By Malam Abdulmalik Suleiman
As the exploitative government of APC in Kogi State continue unabated, many are asking why the likes of Chief Saidu Akawu Salihu SAS is yet to be considered for Federal appointment by Gov. Yahaya Bello.
SAS, a pillar who has hugely contributed and more significantly to the progress of the party between 2015 to date. Aside this, he’s a decent and forthright personality whose commitment to the progress and success of the party is second to non.
Prior to 2015 Kogi governorship election, SAS a former commissioner, and member of state house of assembly was appointed deputy director-general in charge of Kogi West senatorial district by late Prince Audu Abubakar who was then the APC candidate before the twist of fate.
A consummate believer in God and moral priest accepted all that happened and endorsed Gov. Bello has the rightful replacement. He extolled and preached the supremacy of the party. The essential SAS didn’t stop there, he went round the state to galvanized supports for the party’s decisions that didn’t go down well with the mainstream Audu/Faleke’s camp that was the soul of the party which I was the spokesperson.
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In appreciation, Gov. Bello made some mouthwatering promises to SAS and his group some of which is federal appointment that is yet to be fulfil and have since disappeared into the oblivion.
Also, quintessential SAS was at hand when the division and cracks between Audu/Faleke and the brisk Gov. Bello camp refused to quenched and disappeared in preparations to 2019 elections. SAS was called upon to help reconcile the two factions. Even though, it was a herculean task as a result of Gov. Bello inability to honour promises, SAS delivered the assignment brilliantly to the surprises and admiration of all.
It was this singular moves that help APC to swept all seats in Lokoja/Koto Federal constituency in the last general elections.
During the last year governorship election in the state, SAS political family revolted against him for endorsing Gov. Bello for second term. It took a lot of persuasion, and diplomacy before he was able to kept them together and worked for the second term of Gov. Bello. SAS who is an enigma, a mobiliser per excellent that commands great respect across the state whose contributions to the success of APC in the state cannot be quantify.
The most depressing and humiliating of all was the issue of House of Reps where Gov. Bello prevailed on SAS an unarguably the leading and most acceptable candidate then, to step down for a featherweight and a new comer. Alh. Abdulkareem Wambai to fly the party’s flag for Lokoja/Koto Federal constituency. SAS displayed the highest level of maturity by not only stepped down but became the face of the campaign of Alh. Wambai. He traversed and campaign in all the wards across the constituency.
Although, many tipped him to be appointed secretary to the state government in Gov. Bello’s second term having served in many capacity in the past and to balance power sharing. That too also eluded him as the governor retained the incumbent along the speaker in the same zone, leaving Lokoja/Koto federal constituency out of power equations in the state.
It’s baffling, that to this point, that SAS efforts, commitments, sacrifices since 2015 has not been recognised by APC leaders in the state. The questions on the lips of many is that, is it a deliberate attempt to sideline him by the leaders in the state?
Recent happenings in the state point to that direction that the powers that be in the state doesn’t want to rewards those who truly laboured for the party since 2015. A good example was the several and recently released appointment by the Presidency and other states who were majorly politicians except Kogi and without the likes of Chief Saidu Akawu Salihu’s name despite the governor serial promises to him of a juicy federal appointment.
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Many within SAS political family became more worried with the name of unknown individuals being reeled out without those that truly worked for the party,,
Only today, Mamud Adamu Attah was announced in the reconstituted NNPC board representing North central. He remain unknown in the political family of All Progressives Congress in the state.
As things stand and looking gloomy that real party chieftain may not be rewarded by the leadership of the party in the State thereby, closing the door on the likes of revered Chief Saidu Akawu Salihu to be appointed.
The situation simply fit into the say of “Monkey dey Work Baboon dey Chop”
Mall. Abdulmalik Suleiman,Write this piece from Lagos.
