The screening committee of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has cleared Dr Reuben Atabo (SAN) and nine others as aspirants for its ticket in the forthcoming Kogi State governorship contest.
Others cleared for the April 14 race include Sen. Dino Melaye, Engr. Musa Wada, Sen. Atai Aidoko Ali, Barr. Mohammed Kabiru Haruna, Abayomi Awoniyi, Bolufemi Olarotimi, Abdullahi Haruna (SAN), Gideon Ojata and Idoko Kingsley Ilonah.
Atabo, who is the sole principal, Eleojo Chambers, Abuja, hails from Omala local government area of Kogi East senatorial zone.
In a statement made available to newsmen in Kaduna, after a stakeholders’ meeting in his office, the aspirant said he made a lot of consultations, appeals and persuasions to people that matter in Kogi PDP politics, who encouraged him to join the race.
According to him, “I love my profession as a lawyer and I cherish it because law practising is to liberate the people from injustices and poverty.
This put joy in my heart whenever God uses me to do it. There is a time in the affairs of man that you will be called to serve the society as a way of giving back to the larger society. That time is now.
“This is because I have made a lot of consultations, appeals and persuasions to the people. I can tell you that as a private legal practitioner doing private business, there is always a limit to how I can help the people. I never contemplated leaving the private sector.
“I was staying in Kaduna but I discovered that it would limit my contacts and connections so I left for Abuja.
“In my consultation, I first shared with my immediate family members that I will be going for higher calling and I sought their permission and they agreed.
“Since then, I have seen the life of a public officer within the last few days. I sought the people to send me for a higher calling to serve them and humanity.
“This should be our project and not just about me alone. I want the people to accept the task of being at the forefront while I come in to help them carry the load.
“I promise to change the narrative in Kogi State. I am a contented man by the nature of my office and calling as a lawyer. But if we allow politics to be for dirty people, as they say, then low-life people will rule us. So, I want the stakeholders to send me on the assignment into the public sector in order to serve them better,” he said.
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