The Kogi state gubernatorial election has come and gone with the reelection of the incumbent Governor Yahaya Bello for a second term. Hon. Ahmed Attah is one of the major stakeholders in that election. In this interview with Chamba Simeh. Hon Attah who is APC zonal chairman, Kogi east in this interview spoke on the governor’s second term, hate speech, the impact of ethnic and religious differences on election and sundry issues.
Congratulations on the victory of the APC in the last guber election in Kogi state.
Thank you very much and i believe we are all victors and no vanquished.
What do you think this victory means for the APC and the people of the state?
Ans: If there is anyone out there who still doubts that Kogi state is a place where anything spectacular and good is possible, who still wonders if the dream of our founding fathers are alive in our time, who still questions the maturity and electoral sophistication of our people, the victory of Governor Bello is their answer. I have said severally that nobody can again take our people for granted because they recognise a good leader when they see one. Forget all the lies and propaganda against the governor. Today our people have spoken and they have spoken loudly.
What do you think is spectacular about this election and victory of Yahaya Bello?
Many.Today, because of what we have achieved and done at this time, this defining moment, change has really come to Kogi state. Let’s not deceive ourselves, the road we have travelled in the first term was long, our climb was also steep. We may not be able to have gotten there in one year or in one term, but Kogites, I have never been hopeful than i am today of the brightness of our future. To our people, the arc of the moral universe is long but it bends towards justice for our people with the victory of our people. For a state like ours that people thought we are more divided than others, we have shown through this election that we are not enemies but friends as our people have shamed the prophets of tribal and religious politics. Though passion may have strained, but it has not broken our chains of brotherhood and friendships.
Then the significance to the people?Ans: After more than three decades of trying, trying to break the tribal difference of our people to a bond of common brotherhood under one state, the government of the people, by the people and for the people has emerged. Thanks to the good people of the state for creating a good and perfect system of leadership recruitment where ability rather than tribe is the major determinants.
What type of a leader and politician is the Bello that necessitated his victory at the polls?He never betrays you, he never forgets you when you have been there for him, and if he believes in you, he will be there for you till the very end even if he is the only one that gives in to your very cause.He belongs to everybody, yet belongs to somebody at every point in time.
He is a practical testimony of what he preaches. His personality is so influential that many have achieved great feat since they met him. His influence is magnetic and highly impactful.
He is not a brand made for greed as his life is an embodiment of public good. Whatever Bello owns is for public service, even his private residence belongs to the people where the rich and the poor can visit for their private intents.
The greatness of Bello transcends politics and that is important to note. He is an influencer, he is a leadership institution, he is a school of thought, he is a multiplier of values cum administrative talent hunter. He is an authority in Kogi politics and a respected political figure in Kogi state. And that is why there is a loud voice out their calling him to serve.
As a man and politician on the ground in kogi state, what is the mood of the people to this victory of the governor?
Our people received the news of the victory of our governor with pride and joy. You see, our people know a good leader when they see one. Our people are in multitude offering their thanksgiving to God Almighty for making this victory possible. And make no mistake about it, our people are humbled by this victory and i tell you this, the victory, to our people, is huge and significant.The significance of this victory will not be lost on our people because this victory has shown that we are one people. It is historical because our tribal and religious differences, a chain that has held our development down, has been broken by this victory. For those who think and say that our people are not ready to enbrace democracy, for those who say the Kogi people can never be united, this victory is their answer.
As one of the major players in the just concluded gubernatorial election in Kogi state, what was the role of hate speech, ethnicity and religion to the outcome of the election?
This is a very good question. Kogi people must be commended for showing the whole world that they are mature democratically.The sheer recourse to the propagation of hate speech, ethnic and religious sentiments as a weapon to garner votes in a multi-religious, multi-lingual state like ours by forces of darkness who have nothing to offer the people was rather unfortunate. By the victory of Governor Bello, who they say hails from a minority ethnic group in Kogi state, our people have broken a jinx, and by the breaking of this electoral jinx. This systematically overthrew an age-long tradition which assumably gives victory to a candidate of a particular ethnic group as against a candidate of a particular party who hails from a minority ethnic group. Our people have now embraced the new type of politics dispensation which abhors ethnic and religious factors as a major qualification for leadership. Kogi people have also embraced the new leadership recruitment which embraces competence and astuteness as major qualification for leadership. I can tell you, this victory has united our people and our state.
What of the post-election peace building and state integration processes. Do you have any plan for this in the state?
Our governor is a man of peace and a great advocate of state integration as a basis of development. If you listened to his acceptance speech, he talked about beginning the process of post election peace building and genuine state integration mechanism. The contentious nature of our election epitomised by hate speech in the run up to the gubernatorial election makes the building of this process neccessary and the APC as a party is in support of this. Personally, I think our leaders should go further by setting up a legal institution to criminalize hate speech in all its ramifications.
In your own perspectives, what is the root causes of hate speech in Kogi state prior to elections?
Very simple. A tool employed by the elite to avenge or maximise their electoral chances against a more competent opposition of theirs. Secondly, I found out that in many instances not peculiar to Kogi state alone, the deliberate exclusion of some factions of a ruling class is a reflection of the overall pattern of hate speech, ethnic coalition and mobilisation during electioneering. Hence, without minimisation of post elections exclusionary tendencies through conscious democratisation of politics, general integration in a state will remain a wishful thinking. Our party recognises this and we are working hard to make our people one.
Can you say the last guber elections that retained your party and Yahaya Bello in power was peaceful, credible and fair?
Without mincing words, yes. A day that will be good, according to our elders, is known frow dawn.Yes, we accept that there were flashes of violence here and there orchestrated by the opposition who knew they were losing the election, but i can tell you with all sense of responsibility that the election was largely peaceful and credible. Our problem in elections in this part of the world is and always be the elite.The people have inbibed the consciousness that election serves twin principal purposes in a democracy. First, it gives the voters the freedom to choose candidates of their choice in order to manage their affairs, second, it affords the candidates the freedom to canvass for votes from voters in a free and fair contest. We have no legitimacy crisis in Kogi state. Yahaya Bello won in a free and fair election acknowledged by all.
What made the APC and Yahaya Bello’s victory possible?
Track record and service to our people, simple.
