Pulse.ng : Revealed: Pro Halimat Adenike's group behind shelved protest in Kogi State

By Sani Idris

A group, under the auspices of Coalition of Concerned Kogi Indigenes (CCKI), has said that they refused to take part in the ongoing nationwide protest in Kogi State because of Hajiya Halima Adenike's intervention.

Comrade Philip Adamu Isah, Chairman of the coalition, and Hon. Oheiza Anda Recheal, its Secretary disclosed this in a statement they signed and issued to newsmen on Friday, August 2nd, being the second day of the nationwide protest.

The duo said that the statement was very important because their attention was drawn to different public comments, especially from stakeholders who do not even know what necessitated their actions, yet trying to claim the glory.

They noted that, being concerned Kogi Indigenes with not fewer than one million members want the general public to know that they have been following Kogi politics with keen interests, studying and to a large extent understanding the dynamics and the complexity of the people in Kogi State.

They lamented that Kogi State in recent times have suffered series of setback due to perceived differences ranging from political affiliation, tribe, religion among other factors.

The duo, therefore said for that reason and many more, the confluence state ahead of the protest began to make consultations to distance themselves 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.

"In her words, the emotional Hajiya Halimat told us that, '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,"the duo said.

The equally said Hajiya Halimat Adenike also 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.

The added that, Although, Adenike admitted that Nigerians are passing through hard times, yet she disclosed that the present Government inherited some liabilities from previous administration, pacifying the coalition to support President Tinubu instead of going out for protest that may result to violent in the state.

"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.

"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.

"We want to categorically state and re-emphasized that Kogi State is a very peaceful state, and we will not allow any faceless group to disturb the peaceful atmosphere we are enjoying here. We will not be part of any protest because president Bola Ahmed Tinubu need more time to address Nigeria challenges.

"We therefore want to use this opportunity to urge 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, 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,"they said.

The CCKI leadership reiterated their commitment to the promise given to the CEO, QAT Foundation, Hajiya Halimat Adenike that Kogi State will not politicize the hunger protest by going out for any demonstration against the government of president Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

"This so called hunger protest leading to the destruction of lives and properties in some states is worrisome, uncalled for and condemnable. Therefore we call on other youths to follow the good example of Kogi youths and shelve their sword for the betterment of our dear country.

"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,".