Dark clouds are gathering in Yagba Federal Constituency over who will represent the people in the house of representatives come 2027. Of all the nine house of representatives seats in Kogi state, the race seems to have started too early in Yagba Federal Constituency.
One this now obvious, the current occupant of the seat, Elder Leke Joseph Abejide, is intensely interested in a third term. First elected in 2019, Elder Leke Joseph Abejide was reelected with ease in 2023. Ahead of the 2023 elections, it was easy to predict who will emerge winner as Elder Abejide seemed invincible. However, his ill-fated and ill-advised governorship gambit exposed him badly in the federal constituency. The once invincible politician was beaten blue black across the three local government areas in Yagba. He lost all 14 wards in Yagba West, lost all 10 wards and struggled to get marginal victory in his own Yagba East LG.
Aside the cataclysmic effect of his abysmal outing in the last governorship race, it is important to educate Elder Abejide on the politics of Okun and by extension Yagba people. In very simple, clear terms, regardless of your efforts, we won’t give you a third term. This might sound rude and arrogant, but take my word for it. Senator Smart Adeyemi was a fantastic senator till he insisted on a third term. Senator Karimi had the PDP house of representatives ticket in his pocket for a third term but was wise enough to abort and thought of taking it. Today, he is a senator, though after a political break. Make no mistake, even if you turn stones to bread, our politics is iwo nikan hi liwe ni? Same way Yagba people raised their voices unabated when their Ijumu brothers seemed to have ‘kidnapped’ Kogi West senate seat, the people of Mopa-Amuro have waited for far too long to take their turn in the house of representatives. It will be insensitive to ask to wait for another 4 or more years while Yagba East is allowed to ‘kidnap’ the house of representatives seat.
Opem, you have done very well and have written your name in gold in Yagba land, don’t listen to anyone seducing you to seek a third term. Abort the plan! No lawmaker has achieved as much as you have done but a third term agenda will erode all that. If you think I am lying, put a call across to Senator Smart. You empowered your people and kabiyesis with cars abi? Senator Smart gave out 400 cars to Kogi West youths in a single day but all that did not count when he sought a third term. Your WAEC magic wand is no longer there as the state government has effectively shut that door. Listen to the voice of wisdom, abort!
I know how to write long epistle, but I will keep this very short and straight, abort your third term agenda now! Play a leader’s role in who succeeds you and relax while greater opportunities open up for you, and I am sure it will. Seeking third term is a sign of weakness, a sign that you are not useful outside the house of representatives, don’t fall for that.
– Olalekan Abidemi writes from Lokoja.
