Kogi 2019: I’m Still A Frontline Governorship Aspirant In APC – Usman Jibrin

AISHA ABUBAKAR

Kogi State frontline Governorship aspirant, Vice Admiral Jibrin Oyibe Usman (Rtd), has denied the claim made by the Kogi State Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja, that he has dumped All Progressives Congress, APC, for the African Democratic Congress, ADC, in order to actualize his governorship aspiration.

Edward Onoja had said severally that the former Naval Chief is no longer contesting the November Governorship election under APC because of the rumored imaginary emergence of Governor Yahaya Bello as the solely endorsed and preferred flag bearer of the APC for the governorship election in Kogi State.

But Jibrin, in a statement issued by his media team, described the claim by the Chief of Staff as unfounded and baseless.

“The attention of Vice Admiral Jibrin Usman’s media office has been drawn to a report by Kogi State Chief of Staff claiming that the leading Govenorship aspirant has dumped the All Progressives Congress, APC for African Democratic Congress, ADC.”

“Just as I have said severally, let me reemphasize that, I remain a full fledged member of the APC in Kogi State and I am running for the office of Governor. The recent report that I, Jibrin Oyibe Usman, have dumped the APC for the ADC is another of such endless and wicked campaigns against me. I remain a member of the APC. I remain committed to the party and to President Muhammadu Buhari.

“Secondly, our attention has equally been drawn to speculations making the rounds that the Kogi East Elders, ably led by Sen. Ahmadu Ali, has zoned the governorship to Idah Local Government.

This is false, baseless and mischievous because there is nowhere the highly revered Kogi East Elders made such statement; the Governorship election is open to all bonafide Igala sons and daughters including those from the Central and Western Districts of the State who have the interest to run and it is not zoned to any particular local government.”

“We know that such calculated misinformation in the public domain is coming from the usual quarters to confuse Usman Jibrin supporters who have remained firm, resolute and insisted on justice, equity, and fair play in Kogi APC.”

“Usman Jibrin remain the frontline choice of Kogi APC and battle ready to deliver victory to the party come November 2019 elections hence so much efforts, resources and energy have been expended on a futile mission to obliterate that reality.”

“I am in APC till I deliver victory to the party and take Yahaya Bello out of Lugard House for non performance. APC cannot lose Kogi State to any opposition party but we can afford to lose Yahaya Bello because of his abysmal performance in the state.”

“This sponsored campaign of hate and calumny is part of that effort and like every pack of lies, it will collapse in the fullness of time” he said.