By Musa Bakare.
The call for a governor from Kogi West in 2027 is no longer a whisper, it is a resounding demand rooted in justice and political fairness.
Since Kogi State’s creation in 1991, Kogi East and Kogi Central have ruled for 16 and nearly 12 years respectively. Kogi West? Zero. Not one governor in 34 years.
Governor Yahaya Bello and his successor, Usman Ododo, both come from Kogi Central’s Okene LGA. Bello’s own boast of controlling power through Ododo for 16 years has only fueled fears of entrenched dominance by one zone.
This is not just counting years. Power drives development, roads, hospitals, contracts, appointments, all skewed toward the governor’s base. Kogi West has been sidelined for too long.
Kogi East’s trio of governors, Prince Abubakar Audu, Ibrahim Idris, and Idris Wada ruled for 16 years. Kogi Central is nearing 12. Fairness demands the pendulum swing to Kogi West.
Across Nigeria, equitable power rotation ensures stability; ignoring it breeds resentment and conflict. Kogi stands at that critical crossroads.
Kogi West is no stranger to talent, its technocrats, legislators, and professionals have shined nationally and globally. The issue isn’t capacity, it’s an opportunity.
Excluding an entire senatorial district indefinitely threatens democracy’s foundations. This isn’t an entitlement, it is fairness earned through decades of patience.
Within Kogi state APC, grievance over equity grows sharper. The party risks fractures it cannot afford before 2027. Smart politics and moral clarity align: zone the governorship to Kogi West.
Political parties, especially APC, must heed the call. Party elders need to rise above personal interests; voters in Kogi West must register, mobilize, and unite behind credible candidates.
The 2027 election is a chance to reset Kogi’s politics. A governor from Kogi West would say loud and clear: power belongs to all, patience pays off, and fairness builds unity.
Kogi West has waited 34 years. The argument is undeniable. The time is now.
– Musa Asiru Bakare, APC member and political analyst, writes from Lokoja, Kogi State.
