People with deep understanding of politics must feel strongly concerned about the intricate political choice of Ibaji in the forthcoming general elections.
With the elections barely in a few days from now, the polity is getting heated up as aspirants for various political offices jostle for people’s attention. As usual in our political system, it matters little or not even at all the candidatures at the polls but the political parties (at least now). As it is generally, the choice at the polls without any pretence is as believed between the ruling All Progressive Congress (APC) and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which has held power at the national level between 1999-2015 but was dethroned for having failed the expectations of the people in 16 years.
No doubt politics is all about political dividend accruing either to individuals or group of people. The latter is worthy of consideration in as much as individuals interests are the driving forces of most politicians. When a politician is able to create a balance between his emotions (i.e personal interest) and that of is his people, he no doubt has set target beneficial to all. Indeed, having a platform to realise all these, a political party’s role is pivotal in achieving the desired democratic dividends.
Today the two major political parties seeking for the supports of Nigerians are the APC and PDP. Just as it is at the national level the APC is for the first time a ruling party at the state level.
For the Ibaji people, our supports over the years have gone to the opposition party PDP which was privileged to rule the nation for 16 years.
At the state level (in Kogi state), the party was equally privileged to have ruled the state for over 12 years with Ibaji given supports. The needed dividends of democracy which as far as Ibaji is concerned was never given attention are in terms of infrastructural development and a recognition of the area’s son or daughter for a critical political position so has the latter could use his/her office for the benefit of his people. Due to this failure, the Ibaji people would not be fooled into believe in anybody that says the opposition PDP has anything to benefit the people from their government (if given opportunity). Hence, I have come up with the following reasons why the Ibaji people cannot vote for PDP in the forthcoming general elections.
The reasons are seen below:
The Peter Obi Factor: Ibaji local government area is endowed with potential crude oil. The area where this resources is situated became a matter of controversy between Kogi, Enugu and Anambra states in the past few years.
Anambra state under the administration of Peter Obi frustrated our collective efforts to be declared an oil producing state and enjoy the benefits of our natural resources. It is a worst injustice which the people are still unable to get it over but today the said Peter Obi has been chosen by PDP as a running mate to Abubakar Atiku’s presidential bid.
It is on record that Peter Obi as Governor of Anambra state sponsored arms and other logistics that led to the killings of many Ibaji people in the struggle for justice of being declared an oil producing state.
In the mind of an Ibaji people, if PDP is voted for and Peter Obi becomes the VP, the hope of making Ibaji an oil producing community would have been killed.
Another reason why the Peoples Democratic Party cannot gain the support of Ibaji is that the party is not sensitive to the plight of the people. This is evident in the party’s lack of respect of zoning that would have enhanced the chance of an Ibaji person of becoming a Senator representing Kogi east in 2019.
This high sense of insensitivity has marred the progress of the party from the National level down to the State over the years in a PDP government, Indeed it is one of the reasons why the party lost power both at the national level and and the states to the APC in 2015 election in the local government.
The National Chairman of PDP had clearly stated that Kogi state and indeed Kogi east do not matter in their bid for the presidency in 2019. Prince Uche Secondus stated this in the presence of key Kogi Stakeholders like H.E Ibrahim Idris, H.E Capt. Idris Wada, the duo who are the former governors of the state under the party. Equally present at the meeting were H.E Clarance Olafemi, AM Issac Alfa amongst others. For this reason, it’s crystal clear that the PDP as a party has nothing to offer the people of Ibaji and indeed Kogi state.
The above is the evidence of the fact that the party called PDP apart from their lack of realistic visions for a better Nigeria, they lack men of proven rationality for real democracy and respect for certain categories of people.
Even as they openly criticised the ruling APC on the point of insensitivity which does not even exist under the APC both at the federal and the state.
To add insult to the injury, the today PDP is criticising the APC-led administration of President Muhammadu Buhari who obeyed a competent order of the court in taking all actions. This criticism lacks basis, even as they claim the action was unconstitutional. Interestingly, the Supreme Court gave a final order that the Kogi east Senator Atai Aidoko who has wasted the senatorial district’s mandate in nearly four years to vacate office for the authentic holder of the mandate in AM Isaac Alfa, the Senate President Bukola Saraki who is one of the chieftains in the PDP has refused to obey the subsisting court order which is final in itself. Indeed the gross abuse of power by the Senate President (the DG of the PDP presidential campaign) is in their bid to frustrate the Igala people of a proper representation in favour of Aidoko for their personal interests.
Coming back home, it is worth noting that the over 16 years political supports given to the PDP by the Ibaji people did not in any way benefit the good people of the area. Notwithstanding the initial lack of support, the sensitive APC graciously appointed an Ibaji man into the number two position of the state. Thus, the current Deputy Governor of Kogi state is an indigene of Ibaji Local Government Area.
It is on record that PDP has never considered any other person for any critical State or National appointment.
The above and many other considerations are the reasons why Ibaji people cannot vote PDP. On the contrary and for similar reasons the Ibaji people have decided to vote overwhelmingly for APC in the coming elections. The cardinal reason is because Ibaji, Igala and the entire Kogi people deserve a better life which could be guaranteed, at least for now, under the APC.
– Engr. John Ibrahim Ocheje hails from Ojiala village in Ibaji LGA. He is a Stakeholder of the All Progressive Congress (APC)
