Don't give up your fight for democracy, Gbajabiamila, Yahaya Bello tell Abejide

Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, and former Governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello, admonished Leke Abejide — the member representing Yagba East, Yagba West, and Mopa Moro Federal Constituency of Kogi State — not to give up on his fight for democracy and the stability of his party, the African Democratic Congress (ADC).

Both leaders who spoke at a dinner honoring Deaconess Esther Abejide's 50th birthday celebration and 20th wedding anniversary in Abuja described Abejide as a committed democrat who pursued his political dreams to the end.

Speaking at the event, Gbajabiamila, a former Speaker of the House of Representatives, commended Abejide for his doggedness, which he said kept him on track in his democratic journey, winning elections on a relatively unknown platform and keeping it alive and running for a long time.

He said, "I keep telling people when I talk about him that for a man to contest an election in a state where elections are fierce, and under a platform of a relatively unknown party, ADC, and to win back-to-back-to-back, it tells you who that man is. When he won the first time, he came to the house as the sole ADC candidate. Four years later, he went back to Kogi and brought somebody else with him on an ADC ticket.”

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Turning to Abejide, Gbajabiamila said, “I know you to be a committed party man. I know you to be a fighter. I know you to be someone who does not like to be cheated. My charge to you is to stay in that same ADC, fight them, scare them, hold on to your party, and do not allow them. We like what you are doing.

"Don't let the former governor say that you should come and join the APC. No, no, no, no, no, no. Stay in the ADC. Win your election in the ADC as you will. Bring Gombe. We will support him. Do the right thing. You are a fighter. Nobody can come and take your party away from you. A party that you've built for years with your sweat and your money and everything. Good luck in court".

On his part, former Gov. Yahaya Bello said even though Abejide initially sought to be a member of the House on the platform of the ADC, there were some mathematical miscalculations, but that did not stop him.

Bello said, "Honourable Leke Abejide sought to be a member of the House of Representatives on the platform of APC then, and there were some mathematical miscalculations. But that never stopped him. He came a second time, and he is performing and touching lives across the board.

"Abejide was acting as if he were the governor. At a point, I was like, do you want to overthrow me? Abigide sought to be the governor of Kogi State. He contested keenly with my amiable and wonderful successor. I know how many times our brother, the Chief of Staff to the President, intervened and called me, and how many meetings were held.

“I maintained one thing. I said, "Look, this is my brother. I will never deceive him. Nobody knows the politics of Kogi State better than I do at this stage. Let him just try his luck, learn, and wait for an appropriate time.

"Honourable Abejide did not lose. He only came to learn the art of politicking, especially for the governorship at that level in Kogi State. Abejide did not hesitate to support my governor and give him his full backing immediately after the election. He was under serious pressure to go to court, but he was the first to say he would not challenge it. Rather, he collapsed his structures and support.

"At the National Assembly level, despite belonging to ADC, he was supporting our president actively, both physically and covertly. Hon. Leke Abejide, we thank you for all your performance. Your Excellency, thank you for your guidance.

“The Chief of Staff to the President. Tell Mr. President that we appreciate you. And that my governor and I have conferred, and we are calling on Chief Leke Abejide and telling all the people of Yagba Federal Constituency to please take this message home that we want Leke back in APC".