Mixed reaction trail the emergence of Prince Audu as APC governorship candidate in kogi

Mixed reactions have continued to trail the emergence of Prince Audu as the All Progressive Congress, APC, governorship standard bearer in Kogi. While many stakeholders from the Western and Central Senatorial Districts have received the development with disappointment, many others are, however, celebrating seeing it as the best option opened to the state.

Audu first governed the state between 1992 and 1993 and subsequently between 1999 and 2003. He is credited with laying the infrastructure development of the state. His success is, however, mired in allegations of corruption to the tune of N11 billion for which he is still being prosecuted by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC.

One Ahmed Sanni who hailed his emergence said, “APC got it right! Prince Abubakar Audu is better positioned now more than ever before to dismantle and uproot the incumbent governor, Capt Idris Wada.”

But Abayo Samson fears that Audu could rekindle his battle with the state’s civil servants. During his stint between 1999 and 2003 he was believed to look down at the bureaucracy and described civil servants as liabilities while the pensioners were labelled dead woods

Some in the ruling PDP, however, see Audu’s emergence as a blessing in disguise for his party saying the challenge of beating Audu was a less arduous task than some of the other younger aspirants that were in the APC.

Younger aspirants

“His (Audu) victory to me is a blessing in disguise for our party, the PDP. PDP will win the Kogi State in the general election coming with empirical evidence from the 2003 revolution that ousted Audu then,” he boasted.

John Odaudu on his own believes Audu’s victory at the party primaries won’t guarantee him winning the general elections:

“Audu won the APC primary but it does not mean he will win the general election. For Audu to win I believe APC will lose this governorship election. For us we will prefer any candidate presented by PDP, than for us to see Audu to win this gubernatorial election. We are tired of him because of his pride.”

However, one Abutu Agada said the emergence of Audu as APC standard bearer was the true reflection of the people’s choice.