The governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in Kogi State’s 2023 governorship election, Murtala Ajaka, has alleged that the attack on him as he was leaving the Supreme Court was orchestrated by Bashiru Gegu, the Commissioner for Solid Minerals in Kogi State.
Ajaka said this while speaking in an interview with ARISE NEWS on Wednesday.
The incident occurred after his appeal, challenging the declaration of Usman Ododo as the governor of Kogi State, which was dismissed by the Supreme Court.
Reflecting on the attack, Ajaka expressed a mixture of surprise and expectation. “I was surprised but not too much because we know that the politics of Kogi State has always been violent-prone, and that’s what the former governor Yahaya Bello introduced to the state. I was just surprised they took it to the Supreme Court. We hope the federal government will intervene,” Ajaka remarked.
He accused Commissioner Bashiru Gegu of coordinating the attack, claiming, “This was coordinated by the Commissioner for Solid Minerals, Bashiru Gegu. The Supreme Court can reveal their cameras. He came and shared money to the men there. My fear is if we allow this to continue as a state, then there’s no need for democracy.”
The former governorship candidate also described the attack as an embarrassment to both the state and the nation. He called on the federal government and the judiciary to thoroughly investigate the incident.
He stated,“The fact that it took place in the Supreme Court, the federal government through the Supreme Court must go to the root of the matter and find those behind this. What happened was an embarrassment to our democracy, to our country, and to Kogi State.”
Ajaka, who has faced multiple attacks throughout his campaign, said he would not pursue further legal action but would instead leave the matter to the police. “I will not waste my time on any legal action, so I’ll leave it to the police to sort it out, and if they do not do anything, next time I’ll come prepared,” he warned.
Despite the challenges, he reaffirmed his belief in the policies of the Tinubu administration, noting that he was one of those who promoted Tinubu’s candidacy.
However, he also expressed his frustration with the state of Nigerian politics and the judiciary, warning that “what causes rebellion is injustice” and urging for judicial reform to avoid future conflicts.
Ajaka’s criticisms extended to the handling of his case at the election tribunal, where he claimed that despite evidence of result disparities, the tribunal ruled against him using technicalities. “Unfortunately, when we went to appeal and Supreme Court, we still didn’t get justice. The disappointment is beyond comprehension. Don’t be a politician in Nigeria,”he lamented.
Ajaka called for a focus on governance beyond politics, stressing the need to address the economic challenges facing the state and country, particularly the pressure on the Naira. “We must throw politics aside to make this country a better place,” he concluded.
NANCY MBAMALU
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