FROM RAHILA ABDULLAHI, KADUNA
The Coalition of Concerned Kogi Indigenes (CCKI) had said it was the intervention of philanthropist Hajiya Halimat Adenike that made them shun the Nationwide Hunger Protest.
This is contained in a statement jointly signed and made available to newsmen by the chairman and secretary of the coalition, Philip Adamu Isah and Oheiza Anda Recheal respectively.
The statement reads ‘ the coalition wishes to make some clarifications regarding our decision to shun the Nationwide protest slated for August 1st- August 10th 2024.
“This press statement is very important because our attention has been drawn to different public comments, especially from stakeholders who does not even know what necessitated our actions, yet trying to claim the glory.
“We as concerned Kogi Indigenes with no fewer than one million members at this juncture want the general public to know that we have been following Kogi politics with keen interests, studying and to a large extent understand the dynamics and the complexity of our people in Kogi State.
“Kogi in recent times have suffered series of setback due to our perceived differences ranging from political affiliation, tribe, religion among other factors. For this reason and many more, the Confluence State ahead of the protest began to make consultations to distance ourselves from the national rage and toe the path of patience, peace and dialogue.
“This quest and understanding recently led to our partnership with key Nigerian patriots like Hajiya Halimat Adenike Tejuosho who is a philanthropist using her personal resources to support the less privilege using the QAT Foundation.
“We had several meetings with her in Lokoja and the FCT respectively, where she solicited our intervention to mobilize our people against the Nationwide protest in solidarity with the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led administration.”
While saying that Hajiya Halimat persuaded them that the president Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s led government is just one year and should be given more time to address some of the challenges facing the country, she admitted that Nigerians are passing through hard times, but disclosed that the present Government inherited some liabilities from previous administration, hence, pacifying us to support President Tinubu instead of going out for protest that may result to violence in the state.
In her words, “you know Kogi will be bloody if you allow this protest to go on in your state. Kogi is divided across religious, tribal among other differences and because of that, a lot of people especially the opposition parties would take advantage of this protest to wreck havock in the state.” I called you here because I know you have the ears of your people and they will listen to you.”
With the understanding of our state and it’s political terrain, we gave Hajiya Halimat Adenike our word, that Kogi youths will not be part of any demonstration against the Tinubu’s led government and to the glory of God our people listened to us and refused to come out for the protest. The statement reads.
Today, Kogi like other states would have been in turmoil with citizens hard earned investment looted, innocent lives wasted with public and private organisations destroyed and everywhere in tension because of an act perpetrated by criminal minded elements in the name of protest.
Meanwhile, we want to use this opportunity to urge Mr. President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu to consider competence in his next phase of appointment especially for the position of Humanitarian Affairs Minister.
Without any iota of doubt, COALITION OF CONCERNED KOGI INDIGENES (CCKI)
can boldly say that Hajiya Halimat Adenike has overtime demonstrated such level of humane and competence, using her personal funds to support the less privilege across the 36 states of the federation and the FCT. This gesture has earned her reputation globally, leading to different honorary awards.
Equally, without further delay, we call on Mr. President to as a matter of urgency appoint Hajiya Halimat Adenike as humanitarian affairs Minister to alleviate the plights of the citizens through the ministry.
