahead the Kogi State Governorship election.

Signed
Sule Ahmed
President

Labaran Tijani Usman
Secretary

Mercy Bolanle
Treasurer