As we earnestly approach the 2023 gubernatorial election as citizens of Kogi State, and prayerfully searching for that Okun son/daughter that we will all strongly team behind and push towards approaching our brothers and sisters from the Central and Eastern Senatorial Districts, we must be extremely careful not to present ourselves as inferior or that we are superior to everyone else especially anyone that does not immediately buy into our level of thinking or understanding.
As has been rightly pointed out, the agitation that Okun should occupy Lugard House come January 2024 is not just legal, morally right but also Godly, our approach should therefore reflect those excellent traits Okun people are known for. These includes self discipline, humility, gentle spirit, steadfast with very sound mind. Rather, we should totally avoid the tendency of judging ourselves and one another based on presumptions, assumptions, hearsay or outright lies. We must avoid been quick to judge others with little or no knowledge. Such judgements are often wrong born out of prejudice.
Whether we are more materially well up or politically more versatile or luckier, let us not allow our complexes make us lose focus on the core messages, the real reason Okun people believe it is their turn.
Let us not at anytime be tempted to think that the young bloods eliminates the old, such that those of us younger do not succumb to an attitude of insulting or be rude to the old. Let us not forget that as long as the earth remains, someday, your ‘new’ will become the ‘old’ of others.
We must always remind ourselves and be grateful of the fact that our elders and leaders in Okun laid the foundations that the politically astute young ones of today hugely benefitted from and are building on.
Some however laboured for a lifetime what others do in relatively short time, that doesn’t mean the former were fools; the level you enjoy today that has brought you ease is by the grace of God the past labour of elders.
We should always be reminded of the parable of the vineyard workers in Matthew 20:1-16. That the workers were paid the same wages regardless of when they started to work. This settles the case of anyone feeling superior to the other with modest or low view of importance.
Let us consistently learn and cultivate the habit of respect and reference especially in our utterances irrespective of our feelings for even heavenly beings teaches us that. In the book of Jude 1:9-10, it is stated;
“But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not condemn him for slander but simply said : “The Lord rebuke you!”
Some are in the habit of being used as instrument to truncating the good intentions Okun people, always looking for faults in whatever they do, and the very things they do not understand by instinct they deliberately counter to cook up trouble, disaffection and disharmony. The land of Okun is watching
Any Okun with an interest to vying for the highest position in Kogi state needs a great deal of humility to accept that he must come down and respectfully talk to the people, mix with them, interrogate their feelings, needs and wants and be mindful of the repercussions of hasty judgments towards appreciating the difference between superficial goodness and actual goodness. It is not enough to only jump into the fray and say “I am the best”
Our candidate must obtain his confidence from God who will endue him with power to carve out opportunities and sincerely serve the people
Okun people from history are known for having high regard and respect for other person’s feelings, wishes, or rights with good understanding for his/her views irrespective of tribe or race. We must continue to love Okunland and indeed non Okuns with passion, submit and respect our leaders and elders in the spirit of self discipline.
Our very deep and sincere prayer is that, our God fearing Governor of Kogi State, His Excellency Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello, the good people of the Central and Eastern Senatorial Districts of Kogi State and indeed all the people of Kogi State both at home and in the diaspora will not only understand our position but hugely and generously submit to our demand and support us
– Musa Bakare writes from Lokoja, Kogi State.
