More than two weeks after Kogi state Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello was allegedly stoned at a mosque in Lokoja, the traditional leaders of Lokoja have absolved the people of the town of any involvement in the act.
The Governor was said to have been attacked on Friday, August 26, 2016, after Juma’at service at Central Mosque, Old Market, by the people of Lokoja who claimed that the governor was spending state funds on celebrations when he owed them salaries.
Some reports had said that Bello was attacked by ‘imported’ thugs contracted by his political enemies.
But speaking at the Lokoja Day Celebration to mark the anniversary of Lokoja which was founded 12th September, 1860, the Walin Lokoja, Rear Admiral Ibrahim Idrisu (Rtd) told the gathering that the people have never had any course to disagree with any Governor to the extent of throwing stones at him.
He said, “Lokoja people are not trouble makers, because they believe leadership comes from Almighty God
“If for any reason your son becomes a leader please follow him because if you don’t the Almighty God will course you. So we have no reason to stone any Governor. It is not in our character. We have never stoned any Governor. It was not Lokoja people that stoned the Governor, but miscreants and criminals.”
A former permanent secretary in the State Alhaji Aliyu Lawal Biya, who also denied reports that the people of Lokoja stoned their governor, said, “This year we are celebrating the Eid El Adha which was the sacrifice that was done by prophet Abraham in obedience to God. And we are using this opportunity to admonish everybody to be obedient to God and constituted authority.”
He concluded by saying that nobody will occupy any position without the knowledge of God who appoints hence the people must be obedient to them and to God.
The attack of Governor Bello was coming two weeks after he was reportedly involved in a similar incident while visiting Ankpa, the headquarters of Ankpa Local Government Area of the state.
