Yahaya Bello, SDP Guber Candidate in Verbal War over Attack by Gunmen

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State and the governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) in the state, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka yesterday engaged in a war of words over an alleged attack by gunmen.

While the state Commissioner for Information and Communications, Kingsley Femi Fanwo said in a statement that the governor escaped death when his convoy was attacked by gunmen, the Media Director of the SDP Campaign, Farouk Adejoh, said it was the governor who ordered an attack on the governorship candidate of SDP.
According to a statement issued by Fanwo, the incident, which occurred near the Naval Base, a few kilometres from Lokoja at about 12.30 pm, left many people injured.

Fanwo noted that the convoy alleged to be that of Ajaka,  blocked the road while armed thugs started shooting sporadically at the convoy of the governor.
The statement reads: “A Tundra branded with the logo of the SDP and with SDP flags also blocked the governor’s vehicle and occupants of the SDP-branded Tundra were armed with rifles and shotguns. The governor left the scene unscathed and there is no cause for panic as the governor is in high spirits.
“Some security aides and other aides attached to the governor sustained some degree of injuries and have been rushed to medical facilities for medical attention.

“We urge the people of Kogi State to remain calm as security agents are in full control to ensure the arrest of the hoodlums behind the attack. The State Government will ensure that law and order are maintained as the attackers will be brought to justice.
“The governor has warned that no APC member should be involved in any reprisal attack as insecurity from any quarter will be met with stiff penalties” the statement concluded on the gunmen attack on Governor Yahaya Bello.

But in a swift reaction, the SDP Campaign Media director, Adejoh alleged that it was the governor who ordered an attack on the SDP guber candidate.
In a statement obtained by THISDAY, Adejoh said: “The candidate of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka this afternoon luckily escaped assassination when his motorcade was attacked by gunmen personally led by the Governor of Kogi State Alhaji Yahaya Bello.
“Alhaji Ajaka and some vehicles accompanying him were approaching Lokoja at the vicinity of the ram market at about 13:00 pm when two power bikes and Toyota Hilux overtook his car and forced it to a stop.

“This assault was heralded by a Mercedes Benz Limousine with Bello’s official crest accompanied by an open pick- loaded with masked and hooded men bearing AK-47 Assault Rifles.
“The men jumped down and began shooting at Ajaka’s car and all other cars in the motorcade. They shot for over five minutes at Ajaka’s bulletproof car, unprovoked.

“All this while Bello’s car was parked a few meters in front and was used to barricade the road while the gunmen had a field day.
“When they ceased, Ajaka’s car, a Lexus SUV though bulletproof, was damaged and demobilised.”
 According to Adejoh, the SDP candidate who was on his way to keep an appointment with the Mai Geri, a first-class traditional ruler of Lokoja and the Attah Igala in Idah decided to abort the journey and return to Abuja after conferring with the Commander of the Lokoja Naval Base.
“This again is another low score by Mr. Yahaya Bello in the exercise of crude power and brute force. Bello is on record to have unleashed guns and gunmen on several citizens in the course of his eight years of draconian rule. Several persons have been killed by his hoodlums during electioneering while others are missing.”