The Governorship Candidate of the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP in Kogi State in the November 16 election, Mr Musa Wada has assured that the party would reclaim the mantle of leadership in the state under a free and fair contest
Speaking with newsmen in Abuja on Sunday, Wada declared that Kogi traditionally belonged to PDP and that the party was ready to take over the state, saying that the party was not afraid of the power of incumbency.
Wada, who was on Friday issued the certificate of return by the party, said that the PDP was going into action to constitute necessary committees and at due time launch into a peaceful campaign across the state.
Wada said that though Nigerians were aware of how volatile Kogi used to be during the election period, PDP was fully committed to a peaceful and issues-based campaign.
According to him, “no civilised democracy tolerates violence and then PDP as a peaceful party, we will not encourage violence, but that is not to say that we will sit and fold our hands when we are being tormented by forces that are undemocratic.
“Traditionally, Kogi is a PDP state and we have always removed incumbent governors. Back to history, PDP removed former Governor, Prince Abubakar Audu in 2003.’’
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Wada, while urging the people not to allow themselves to be used for electoral violence, urged the All Progressives Congress (APC) to embrace peace during the election, saying violence does not help anybody.
According to him, “nobody will put his child forward to carry gun and attack others. They should realise that people using them as thugs have children. Why didn’t they use their children as thugs?
“PDP is going to this election to preach to people about our manifesto, to take away poverty that is now synonymous with our state. It is about issues.
“We are not going to care about violence, but let me tell you that we are very much on the ground. We have grassroots supports and on their own, they are ready to quell the violence that comes their way.”
Wada, who said that nothing was working in Kogi, pledged total revival of all sectors of the state, thorough a six point agenda, which includes infrastructure, health, human empowerment, security and education.
According to him, “the issue is that today nothing is working in Kogi; everything is bad, including security. The state is very porous, the proliferation of gun is everywhere.
“The civil servants are not paid. The road infrastructure is zero, from the state capital to the grassroots, so if one comes in, we will declare a state of emergency in all sector, where we will put our six agenda into works immediately to revive everything. We are talking of revival of the whole sectors. Nothing is working.
“I have always said that Kogi is the capital of poverty in Nigeria. From stomach infrastructure to human empowerment, to reviving the entire decayed infrastructure. So the work is enormous. We are going to face this headlong.”
Wada advised the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) and security agencies to ensure that the election is free, credible and reflected the wish of the people.
“I can tell you that it will be free fair elections. The election will close by 2 p.m because the people have suffered for long and they are yearning for change and that change is the PDP.’’
Wada, however, described the issue of endorsement of the incumbent as a hype, saying there was nothing like an endorsement of anybody by any traditional institution.
Wada also described that the claim that the state workers’ salaries had been fully paid up August as a false claim.
“I have my relations and brothers and sisters and friends, who are in civil service in Kogi. As I am speaking with you, I don’t think any of them have received salary in the last few months.”
