Fellow Kogi Easterners, I bring you greetings. It has been edgy, with perpetual tautness of the nation’s political transition era. Amazingly, history has amassed to the trajectory of Africa’s most populous black country. Even though, many were left with negative ineffaceable political brunt, trying to alter the awful narrative.
However, I do believe we shall be guided going forward, which is why this post became sine-qua-non to induce our attentions to cerebral specifics courtesy of our further political existentiality. But before that, my inmost condolence is with the bereaved, especially, the family of Late Daniel Usman.
According to the popular saying, “in every youth, there is an industry”. Therefore, desperate power seekers have just wasted an industrious son. They have terminated the veil behind the tomorrow we seek. May his soul continue to rest on.
I will also use this medium to appreciate a true democrat- Dr. Victor Alewo Adoji who defied all odds to attend the funeral services of the late hero. Whether or not you win the senatorial race, you have created a niche for yourself in Kogi’s good book.
Now, election is partially over in Nigeria. But in Kogi state, postures has got everyone chitchatting till eternity. How? The peculiarity in which things were done -Our prospects and the resultant upshots. I was told that in every democratic society, election season is a celebration of democracy. But on the contrary, ours has been the season of maiming and mourning. Electorates were pugnaciously disenfranchised. As a matter of fact, those who actually voted decide nothing, but those who counted the ballots decided everything.
If there is a victory at the just concluded elections, it is at best, a ‘Gun-Point- Victory’ because, it was devoid credibility.
I was at my polling unit somewhere in Dekina LGA to vote only to be told by some ferociously looking men it was APC polling station. Albeit, I either vote them or leave immediately.
Fellow Kogi Easterners, having discovered the implication of reinstalling cluelessness for another four years, I left the polling unit immediately without exercising my right as a citizen of this great country. But being an advocate of good governance, I tried to see how the relevant authorities could wade in to ameliorate this coercive measures. Hence, my article titled- Kogi APC Has Buried Democracy.
To the awesomeness of God, INEC eventually declared Kogi East senatorial election inconclusive. Hence, a sheer opportunity to, once again, decide between autocracy and democracy. Between coercion and freedom. For posterity sake, I still maintain that there was no election that should be declared inconclusive in Kogi East. If INEC is fair enough, it should confront these political day-light burglars and stop them from stealing oppositions’ mandate by annulling the senatorial election in totality.
Let’s touch the body language. For those who still have conscience officiating their routine course, it’s not a hidden fact that APC-Kogi coercively amassed votes for its candidates in the Saturday’s general election. And with exception of the party and their e-kids, Kogites including me and my family are not happy over the desperate measures. I will not talk on the characters, competences and capacities of the personalities (candidates) involved if the needs be. But the helpless situations created by those we least expected to forcefully lead us.
During my days in the college, I was told that Democracy is the government of the people, by the people and for the people. It is otherwise interpreted thus;
– A leader must emerge from/among the people
– Must be chosen by the people and
– He must represent the extant interests of the people.
In all, the processes must be free and fair. Not violent, but open to individual preferences. Anything contrary is capricious. Fellow Kogi Easterners, if APC-Kogi must remain in power, it’s the efficacy of our deliberate actions and decisions. Not gun’s or bullet’s. And the decision to impose themselves on us theorizes germane interrogation to their progressive schedules, as well as, our existence as a political unit.
Do we want to live and allow those who whack on armaments to steal mandate continue in their satanic turns? Akin things have happened in the past, and we have heard our leaders particularly in the legislative quarters saying we did not elect them and they are not liable to us. Do we allow such history to repeat itself? What about the wasted years, where the legislative stride upheld by some of our heroes past became depleted? Do we want to exist, yet, extinguished completely from the national facade? Or stand up and say no to the emerging totalitarianism in the land?
We have tested APC Kogi, but I can state without apology that they are not trusted. The current socioeconomic and political affairs bears witness to the fact. But the question is do we still want to entrust a dying state to untrusted hands? Of course! We will not and cannot do that. But if we do, I will be forced to conclude; this is not the Igala/Bassa nativity my father thought me to emulate. Besides, we shall be facing a perilous moments that could turn Kogi state to a refugee’s camp – God forbid!
Let me bring this to the bearing. Our legislative seat has been tactically hijacked by desperate power seekers to get-rid of likely threats off their ways. Oh yes! Had APC-Kogi reconciled their names in the good book, no one will be talking about who gets the senatorial position or who had suffered politically and should be compensated with such sensitive position. Just in case I am reeling rhetorically, take a nap on these questions; – Was there no Nigeria senate in 2011 or in 2015 when some people resonated to the political arena with the governorship seat as their major target? Has anyone thought of the lopsided politics currently playing out in Kogi East? Why must it be Dekina, Ankpa or Olamaboro for senate consistently? Are there no proficient faces from Idah axis?
My utmost desire is to see a better Kogi East. I have envisaged it and hope it would manifest someday. However, I do believe it comes gradually, which in a nutshell, indoctrinates unrelenting collective efforts.
Therefore, the recent political transition in the country symbolizes another milestone. But can anyone avail to me what APC’s candidate for the senatorial seat intend to contribute that may likely take us from where we are presently to where we ought to be?
Don’t get me quoted out of context, these are facts and figures that eludes ethnic and political jingoism currently in play. I just can’t believe this is happening to us. Kogi East in no doubt will pitch their tenth with cluelessness once more.
To be fore warned is to be fore armed. No one should expect APC-Kogi out of power soon. Instead, we can only pray for God’s mercies and grace. This is because the hovering disaster is quite tremendous. I am pretty sure, we have not forgotten the process that brought Fulani/terrorism to our land? Perhaps, the insignificant screening exercise which eventually rendered Kogites vagrant and sent others to early grave. These, among others will be deepen by 2020 if the current political agbada is left to swing.
Few days ago, I stumbled on a video where the almighty chief of staff reaffirmed that PDP is facetious, to have thought of taking over power from Yahaya Bello soon. Although for the first time, I have seen the young man being stern, he ended up loud-mouthing himself as the overall. Thus, justifying my recent post that he, Edward Onoja is the governor of Kogi state and the office Yahaya Bello and his deputy occupies are at his whim and caprice.
His words; “We that are youthful and useful in Kogi East under MY LEADERSHIP will not let that happen”. Akpabana! The Lord of the land has spoken.
In case you still wonder what could have orchestrated this. CEO was referring to the clannish permutations which defrauded us the rightful heir to the legislative seat by the opposition PDP. Some castoff politicians are currently reassessing their progenies and in-law for the number one seat. Oh yes! I concur with Edward. We will not let that happen. But not by retaining Yahaya Bello for second term.
Edward also, via piecemeal, scorned the government – APC Kogi is predominantly youths. Quite accurate but the statement should have been ‘APC-Kogi is predominated by incompetent but frantic youths’.
Kogi state must be redeemed. How? The notion of open polling must be traded for what I called option A4. Henceforward, every partaking political parties, in any election, should have its cliques lined up before it and be totaled. By this acts, not only will our traducers and political plungers be stripped of every possible election rigging, the process will be much more credible. It would also renders political thugs jobless and scrap godfatherism.
Fellow Kogi Easterners, we must unite and present a common front if we must succeed in this mission. We don’t need thirty governorship aspirants. We don’t need the clannish permutations that is currently been propagated by some ex-leaders. All candidates from Kogi East must be assembled and gauged in order to ascertain the most competent hands. And let everyone shred their aspirations and line up behind him.
As for the inconclusive election and the current political trends, I see the incumbent senator perhaps, the recently sacked senator Attai Aidoko retaining that seat again. Unless the good people of Igala/Bassa cease the opportunities created by the 129 polling units to do the needful.
I remain an agent of transparency and good governance. Kogi shall be great again.
– John Paul
