By Musa Bakare
There comes a moment in the life of a people when silence becomes surrender and acquiescence becomes an endorsement of injustice.
For the people of Kogi West Senatorial District and the Okun people in particular, that moment is now.
The recent declaration that “Okun cannot produce the Governor of Kogi State in 2027” is nothing more than a baseless prognosis, a personal political opinion, not a decree from on high.
Those who made that declaration are entitled to their views, but they must not speak as though they possess celestial authority to determine the political destiny of an entire people.
Only God Almighty, the ultimate Decider of destinies holds that power. The people, through their votes, determine leadership.
No individual, no forum, no pressure group, and no political office holder has been anointed to dictate when the people of Kogi West may aspire to the highest office in the state.
Since Kogi State’s creation in 1991, Kogi West, of which the Okun people are an integral part has never produced an Executive Governor.
Kogi East has governed the state for well over sixteen years. Kogi Central is now on course to complete twelve consecutive years in office by January 2028.
If justice means anything, if equity remains a pillar of democracy, and if fairness is still a moral virtue, then the natural and compelling conclusion is clear: the governorship should rotate to Kogi West in 2027.
This is not a demand born of sentiment. It is a legitimate aspiration rooted in equity, inclusion, and the principle of equal belonging.
Many Okun people recall that in 2019, they were assured that after Governor Yahaya Bello’s eight year tenure, the governorship would naturally come to Kogi West.
Whether those assurances were formal or merely political, they created legitimate expectations among the people. It is therefore surprising that some now seek to dismiss that aspiration as impossible.
Democracy was never designed to permanently exclude one segment of a state while others repeatedly occupy the highest office. Such an arrangement may produce temporary political convenience, but it cannot produce lasting justice.
Those who insist that Kogi West must perpetually wait should answer one simple question: If not in 2027, then when?
Must an entire generation continue waiting while others repeatedly enjoy what is denied to them?
Politics should unite people around justice, not institutionalize perpetual exclusion.
The people of Kogi West are neither beggars nor political tenants. They are co founders and equal stakeholders in the Kogi project.
Their aspiration is not an act of rebellion against any individual or senatorial district. It is a peaceful call for fairness, mutual respect, and inclusive leadership.
Supporting Kogi West’s bid for the governorship in 2027 is not an act against Kogi Central or Kogi East. On the contrary, it is an affirmation that every component of the state deserves an opportunity to lead.
No one should mistake humility for weakness, or patience for surrender.
The aspiration of the people of Kogi West cannot be extinguished by speeches, however emphatic. It cannot be buried by political intimidation, however influential the messenger.
The collective will of a people is stronger than the opinion of a few.
History teaches that every struggle for justice begins with voices that refuse to accept the status quo. The wheel of equity may turn slowly, but it ultimately turns in favor of justice.
Let no one presume to speak on behalf of all Okun people. Let no one claim the exclusive authority to negotiate away the political future of a people who have waited patiently since 1991.
The governorship of Kogi State belongs to no tribe, no individual, and no political bloc. It belongs to all Kogites.
The time has come for equity to speak louder than expediency, for conscience to triumph over convenience, and for justice to prevail over political arithmetic.
The aspiration of the Okun Nation is legitimate. It is constitutional. It is democratic. It is just.
And by the grace of God and the collective will of the people of Kogi State, 2027 presents a compelling opportunity for Kogi West to produce the next Governor of Kogi State.
– Musa Asiru Bakare, a Founding Member of APC and Political Analyst, writes from Lokoja, Kogi State.
