I was very much on ground to capture the Kogi west senatorial battle with the untold story of why former senator Smart Adeyemi was beaten pants down.
The defeat of former senator Smart Adeyemi in the just concluded senatorial district election in Kogi west has triggered many conflicting and intricate political debates which seem may last throughout the history of Kogi State.
The factors that came together to see the defeat of the former senator are powerful enough to even bring hurricane to his feet. Smart faced abysmal and shameful political eclipse.
But it was clear that democracy is all about participation of highest number of people and this can be achieved through good relationship with people especially when political heavy weights come together to form a formidable front that can draw the attention of the common masses who are the main players in the field of play. This has to do with a combination of efforts to move and shake the political environment. But then when resources are not committed, every hope becomes shattered.
Senator Dino Melaye understands this political gimmick and the secret behind the Kogi west politics. He is very close to the grass root and expends his resources and projects without minding whether election is around or not. That is the main reason why he is unbeatable in Kogi west politics. But APC supporters expect to win election when they are not close to the common masses. They are always at government House or travel about, only to come back to canvass for votes during election periods. They are inaccessible even when they are expected by the APC headquarters to deliver their states.
Smart Adeyemi and his men always relax believing that Kogi is always in their political hands, no matter the misrule. But the APC heavy weights can be seen regularly in the State during campaign periods, as a result, they look strange to the people especially those in the rural areas. Sen Smart’s misdeeds while in the Senate and Governor Bello’s misrule are enough evidences to revolt against them.
However because the PDP are always with the people, their misdeeds and misrule can be over looked. That is why the Senator elect remains the mover and shaker of Kogi west politics. Yet the APC players do not care.
They find it very difficult to give charity to the needy out of the alleged stolen wealth.
Again, most of the civil servants interviewed said they changed their mind at the dying minutes as they learnt that Governor Bello vowed to deal with any civil servant that did not vote for APC, saying that another retrenchment awaits them. According to them, that threat forced the civil servants to surrender even though they had earlier boasted that nothing what so ever would make them vote while over 14,000 retrenched civil servants bowed because Governor Bello was alleged to have assured that he would recall those who voted for him. All these gave the senator Smart the little vote contrary to the wish of the people.
But then land slide victory of PDP in kogi west has made Senator Dino melaye to remain the doyen of Kogi west politics. All these self acclaimed APC heavy weights in the western senatorial district like the speaker of kogi state assembly, SSG, commissioner of finance, and the rest of them cannot stand the political might of the Senator.
Dictating what happens in Kogi west political arena. He even said it during the electioneering campaign, Dino did not need any campaign or to worry himself because APC men were making noise everywhere, describing it as empty propaganda that can be thrown into a waste paper basket. He was very sure that APC would be rejected at the polls and that was what happened.
The moment Akanle, Bisimilahi and others APC big shots lost in the primary, the APC circle left Smart to his fate. Most of them left for Abuja, Kaduna etc. to attend to their businesses. They refused to commit their energies and resources to help the former senator. Panic, fear erupted in their minds especially the APC supporters as those who are supposed to form a formidable front to wage political war against PDP deserted the State.
As it was alleged that the APC money bags deserted Smart in time of need which remains a soar situation which left some questions unanswered in the minds and political calculations of Smart Adeyemi supporters. Even before the election, many doubted the possibility and the success of Smart’s bid to victory.
From all the political signs and calculations, Smart had already failed even before the election was conducted. This signs and calculations came from the way and manner the APC mismanaged Kogi state.
Though a worthy and influential contender, but there was no tough challenge to the incumbent political structure of PDP.
If Smart had been elected, his initiative to alleviate poverty through all these economic projects as several international organizations have indicated to assist kogi west in eradicating poverty. The assistance could come in various forms. But there is a substantial fear over the insincerity of Governor Bello The fear is founded on the ground and understanding about the recklessness and fraudulent manner in which the present administration operates in the state.
– Abbas Yahaya writes from Lokoja.
