…says party campaign approach disjointed
A former Commissioner of Information in Kogi state, Dr Tom Ohikere has called for honest and concrete reconciliation in Kogi state All Progressives Congress (APC) in time ahead of the impending governorship election slated for November.
Ohikere, who is currently the Managing Director of the APC NewsOnline said the election can be regarded as an APC versus APC affairs, because the other major contenders were hitherto members of the APC, who only defected in order to seek a platform to realize their ambition.
Ohikere made this known when speaking with some select journalists on Wednesday in Abuja on the chances of the APC winning the gubernatorial election.
Ohikere said, “The election is fast approaching and our opponents are also doing what they can to chip of from our bloc, the horizon seems foggy. This election is difficult because it is APC versus APC. We know Muri Ajaka held a prominent position in the APC and even played a great role in the APC Presidential election efforts and now he defected to the SDP with his loyalists in the APC. The same can be said of admiral Jibrin Usman of the Accord Party. Even Leke Abejide, of the ADC also has strong ties to the APC. So there is need for APC or the main APC to close and solidify their ranks if they are to wage a victorious campaign.
“We need profound, honest and concrete reconciliation in that regards. We need as much of our people on our side, so our opponents do not capitalize on our division and inability to genuinely reconcile our interests. I know that there are those from Kogi who have and are instrumental or very active in our party at the national level but have not been coopted or honestly carried along in this most important task of securing the state for our party. The likes of Simeon Achuba, Senator Ohiare, Hon. Abdullahi Bello, myself, former commissioner of work, Abdulmumuni Sadiq, Senator Dangana and Co.
“Just recently Yomi Awoniyi defected to the APC with much pomp and celebration while the likes of Senator Smart Adeyemi who is an established leader and political commander in Kogi West were left out. A total party man, loyal to the core, with a solid national appeal and acceptance. We should not create troubles where there are no troubles and where there are troubles we must hurry to stifle them in the ultimate interest of our party’s quest to continue as the governing party in our beloved state. When Ododo recently visited me I told him to plead with Sen Smart Adeyemi to withdraw his case using any mechanism possible, be it the party hierarchy or even the presidency, but a government official that was with Ododo was even confrontational. But the plain fact remains we must pacify Senator Smart Adeyemi.
Speaking further Ohikere stated that the party’s approach to the election seems to be disjointed and uncoordinated
He said, ” The way I see it the current approach by the leadership of the APC in Kogi state to campaigning seems disjointed. Traveling here and there to solicit votes that don’t exist, that doesn’t make sense, most of the people of those distant states do not come back home for the election, this is just a state election unlike the presidential. What we would have done is to focus and concentrate our efforts in the states bordering our state, places like Keffi, Lafia, Nyanya, Maraba, Suleja, Tafa, Madalla, Abaji, Toto, Okpella, Akoko Edo, Auchi among others and intensify our campaign efforts and messaging as such.
“While it is essential to get the bloc vote of Kogi Central which is the senatorial region of the governor, we must work assiduously to focus the narrative on the Kogi agenda instead of a sectional agenda. Thank God the Bello administration enjoyed wide acceptance in Kogi state because of the so-called Ebigo agenda, so it is an easy sale if we can evolve a similar brand and accompanying narrative, Ohikere stated.