The race for the much coveted Kogi West senate seat has started in earnest and it will soon climate at a point where the boys will be separated from the men. The contenders are growing on a daily basis with former Senator, Smart Adeyemi running up and down seeking a return to the National Assembly and incumbent Senator Dino Melaye trying hard to get a second chance. However, the people of Kogi West are in search of new breed leaders who are credible and sound.
In an article published some months ago, I noted Smart Adeyemi is an expired politician and Dino Melaye is expiring at a fast rate. I still stand by that. Both men are unfortunate political mistakes that we will love to get over with as quickly as possible. Both are arrogant and self centred who thrive only on propaganda while the poverty level in Kogi West increase at geometric proportions. We are tired of these guys and will send them both back to school of proper representation in 2019.
We need a departure from the politics of giving youths N1,000 for condoms. We now know that a former union leader is better as a comrade and not effective as a Senator. Smart should retire to his numerous hotel business while Dino should sign up with Don Jazzy for a new career. It is that simple.
Among the current contenders, two men fit into the ideals we want from our representatives. These contenders are Dr. Toyin Akanle and Barrister Babatunde Irukera. These are successful, thoroughly bred professionals who will not come and built permanent abode in politics. These men are not the type that will leverage on senate seat to build hotels at the detriment of the masses. These men are unblemished, they are not ruffians. They are polished and refined. Most importantly, Akanle and Irukera are coming on board with fresh ideas.
Drive round Kogi West, from Iyamoye to Kabba, from Ayetoro to Egbe, from Lokoja to Koton Karfe and all you see is evident poverty without hope. Kogi West lack leadership. Kogi West lack basic infrastructures, Kogi West has no economic direction. Of all the three senatorial districts in Kogi state, Kogi West has more indigenes who hardly identify with their fatherland because of the sad situation we found ourselves. 2019 will redefine our destinies! We are more determined to change the course of our destinies now than ever. It will not be business as usual.
Irukera and Akanle are not just articulate and intelligent but are both passionate about accelerated development of Kogi West. We were leaders in education in the Northern Nigeria but today that is fading away because of the poor quality of leadership. Either of Irukera or Akanle will be ideal to help rebuild the battered walls of Kogi West.
Political parties that desire to win Kogi West in 2019 must check the pulse of the people and not toy with our resolve to take our destinies in our hands. We are modest, intelligent and refined enough to know what is best for us so outsiders should be careful with our politics. We will make a bold statement come 2019.
– Titi Balogun writes from Lokoja.
