Olu Samuel, Lokoja
The Secretary of the All Progressives Congress Presidential Campaign Council(APCPCC) and Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Finance, Hon James Abiodun Faleke has declared that his decision not to participate in the Governorship race of Kogi State. is
Faleke,an indegen of Kogi state is currently representing Ikeja Federal constituency in the House of Representatives.
He was the running mate to the late prince Abubarkar Audu,who was cruising to victory in the 2015 governorship Election but died suddenly before the final results could be declared
Faleke told Newsmen on Sunday that his decision was borne out of his desire to subject his personal interest to national interest.
A group of Kogites from the three Senatorial Districts had put money together to purchase Governorship nomination form for Hon Faleke last month, urging him to throw his hat in the ring as the most acceptable candidate at the moment.
But in a chat with our correspondent , Faleke urged those that bought the form not to lose hope of a better Kogi without him, adding that he will still add value to the State in many other ways.
“I am of the opinion that my personal interest must not overide national interest. I alongside several other supporters worked hard for the election of our Leader, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu as President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. It would be out of place for me to jump out of the team to start pursuing personal goals.
The people that bought form on my behalf meant well and I appreciate them and I am pleading with them and my other numerous supporters in Kogi State to see the larger picture and to note that I am still with them spirit, body and soul and will continue to contribute to the development of the state”, he stated.
Meanwhile,a female Governorship Aspirant under APC in Kogi, Hajia Hadiza Ibrahim, has expressed shock over the sudden withdrawal of Hon. James Faleke from the governorship race in the state
Addressing journalists at a press conference on Monday in Lokoja, Ibrahim said she was shocked when she heard the news on Monday morning that Faleke had withdrawn from the race.
The Aspirant expressed disappointment that she jettisoned her ambition for the governorship race by stepping aside for Faleke, whom she described as her mentor.
”The perturbing part of it is that I got to know that Hon. Faleke has withdrawn from the race this morning, which is quite embarrassing to me because he should have let us know a week before today.
”I took the strong decision to have stepped down for Faleke being my mentor that I look upto because we have been working together for long,” she said.
Ibrahim added: ”I have been in the race for the esteemed seat of Governor of Kogi from 2015 to 2019 for which I participated in primaries.
”In 2023, I have also been in the race for the Governorship of Kogi state-under the platform of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC).
”l wish to state emphatically that the reason why I did not obtain the Expression of Interest form for the APC Governorship primary election coming up in April was born out of some political reasons.
”The time Faleke is withdrawing is too late; I am shock that he withdrew without informing us. I am confused that he withdrew at this critical time when we have stepped aside for him”.
According to her, the ambition is born out of the genuine desire to provide a people-oriented leadership that would ensure the provision ‘of the needed gains of democracy to our people in line with their wishes and aspirations.
”I have no cause not to be in the race because I have all it takes to contest the governorship election,” she restated.
Ibrahim, therefore urged national leadership of APC to extend the collection of forms to enable her participate in the party’s governorship primaries.
The party has fixed April 14th for the governorship primary in the state.