The ONEKogi Movement, a group of Kogi professionals, has called for the immediate release of Austin Okahi, a social commentator who has been locked up for weeks on the alleged orders of Governor Yahaya Bello.
The group in a statement jointly signed by Godswill Agada, Arc. Shola Adetiba, Haj. Munirat Abdulmumin and Abubakar Umar, said rather than ordering the arrest of critics, Governor Bello should prioritize the payment of salaries of long-suffering civil servants in the state and provide good governance to the people.
The group added that freedom of expression is part of the ideals of democracy which should not be denied by any government.
Describing recent developments in the state as “unhealthy”, the group called on the governor to stop dividing the state along its fault lines for the sake of posterity.
“It is on this note that the OneKogi Movement is calling on the Executive Governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello to order the release of Mr Austin Okahi Usman who was allegedly picked by the Special Anti-Robbery Squad (SARS) on the order of the Governor.
Whatever the issues are, we expect that the Governor applies civility in addressing this very insignificant occurrence. Deploying apparatus of the state to lock up citizen Okai for merely expressing his views about happenings in his state is unacceptable and a plot to intimidate people from airing their views.
We call on the Yahaya Bello administration to pull the brakes on its draconian path and return to fulfilling the lofty promises it made to the hardworking citizens when it assumed office. The people should love their leaders, not fear them. We need to remind the Kogi government that he who rules by fear does not get any sincere loyalty from the people.
How would the governor want to be remembered after his stewardship? This is a unique opportunity to unite the state after the divisive politics that was played during campaigns two years ago. It is a golden opportunity, one that a wise, young man should not take for granted,” the group’s statement read in part.
