I’ll become gov before year end – Faleke

James Faleke, the running mate to the late governorship candidate of the All Progressives Congress in Kogi State, Abubakar Audu, said he would be declared the governor of the state before the end of the year.

Faleke, who had been canvassing support to be declared Kogi governor, is currently at loggerheads with the leadership of the APC over the governorship seat of the state, following the sudden death of Audu on November 22, 2015.

After Audu’s death and the declaration of the November 22, 2015 governorship election as inconclusive by the Independent National Electoral Commission, Bello was picked as the governorship candidate of the party for the December 5, 2015 supplementary election.

Bello was inaugurated as governor on Wednesday amid cheers from his supporters.

In a series of tweets on his official Twitter handle, Faleke said he did not go to court to stop Bello’s inauguration because ‘he (Bello) will be sent out soon’.

He said those who were morally corrupt cannot continue to lead the APC.

He said, “Those who are morally corrupt cannot continue to lead a party of change. The leadership of the party (APC) must be changed to assist President Muhammadu Buhari to deliver on his programme of rescuing the country. Moral corruption is condemnable.

“Today, a governor has been inaugurated in Kogi State. We did not go to court to stop his inauguration because we know he will be sent out soon. I was told that the master of ceremonies at the inauguration said the people voted for Audu but that their god voted for Bello. Our God is a God of justice.

“Those who have moral problems, those who cannot turn their eyes away from financial inducement will always have problem relating with people. Today, our supporters might not feel free to walk in the Lugard House but before the end of the year, we will occupy the seat of power.”

Faleke, who is currently representing the Ikeja federal constituency 1 in the House of Representatives, said he had confidence in the judiciary to declare him as the duly elected governor of the state.

He said he had nothing against the Ebira people but the process that produced Bello as governor.

“This tough road we are passing through is to set a standard for the upcoming generation. We must be able to stand for the truth at all times,” he added.

In an interview monitored on Channels Television on Wednesday, Faleke said that he was never consulted before being declared the deputy governor by the APC.

Punch