The candidate of the Action Alliance (AA) in the November 11 governorship election in Kogi State, Otunba Olayinka Braimoh has dismissed as “false and a mere fallacy” the rumour being sponsored by one of his rivals that his candidacy is being sponsored by the incumbent governor of the state, Mr. Yahaya Bello.
Braimoh in a statement released from his Lokoja Office stated that those behind the rumour are merely afraid of their shadows and have found it difficult to understand how he managed to spread the message of his wealth creation plans and STAT (solid minerals, tourism, agriculture, and trade) agenda across the nooks and crannies of the state while gaining so much acceptability across the board.
He opined that another governorship candidate who is behind the wicked rumours had made overtures of political partnership to him and was refused due to the overarching need to take the STAT agenda directly to the people rather than be part of any closet arrangement.
“I do not have anything to do with Governor Yahaya Bello. He is not sponsoring me and cannot sponsor me. If Bello is sponsoring me, why then do I need to go through all the hard struggles of raising money from my resources to fund my campaigns? If Bello is sponsoring any candidate like he is sponsoring the APC flagbearer, such a candidate will have all the needed resources at his disposal and his campaign will be easy and well-oiled.
“I am using my resources, the support from my numerous and ever-growing supporters, the goodwill of the ordinary voters who put their services and materials at our disposal, and the sweat of many dedicated and devoted volunteers who work day and night because they are convinced about my plans to create, distribute and spread the wealth in Kogi State”, he stated.
Braimoh reminded those making false claims about his campaign to know that the fact that he is not focusing and complaining about the various inhibitions, restraints, and clogs that the Kogi State government and its officials had imposed on his campaigns does not mean he has any behind the scene arrangement with the government or the governor.
“It only means I have calculated from the beginning that my campaign for the governorship of Kogi State is not a walk in the park. It will not be easy as power is not served a la carte. For me, all these obstacles are mere challenges, and with the grace of God, the ultimate owner of power, we shall overcome them. We will surmount these difficulties to reach our people with the message of hope, a wealth creation plan, and a STAT agenda.
I have said it for the umpteenth time that I am not in the race for negotiation or joke or self-aggrandizement. I am on an assignment set for me by my maker, the almighty God, the one who makes kings and removes kings and without whom nothing can happen. I rely on God and the people to win this election. I have no godfather, no sponsor, and no controller. God is my sponsor and the good people of Kogi State are my benefactors.
“I will put in every positive effort to win this election and will not allow any rumour and false claims to distract me or derail my plan. Those behind this rumour about Yahaya Bello sponsorship should get busy. They should also find good plans and solid manifestos that they can present to the people. The coming election should be a contest of solid ideas. When they have good ideas, I will be ready to debate with them”, he stated.
Braimoh further called on his supporters and the entire people of Kogi State to ignore the rumour and lies about Governor Yahaya Bello sponsoring his candidacy because it is a mere fabrication with no iota of truth in it.
