Kogi East APC nominates Gowon Egbunu as Yahaya’s deputy

The entire campaign coordinators of the Kogi State Governor-elect, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, in the Eastern Senatorial district of the state have unanimously nominated an Abuja-based publisher and politician, Gowon Usman Egbunu, as their preferred deputy governorship candidate.
The nomination was contained in a-six-page letter addressed to the Governor-elect and signed by Dr. Yakubu Ugwalawo, the Leader and Senatorial Coordinator, as well as Hon. Hassan Haruna, Hon. Yahaya Menyaga and Prince Isah Abdullahi, all Zonal Coordinators and nine others who are Local Government Coordinators.
In the letter, which copies were sent to the National Chairman of the All Progressives Congress, the National Deputy Chairman (North Central Zone) of the party, National Secretary, State Chairman of the APC, the Minister of State for Labour and Employment (who is from Kogi State) and all APC senators from Kogi State, the Coordinators pointed out that the nomination of Egbunu was based on the fact that he is tested, mature, creative and dogged.
Egbunu, a Christian, is an indigene of Ofu Local Government Area and from Aloji ward.
The Coordinators, in the letter, said: “The impasse, which characterized the issue of the deputy governorship candidate is a common knowledge and we wish to recommend a candidate for your consideration after due consultations with leaders and other stakeholders across the Senatorial District at various fora.
“The Eastern Senatorial district caucus of the All Progressives Congress has considered the existing political arrangements in the Senatorial District thus: Ankpa/Olamoboro/Omala Federal constituency is currently holding the Senatorial slot, which has been in the constituency since 2011, while Dekina/Bassa federal constituency is holding the Governorship slot since 2012, after the constituency has held the Senatorial slot for twelve years between 1999 and 2011 and currently has the Ministerial slot.
“Idah/Ibaji/Igalamela-Odolu/Ofu federal constituency, the constituency of the late Prince Abubakar Audu has not produced major political position since 2003, hence the need for the Federal Constituency to produce the Deputy Governorship slot.
“In order to pacify the people of Ofu local government Area of the late Prince Abubakar Audu and also to douse the current volatile political situation in the Senatorial District, it has become imperative to consider the Local Government Area for the Deputy Governorship slot.
“In view of the fact that your incoming administration with its change mantra has emphasized the need for tested, matured, creative and dogged character to drive your administration, we have taken steps to search for a true party man to match up with the above qualities.”
The coordinators stressed further that Egbunu, by his pedigree, has been adjudged to be a man of principle, hard work, imagination, character and philanthropic, adding that a man with such attributes will be of great asset to Bello’s administration.
Other signatories to the letter and their local government areas of coordination are Mallam Abdulsalam Yahaya, Ankpa; Peter Agasokoa, Bassa; Alhaji Umar Usman, Dekina; Hon. Lawrence Ugbaje, Ibaji; Mallam Amadu Sule; Comrade Jibrin Courage Usman, Igalamela/Odolu; Mallam Kadri Ochemi, Ofu; Attayi Okolo Musa, Omala; and Friday Adejoh, Olamaboro.
Hon. James Faleke, who is the deputy governorship candidate picked by the APC to run with Bello, turned down the nomination, stating that he should be declared as the Governor-elect of the state.
Faleke earlier ran the election with late Prince Abubakar Audu before the sudden death of Audu when the full results of the Kogi State election had not been announced.