The statement credited to the Chairman of the Kogi West APC Leaders Forum, that “Okun cannot produce the Governor of Kogi State in 2027” is not only politically arrogant but also a dangerous attempt to suppress the legitimate aspiration of an entire people.
With due respect, that group are not the political oracle of Kogi State, and neither is he the owner of the governorship of Kogi State.
Who gave him the authority to declare that the Okun people can not aspire to govern their own state?
The people of Okun have every constitutional, political, historical, and democratic right to seek the governorship of Kogi State in 2027.
Let us be clear: no senatorial district has the strength to produce a governor alone. If that is the argument, then it must apply to everybody not only to Okun.
But what is unacceptable is for some people to seek the support of Okun whenever they need votes, political mobilisation, and electoral victory, only to turn around after achieving their political objectives and tell the same Okun people that they are not qualified to aspire to the highest office in the state.
The Okun people are not political slaves. They are not electoral servants. They are not merely mobilisers to be remembered during elections and discarded after elections.
The Okun people have produced distinguished Nigerians in virtually every sector of national life. They have produced people of exceptional competence, character, intellect, professional excellence, and national influence.
More importantly, Okun’s political strength is not confined to Kogi State.
Okun people have a strong presence across the Southwest and other parts of Nigeria. They possess extensive national networks, deep political relationships, professional influence, and a broad national constituency.
Any politician who underestimates the national strength of the Okun people is making a serious political miscalculation.
And let nobody deceive the people of Kogi West that the only political option available to them is to support the reelection of Governor Usman Ododo without negotiation.
If the people of Kogi West are asking for the support of Kogi Central, then the same principle of political negotiation must apply to Okun.
You can not demand political cooperation from others while declaring their own legitimate aspiration impossible.
You can not ask for unity while simultaneously telling a section of the state that it has no future.
You can not preach cooperation and, at the same time, attempt to permanently shut the door of political opportunity against the Okun people.
That is not cooperation. That is political domination.
The people of Okun will not accept any political arrangement that permanently reduces them to the role of supporters, voters, mobilisers, and kingmakers, while others continuously occupy the throne.
And to those who believe that the aspiration of Okun is impossible, let history remind you that politics is never static. Political alliances change. Political realities change. Political power changes hands.
What is declared impossible today may become a political reality tomorrow.
There is also a broader national political reality that can not be ignored.
In 2027, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, a prominent Yoruba leader, has a historic opportunity to strengthen the political relationship between the Yoruba people and the Okun people of Kogi State
For decades, the Okun people have remained politically significant but have not occupied the governorship of Kogi State.
If there is ever a moment for the Yoruba political establishment to support the legitimate governorship aspiration of the Okun people, 2027 presents a historic opportunity.
President Tinubu’s political influence, national network, and understanding of Yoruba political interests make this an important moment for the Okun people.
The Okun people are not asking for political charity. They are demanding political fairness.
They are not begging to be Governor. They are building the political capacity to win.
They are not seeking to dominate anybody. They are demanding an opportunity to participate in the leadership of a state to which they have contributed immensely.
So, to those who share the opinions that okun can’t be governor, they should be reminded:
You can not permanently determine the political destiny of the Okun people.
You can not tell an entire person that their aspiration is impossible.
You can not use the language of cooperation to disguise political exclusion.
You can not demand support from Okun while simultaneously declaring that Okun is unfit to lead.
The Okun people will decide their political future.
The political reality of 2027 may surprise those who are already celebrating an election that has not yet been won.
OKUN CAN BE GOVERNOR.
OKUN WILL NEGOTIATE.
OKUN WILL MOBILISE.
OKUN WILL BUILD ALLIANCES.
AND OKUN WILL NOT SURRENDER IT’S LEGITIMATE ASPIRATION BECAUSE ONE POLITICAL GROUP HAS DECLARED IT IMPOSSIBLE.
The time has come for genuine political negotiation not political intimidation.
2027 is not the property of any senatorial district. It is an open political contest.
– Comrade Peter Ugbedeojo Nelson PhD, an Igala, writes from Ofu Local Government, Kogi State.
