The Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, has vowed to see to the departure of the All Progressives Congress (APC) Deputy National Publicity Secretary-designate, Duro Meseko.
After threatening to “disrupt the inauguration”, according to some officials of the secretariat, Bello took his protest to the residence of APC National Chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Ganduje, to press home his demand for the immediate resignation of Meseko.
On Thursday, in the company of former Senator for the Cross River South Senatorial District of Cross River State, Senator Florence Ita-Giwa, and the Chairman of Cross River APC, Adolphus Ogar, converged at the party’s national secretariat in anticipation of the planned inauguration of the National Working Committee for zonal officers.
Ganduje and the National Secretary of the party, Senator Ajibola Basiru, incidentally, were absent, thus disrupting the planned inauguration.
When the inauguration failed, Bello and his entourage moved to the home of the national chairman to further their protest.
A source revealed that he ordered Meseko to step down or face his wrath, warning him that he will use his position to foil his appointment.
The source revealed however, that Meseko called off his bluff.
Thereafter, Bello and his gang demanded to see the national chairman at his residence.
They also sought an explanation on reasons a former Cross River State Commissioner for Local Government, Dr Stella Odey-Ekpo, was dropped for Dr Mary Idele from Edo State.
The Kogi governor, on his part, was also joined by a number of Kogi lawmakers from the Senate and House of Representatives were also seen joining him.
The presence of Bello and his team of loyalists evidently sent wrong signals to Mesoko and his supporters, who sat quietly at the media centre waiting patiently for the swearing-in ceremony.
In the meantime, the Kogi State chapter of APC has released a statement dissociating itself from the candidacy of Meseko.
The statement, which was signed by Kogi State APC Chairman, Abdullahi Bello, said that the choice of the deputy publicity secretary-designate was not approved by the state chapter.
Addressing newsmen on the development that occasioned their grievances, the Chairman of Cross River APC, Ogar said:
“The position of the National Women Leader previously held by Dr. Betta Edu has always been rotated between Cross River and Akwa Ibom.
“We don’t know why it was taken away from us. We urge the national chairman and the NWC to do the right thing,” he added.
In a later tweet on Twitter handle, Bello, for no apparent reason, thanked President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and Ganduje in “hearty appreciation.
He tweeted:
“Thank You Mr President @officialABAT Hearty appreciation to our esteemed National Party Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR. Kogi state is APC and APC is Kogi State! God bless our great Party, the APC! God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.”
Thank You Mr President @officialABAT
Hearty appreciation to our esteemed National Party Chairman, Dr. Abdullahi Umar Ganduje OFR
Kogi state is APC and APC is Kogi State state!
God bless our great Party, the APC!
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria 🇳🇬 pic.twitter.com/IfAaA2INGB
— Alhaji Dr. Yahaya Bello, CON (@OfficialGYBKogi) August 25, 2023
An observer remarked that he may succeeded in his plot to destroy Meseko, which prompted the cheers. Read more.
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