A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC), Otunba Sam Aro, says the disconnect between political officeholders and traditional institutions has cost Kogi West senatorial district critical years of progress.
Aro, a senatorial aspirant, made this known when he paid the Ohimege Igu of Kotonkarfi, His Royal Majesty Seidu Akawu Salihu, a visit at his palace on Wednesday.
The visit forms part of Aro’s ongoing engagement with traditional institutions across Kogi West ahead of the 2027 senatorial race.
Addressing the Ohimege Igu and his council, Aro recalled his decades-long affinity with Koton Karfi and the broader Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency, emphasizing that his mission was two-fold: to humbly seek royal blessings and to listen.
“No society outgrows the wisdom of its throne. Security of our riverine communities, youth unemployment, access to markets for our fishermen and farmers, and the urgent need for rural infrastructure in Kotonkarfi — these are not Abuja problems. They are here. And solving them requires the joint hands of elected leaders and traditional rulers.
“The Ohimege Igu is not just a custodian of culture; he is the closest government to the people. Any development model that sidelines the palace is designed to fail,” Aro stated.
Outlining his vision, Aro pledged that if entrusted with the Kogi West mandate in 2027, he will champion a Rural-Inclusive Development Agenda anchored on three pillars – security through community intelligence and traditional structures; economic inclusion via the riverine and agrarian economy, and institutional partnership with royal fathers as co-drivers of project monitoring and feedback.
The Ohimege Igu commended the aspirant for according the traditional institution its rightful place in the governance conversation. He noted that consistent dialogue between political leaders and royal fathers remains indispensable to peace, stability, and inclusive development.
The monarch offered royal prayers for Hon. Aro, charging him to uphold the virtues of consistency, humility, and service that have earned him goodwill across the district.
He called on all political gladiators to place the collective interest of Kogi West above personal ambition as the 2027 elections draw nearer.
