Ahead of 2023 governorship election in Kogi state a group under the aegis of Kogi For Kogi Movement has called on candidates of political parties and the electorate to look beyond ethnic sentiments in voting for the next governor of the state.
The Chairman of the group Comrade Abdullahi Rufai made the call at a press conference held in Lokoja on Sunday.
He lamented that , the outcome of the recent primary elections conducted across all the participated political parties in the state clearly shown that ethnic sentiment which has been a cog in the wheel of development of the state has again come to play, saying such decision posed heavy threat to 2023 governorship election in Kogi.
He said “Our concern is that ethnicity can never take the state to the promise land and over time the focal point of Kogi For Kogi Movement has been is how best it can foster unity among the diverse ethnic groups in the state where there will be equity , justice and peace.
“We are coming out now to embark on rigorous sensitization and creation of awareness that election is not able ethic sentiment but about the capacity and the antecedent of the candidate to deliver the dividend of democracy to the people.
“We want the next governor of Kogi state to emerge from popular votes in the next election without any ethnic colouration that is why we are coming out to organize programmes that will sensitize the electorate on the need to support the candidate of their choice base on his previous record of performance and capacity to deliver and carry every body along”
While cautioning the three major ethnic groups (Ebira, Igala and Okun) against fanning the amber of ethnic sentiment ahead of the November 11, general election , Comrade Rufai advised that unity , equity and justice should be allowed to play a major role in the next election.
The Chairman of the group who charged candidates of political parties not to promote violence , urged them to base their campaign on issues that will promote the growth of the state.
He also cautioned youth not to allowed themselves to be used as agent of destruction during election.
