Isiolo Governor Dr. Mohamed Abdi Kuti addressing the public at a past event. |
A battery of bloggers who were part of Governor Kuti's campaign in 2017 that refer to themselves as 'Afreesa Bloggers' have now vowed to 'break ranks' with their former candidate of choice who they say has left their fate in the hands of his 'heartless' cohorts whom they say are responsible for their deplorable conditions even despite their rooting for the incumbent with the hope that things will change forthwith much to their disappointment. 'We believed in Governor Kuti's cause and agenda especially for the youth as was clearly outlined in his ambitious manifesto back in 2017 and it was for that reason that we vowed to ensure that he captures the seat and end the deplorable conditions that the local are youth have been faced with for ages, its almost three years now and none of that seems to be happening and a change of heart is inevitable especially for those of us that went about the entire populace to convince them that our candidate(kuti) was the right man for the job. We are disappointed beyond words!', says a visibly agitated blogger who was a key member in the now defunct 'Afreesa Digital Team'. They have also lamented the fact that the governor's team have never appreciated their service adding that 'while mundane, was offered with the best of intentions and goodwill for the candidacy of Governor Kuti and that they feel shortchanged by how things have turned out in the past few years even after the cake was secured'.
The bloggers who contacted us on condition of anonymity for fear of reprisals from the powerful clique that surrounds the governor have however maintained that they shall soon come out with their stories as repeated appeals to their 'masters' have fallen on deaf ears all through leaving them with no option but to 'extricate' themselves from what they call a 'toxic relationship' between themselves and the county administration which they say is 'one-sided' and has made them the laughing stock of the 2017 general elections.
Segregation
The bloggers further accuse the top aides of Governor Kuti of employing what they(bloggers) perceive as a 'system of segregation' where 'their friends and hangers-on are favoured with regards to the county projects while the majority of those that laid down everything to ensure 'Afreesa is achieved are kept in the dark with promises that are never honoured'.
They have lamented that those who have 'benefitted' from the administration so far are those who have done 'little or nothing at all' for the current administration, currently and during the heated campaign period which
Handshake Disoriented Us
They also opine that the adminstration has neglected them after the famous 'handshake' between Governor Kuti and his arch rival Abdul Bahari who is now a Cabinet Administrative Secretary in the ministry of Labour which was thought to be a 'token' achieved through the incumbent's lobby.
They have maintained that while they supported the handshake wholeheartedly, the administration now behaves as though they 'owe them nothing' which they say is 'a classical case of betrayal'. They say the handshake has severely disoriented them as they feel their services and unequivocal support have been traded for a political clout'.
They also intimated to us that they have been unable to get a rendezvous with the Governor even after raising the issue with a senior county official who also happened to be a key coordinator during the Afreesa campaigns to state their case and since 'talks with his(governor) aides have collapsed', they are prepared to join their brothers and sisters 'on the the other side of the aisle(alluding to opposition) to agitate for better service delivery from the administration- A duty which they say they 'selfishly relinquished' with the hope that things shall improve eventually while the opposite has been the case.
What perturbs them most according to one of the bloggers is the fact that the adminstration has 'rewarded and empowered their rivals while those that lay down their life and everything to ensure the incumbent successfully captures the top seat in the county have been neglected and completely 'left out of the binge'.
The bloggers say they are now emboldened to come out with their individual stories sooner rather than later and to make an unequivocal statement with regards to their political future.
ICBN, being the unyielding advocate of the underdogs shall support the bloggers in their quest for 'justice and equality' in Isiolo county.
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