Emmanuel Adeyemi, Lokoja
It was a joyous occasion for the candidate of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) in the November 16 Governorship election in Kogi State, Mr Musa Wada, when thousands of people trooped out to welcome him as his campaign trains landed in Igala land over the weekend.
The PDP candidate visited all nine local government areas that make up the Eastern senatorial district (Ankpa, Olamaboro, Dekina, Bassa, Idah, Ibaji, Ofu, Omala and Igala – Mela) and was received with great fun fare.
Speaking at his rally stops, Wada bemoaned the deplorable state of the roads in the state, observing that in spite of the monthly allocations and bailout funds received by the current state government, not a single lane of road has been constructed.
Wada said the APC-led state administration has succeeded in inflicting more hardships to the citizens through deliberate plans to cow the people to submission by non payment of civil servant salaries.
He urged voters not to allow themselves to be deceived again, asking them to vote for the PDP in the upcoming election.
Wada promised to review the screening exercise of workers conducted by the government and that of the pensioners and local government workers with a view to ensure justice, saying that pensioners ere not supposed to be afflicted with suffering at old age.
He described the screening exercise as lacking a human face, saying that it had led to the untimely death of many civil servants, pensioners and their relations.
“The endless screening exercise will be reviewed as many workers and pensioners were deliberately screeend out at all levels,” the statement signed by Mr Austin Okahi, a member of the media committee of the organisation, said.
Related: Kogi Guber: Wada “Ambassador of Corruption”, says APC Campaign Council
Wada also decried the non payment of workers salaries at the state and local government levels, describing the development as dangerous for the state economy.
He particularly sympathised with local government workers across the state over non payment of their salaries for years, describing the development as pathetic.
The candidate further condemned the deplorable state of roads in Abejukolo, Ankpa and Abejukolo, promising to rebuild them if elected governor. Wada chided Governor Yahaya Bello for embarking on “window dressing developments” rather than genuine ones that will transform the lives of the people few days before the election.
He warned the people of Olamaboro local government not to be decieved by the recent political machine which made the area produce the new deputy governor.
The candidate explained that indigenes of the state, regardless of tribe and religion, have the right to ascend to any top political offices without any condition attached.
“Remain supportive of the PDP and jettison the new political sherrifs known for coercion and violence to achieve high political pedestal,” he told the people.
Wada charged voteds in the state not to succumb to threat and intimidation from any quarter, saying that they should troop out to vote for him on election day.
At Ankpa, Wada expressed shock that the ancient town once known for its boisterous economic activities had become a ghost town due to the rot in public infrastructure.
He promised to restore the lost glory of Ankpa by creating more access roads and channelisation projects to control the lingering erosion problem that have swamped some areas.
The candidate additionally urged the people to be ready to protect their votes on November 16.