Ahead of November 16 governorship election in Kogi state , members of the All Progressive Congress (APC) under the aegis of APC Support Group Monday protested the non-payment of salaries, pensions and lack of infrastructure development in the state.
They also call for adoption of direct primary election to enable them elect credible candidate that will take the state from the present doldrums.
The group also appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari and the National Chairman of APC Comrade Adams Aliyu Oshiomole to come to their aid and rescue them from the precarious situation Governor Yahaya Bello led administration has pushed them to , in the last three and half years.
The protesters in their large numbers moved from paparanda square to NUJ press centre carrying placards with different inscription, appealing to the national body of the party to do the needful in order to alleviate the suffering of Kogi people who have been dying in silence due to maladministration of the current government.
Addressing newsmen at NUJ press centre Lokoja the leader of the group Abubakar Tanko said the civil servants can no longer endure the hardship meted on them by the present administration in the state.
He said: “People are dying for lack of payment of salary and pension. Workers and pensioners are living in penury, there is no physical development, the roads, the hospital, schools are in shambles.
“Worst hit is the school teachers that have been waiting endlessly without salary and one expects them to teach the children who are the future of tomorrow.
“We are in need of direct primary election of APC in Kogi state to enable the party members elect the candidate of their choice who will wipe away their sorrow after the general election” he said.
Also speaking , Suleiman Aliyu from Kakanda ward , Lokoja, said the protest was necessary as several calls on the national body of the party was to no avail, noting that the group organised the protest to vent their anger to the elders of the party on the activities of the present government in the state .
Reacting to the protest, the Director General Media and Publicity to Kogi state Governor Mr Kingsley Fanwo said Governor Yahaya Bello has been a party man as a foundation member of the party.
He noted that the governor is quite familiar with the constitution of the party and the need to wait for the leadership of the party to discuss the modalities to use for the primary.
