Ajaka Raises Alarm Over Assasination Attempt

By Georgina Humphrey

With barely 72 hours to the conduct of the Kogi State Governorship poll, the governorship candidate of the opposition Social Democratic Party, SDP, Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to come to his rescue after renewed attempt to assassinate him.

Alhaji Ajaka made the call at a news conference in Abuja.

He also called on the Inspector General of police (IGP), Mr Kayode Egbetokun to live up to his promise to keep the peace now and after the governorship poll in the state.

The Kogi State SDP Gubernatorial candidate said he remained unperturbed as he would stop at nothing in the task of rescuing the citizenry from alleged poor governance in the hands of the ruling All progressives Congress, APC, in the state.

“it is by the special Grace and mercy of almighty Allah that I am here to address you today. If men were God I, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka the candidate of the Social Democratic Party for this weekend election would have been assassinated this morning by an adhoc force of thugs and policemen who invaded the residence of the Director General of my campaign organisation, Shiekh Ibrahim Jubril for the sole purpose of assassinating me” he added.

“In the course of the attack which lasted for almost two hours between 5AM and 7AM this morning three policemen officially attached to protect me from the Special Protection Unit of the Nigerian Police were killed.

“One of the police officers killed Samson Ubile Attaboh a young father of three whose only offense was that he was officially deployed to protect me” Alhaji Ajaka stated.

“We had planned a rally for today in Anyigba. My advance party including about six policemen had gone on advance party yesterday to await my arrival last night. 

Three among these officers  were assassinated this morning while others including the Director of New Media for my Campaign Council, Mr ID Ijele were abducted. 

“It is interesting to note that only one policeman was killed at the scene. The two others were taken alive and information gatheted was that they were summarily executed in a bush around Ajegwu on Itobe- Ayingba Highway at about 8 am this morning.

“This outrageous act masterminded by the security chiefs in Lokoja is  the manifestation of the desperate effort by the State Government to frustrate the resolve of the Federal Government to guarantee a free and fair election in Kogi this weekend. 

“As you are aware, following the promise of Mr President that this election will be violence free, the Federal Government began deploying soldiers to Kogi particularly Kogi East where thugs of the Governor had virtually taken control attacking supporters of other parties and every single rally or meetings of the SDP.

“The arrival of the military greatly reduced the ability of these thugs to move around to cause havoc and it is obvious that if such a peaceful atmosphere is sustained till Saturday it will be impossible for Bello’s cousin who he anointed as APC candidate to measure up in the election.

Edited By Grace Namiji