By Gabriel Atumeyi

A businessman and governorship aspirant in the forthcoming Kogi State election on the platform of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), Alhaji Mohammed Shuaibu Tettes has called on the people of the state to use the opportunity afforded by the festival for sober reflection.

Tettes as he is popularly called made this known in a statement made available to journalists.

He said having been neglected in the governance equation, it is high time for them to fully participate in the affairs of Kogi State and take responsibility for changing the narrative.

The statement read in part: “On behalf of my family, the Mohammed Shaibu Tettes Campaign Group and in my own name, I congratulate the Kogi State Moslem Ummah on this occasion of the 2019 Eid El Kabir celebration.

“Beyond the already known essence of this sacred period, I call on people of goodwill across our dear state to reflect on our statehood as a people bound by a common destiny. I believe that as Kogites, the Eid El Kabir beckons on us all who believe in the supremacy of the Almighty Allah to offer more prayers and supplications as well as embark on deeper soul searching.

“This is because whereas we are a people abundantly blessed by Allah, we are not without severe challenges and other forms of discomfort all of which are avoidable. It is therefore imperative that while we celebrate, we must constantly remember and remind one another that only a deeper sense of sacrifice and commitment to building better communities will guarantee our sustained happiness.

“In less than one month, the various activities leading to the governorship elections in our dear state will start. I take this opportunity to urge Kogites who will participate from across the state as party delegates to be more willing to make sacrifices that will better the lives of the nearly five million men, women, youth and children who will be counting on them, their judgment and actions to make life better and improve living conditions in our various households.

“Leadership is important in every setting and Kogi State cannot be an exception. The difference between a system that works and another like ours that has failed every test of positive impact on the masses is in the quality of leadership. We must therefore genuinely question one another with a view to find out if indeed life has been easier for Kogites in the last half a decade.

“We must honestly query the past roles we all played at different times in the governance process as citizens of a state in dire need of balance, stability and direction.

Tettes also called on the people to resist any last minute attempt to conciliate them by those who have orchestrated their hardship and sufferings.

He said: “I encourage them all to stand strong and refuse to be corrupted by the offerings of desperate elements who are prepared to offer filthy pittances to pave their way to seize power and arrogate to themselves or their children limitless access to the patrimony of our people.

“No doubt, we are a people made up by mostly men and women of impeccable traits and character.

“This is why I must commend our brothers and sisters who have so far in the face of hardship shown good example as patriots who desire a state that works for all.” I sincerely hope that our other friends who have made grave errors in the past for which we all are paying a steep price will this time work to reposition our state for greatness.