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As 2019 electioneering period draws closer, there have been different uproars based on interests and opinions on who should become what and how. Antecedents/performances of governments/politicians/leaders, principle of equity, fairness and justice cum federal character are part of the germane prerequisites that form peoples opinion on the uproar for or against respective aspirations. The quest for #YagbaForSenate is also borne out of some these reasons if not all.
It is expedient to establish the following for better understanding of this piece:
1. That Yagba Federal Constituency is one of the 3 Federal Constituencies that constitute Kogi West Senatorial District and has never been privileged to represent the Senatorial District since the beginning of the 4th Republic in 1999.
2. That there was never an electioneering period that each Federal Constituency did not keenly contest for the Senatorial seat since 1999, despite the rotational ‘gentleman’ arrangement.
Advocacy or Political Pragmatism?
Having established the above, one will agree that the Senatorial seat rightfully belongs to the 3 Federal Constituencies constitutionally.
Since Yagba has not been lucky to win the seat from 1999, are we supposed to endlessly advocate or be pragmatic politically?
The #YagbaForSenate advocacy is a laudable project, but quite unfortunate that we are not pragmatic in our approach to its realisation.
How Ready are We?
This question came up as I was deep in thought on what really are our strategies to clinch the Senate seat?
Instead of Yagba people to take pragmatic political decision(s), we are busy exerting all of our strengths on agitation and advocacy, ironically working against what we are supposedly working for.
The input of the ruling party, All Progressives Congress (APC) in bringing the #YagbaForSenate dream to pass cannot be attenuated, yet Yagba has three aspirants while Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu has one aspirant for the primary election.
Apart from the politics in the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) which is not also in favour of Yagba, are we supposed to have three aspirants as against one aspirant in our neighboring and brotherly Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency? As it is in the ruling APC, having our aspirants from one Local Government (Yagba East) is suppose to be a strength to presenting one aspirant for a keen contest, but alas, we are working the opposite direction. This shows that my Yagba people are not really politically pragmatic.
The politics in the PDP is even worse against the interest of Yagba land where Yagba aspirants were unjustly screened out and one of the aspirants was alleged to have sold his (Yagba) aspiration for N200m and a House of Representatives form in favour of Sen. Dino Melaye of Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu.
Conclusion
There is need for Yagba people to go and learn winning political strategies, as politics is played by smartly influencing political decision to your favour.
The two Federal Constituencies and five Local Government Areas in Okunland are designed to bring government closer to our people and not unnecessarily divide us.
As a concerned Okun Youth and Stakeholder, I have decided to let out my opinion after careful study of all political uproar in Kogi West towards the next occupant of the Senatorial seat. Guiding my opinion and decision on whom to support are the likely benefits and popularity the aspirant/candidate will bring to the district, knowing fully well that some persons ox will be gored.
On a lighter note, before some persons call me a betrayal and bastard of Yagba, my name is Julius Olushola ABEL from Okeguru in Mopamuro Local Government.
#OntopTheWorld
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