Olayinka Braimoh, a former Kogi State governorship candidate and one of the ADC leaders, who is widely known to have zero tolerance for government inadequacies and insensitiveness to the plight of the masses, has reacted to the worrisome situation at Aiyetoro Kiri in Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area, where the community has been abandoned by residents fleeing daily due to unabated attacks by bandits. He said, “The heartbreaking event at Aiyetoro Kiri has once again highlighted the serious governance failures of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State. What should have been a crisis that could have been avoided has turned into a painful reminder of a government that reacts instead of taking initiative, showing insensitivity rather than responsibility. Why are we more reactionary rather than being proactive? Why do we always want to wait till another community is attacked before any visible step is taken, if there are at all.”
For years, the people of Aiyetoro Kiri and nearby communities have voiced their concerns about crumbling insecurity, environmental neglect, and a lack of effective government presence. These warnings were either ignored, brushed aside, or turned into political fodder—until disaster struck. The result? Innocent citizens are left to suffer the consequences of government negligence. Braimoh further said, “An attack had happened a few weeks ago, yet I’m not aware of any concrete steps taken to prevent further attacks. With the current situation, who else will allow their family members to wait in the same community or nearby communities after a couple of attacks on their community by same bandits? Are we saying there are no intelligence report on the location of these bandits? And if there are? What visible steps have this state government taken to protect our communities?.” These are questions begging for the right answers.
A responsible government would focus on early warning systems, engage with the community, enforce safety measures, and respond quickly to crises. Sadly, the APC administration in Kogi has developed a troubling habit of relying on press releases instead of taking real action. After every tragedy, we hear expressions of sympathy, but sympathy without accountability brings no justice. Braimoh noted that, “not even any effort to fix our jungle like communities access roads from Giro to Ike Kiri and okeofin- Olle – Iluke. Yet we have our people in same government and those that gullibly think this APC state government is the best thing that have ever happened to them”
He could no longer hide his feelings about the state’s government insensitiveness, he said, “This incident at Aiyetoro Kiri is not just an isolated event; it reflects a larger breakdown of governance in Kogi State—where the welfare of the public takes a backseat to political survival, and where leadership seems out of touch with the daily struggles of the people. From crumbling roads, healthcare failures to increasing insecurity, the APC government has repeatedly failed to provide the meaningful benefits of democracy. I’m just wondering if our people from our various communities that have been abandoned, ostracized, dejected, rejected and left behind to their fate ever get to reason, think or consider how this state government has treated them as population statistics.”
He asked more questions, “How much longer are we going to be alive and not living? How much longer are our communities going to be under siege? How much longer are we going to be playing politics with the lives of our people? How much longer are our communities going be deserted, and our people permanently stay away from their ancestral homes?”
“Excuses are the tools of the incompetent, monuments of nothingness, used to build bridges that leads no where, people that used them are not wise” — Anonymous. “The people of Kogi deserve more than just excuses. They deserve capable leadership, accountability, and a government that prioritizes human lives over political propaganda. Aiyetoro Kiri should not just be remembered as a tragedy, but as a pivotal moment—one that inspires citizens to demand better governance and leadership that genuinely serves the community.”. He wrapped it up.
