It is not breaking news that the people of Kogi State would go into polls in November 16, 2019 to elect their Governor. In view of this, several aspirants have emerged, some very popular having occupied public offices or associated with people who have occupied public offices in the past, others not much known to the people of the State.
In Kogi East alone, over 50 aspirants from various political parties have expressed their intentions to run for the office of Governor of Kogi State. In Kogi West, apart from Senator Dino Melaye, no other popular name(s) has been heard that is aspiring for the position of a Governor. In Kogi Central, the incumbent Governor, a rare beneficiary of providence, appears to be the most popular aspirant from the zone.
Obviously, Kogi East appears to be parading the greatest number of aspirants across the major political parties for the forthcoming election in Kogi State. The reason for this may not be farfetched. First, Kogi East harbours the most populous tribes (Igala/Bassa) in Kogi State, and by every stretch of imagination, are the most favourite tribes to produce the Governor of Kogi State at least, judging from past political experiences since the creation of the State in 1991.
Before now, it has been Kogi East taking the lead while other Senatorial Zones (Kogi West and Kogi Central in that order) follow! But, I’m afraid, this might not be the case come November 16, 2019. The people of Igala extraction in Kogi East as it stands now, are seriously divided. Experience has shown that numerical strength minus unity cannot guarantee electoral victory.
Secondly, one can also attribute the multiplicity of the number of aspirants from Kogi East to disunity, fight-of-ego, greed, and refusal to accept past failures for which some of these aspirants remain condemned. The bitter truth is that the more the divisions in Kogi East, the easier it becomes for Governor Yahaya Bello in the forthcoming election.
The issue of Yahaya Bello not getting APC ticket is the greatest fallacy of the moment which is believable not only by political idle men and women but also been spread by unenlightened souls in Kogi State. Here is an incumbent Governor, who won (however you may look at it) the Presidential election for his Party in Kogi State and also went ahead to deliver to his Party not just two out of three Senatorial Seats (special salute to Dino here) but also Seven (7) House of Representatives Seats and the entire 25 House of Assembly Seats in Kogi State. Even when Igalas were in charge, never has any Governor subdued this much politically. Obviously, Governor Bello is in charge and has the ability to deliver electoral victory to his Party in any manner you can think of!
Before the February and March general elections earlier this year, the common belief of most of Kogi State indigenes was that APC would lose all the elections in Kogi State as a recompense for the sufferings of the people of Kogi State under the current administration. It was the hope of the people that a strong signal or message would be sent to Bello to amend his ways through the anticipated failures of his Party in the Presidential, National Assembly and House of Assembly elections in Kogi State that took place in February and March this year. But, alas! APC won almost all the elective positions during the elections. Indeed, this was against the run of play!
Now, November, 2019 Governorship election is starring at us already. Kogites were made to believe that Bello would be denied ticket by his Party! This is deception of the highest magnitude. If I may ask, how and by who? Personally, I’m not a supporter of the second term ambition of the current Governor in view of the plights of Kogi people especially workers, but there are times one must learn to swallow bitter pills if one should be honest with himself.
Only yesterday (5/7/2019), news filtered in that APC has agreed with the Governor to conduct Indirect Primaries ahead of the November Governorship election in Kogi State. Does this surprise you? If yes, Why? Oh, you thought executive power(s) is a child’s play? You also took the powers and the influence of an incumbent Governor like Yahaya Bello for granted? If you ever did, then you were wrong!
We are aware that people like Professor Seidu Oga and the former Chief of Naval Staff (Jibrin) are among the major contenders for the APC ticket. But, the truth is that with the adoption of indirect primaries by the APC, even the least of the Prophets and the unluckiest in Bet9ja betting, can simply predict that Bello would be the APC flagbearer in the forthcoming election in Kogi State.
This fact might not be pleasant to many ears in view of the hardships experienced so far by the people of Kogi State, but then, this is just the reality of the moment. Don’t forget that in a twinkling of an eye, Governor Bello orchestrated and midwived the resolution of the divisions between Hadi Ametuo-led faction of the APC and the faction being led by Bello’s anointed State Excos of the APC. Who would have thought that Hadi Ametuo who before now, proved himself to be a fearless man that cannot be prevailed upon by any political bigwig in the name of a Governor, could turn around in less than no time to announce to the whole world that APC is now under the single authority and leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello and his preferred State Excos? Hadi Ametuo even went as far as calling on every other aggrieved member of the Party like him to return, support and dine with Bello and his State Party Excos on the same table! This is politics, and in politics anything can happen at any time, any day! Hence, the hitherto Ametuo-led factional APC which many people especially Bello’s critics and detractors hoped would give Bello tough time in navigating his way through to clinch the APC ticket, has now become the preacher and promoter of Kogi APC “unity sermons” in favour of Governor Bello’s re-election bid. Honestly, I tell you most solemnly, this is also against the run of play!
Again, many Kogi people having experienced leadership mishaps under the current administration, must have decided to find succour or to pitch their tents in the leadership of their traditional rulers. As a matter of fact, the traditional rulers are also victims of this draconian regime as most of them have not been paid salaries for several months now. Ordinarily, when political leaders fail the people, the people should find solace in their Kings or traditional rulers who are believed to be divinely installed for the common good of the people. This is not the case here. Governor Yahaya Bello few weeks ago, led the traditional rulers to the President, or what am I even saying self? The traditional rulers led Governor Yahaya Bello to the Aso Rock Villa not only to “introduce and reintroduce” him to the President, but also to ask the President to support his ambition for re-election as Governor of Kogi State! Isn’t that a signal that Bello is winning?
Before now, it was the mind of the people of Kogi State that since Bello did not exempt even the traditional rulers from the sufferings associated with his administration, it would be difficult for him to have the royal blessings and supports of these traditional rulers at the time in which he would seek reelection as Governor. The people were all wrong! The said traditional rulers are now the marketers of Governor Yahaya Bello’s reelection product. It is against the run of play!
Fast forward to Governor Yahaya Bello’s recent visit to Anyigba for the commissioning of “Igala Unity House” on the 6th of July, 2019. The population of Igala supporters that waited to catch a glimpse of Bello was very amazing. In fact, the streets of Anyigba leading to the venue of the occasion was covered by the people of Kogi East who were anxiously waiting to catch at least one of Nigeria Currencies which Bello and his entourage were casting in the air. A video clip of mature adults, old men and women pushing themselves and falling down on the ground in their shameful struggles to catch “Kogi Money” being wasted on the road by Bello, was very intriguing, though disgusting. Anyigba and its environs stood still in honour of Bello and his convoys. Here is a man who owe several months of salary arrears which has led to the untimely deaths of many workers in Kogi State, yet, this same man still commands such number of admirers and supporters from the Igala tribe in which other tribes hope would rescue power from him! This is just an attestation to the reality that is before us: Governor Bello’s return to power for a second term!
After the episode of the infamous drama of a Governor falling off from his moving vehicle while spraying money within Lokoja Metropolis, one would have thought that Bello must have learnt his lessons to respect the people of Kogi State and also to respect the dignity of Nigerian Currency by not throwing hard currencies on the people and in the air. It is only in Nigeria that Currency Notes are not respected at all even by public officials.
In any case, despite the general opinions that Governor Yahaya Bello has not performed well in his first tenure, the truth is that he is most likely to win the Governorship election come November 16, 2019.
As it stands now, there is no strong opposition in Kogi State. One would have expected that members of the opposition party (the PDP) which lost power in Kogi State in 2016, would have learnt their lessons by now and put heads together to bring a strong and unblemished aspirant that would give Bello a good fight for his money in the forthcoming election. This is not what is happening now.
Former Governor Idris Ichala Wada has just declared his intention formally to contest in the election. In his notice of invitation to the event of his declaration of intent to contest, Wada, who requested for the presence of his former political appointees and commissioners, tactically omitted former Local Government Chairmen under his administration. Your guess on the reason for such omission is as good as mine, but the truth is that former Governor Ibrahim Idris will not be surprised at that omission!
Former Governor Alhaji Ibrahim Idris’ Son is also a front line aspirant under PDP for the Governorship position. Former late Audu’s sons are contending among themselves on who becomes the Family’s preferred candidate first before being marketed to the public under their various party platforms. Many others abound.
Would Ibro support Wada’s ambition for a second term should his Son lose in PDP Primaries? How about the 21 former Local Government Chairmen who had fierce legal battle with Wada in Court? Would they forget in a hurry their sad experiences with Wada and support him to win the election? Would Wada support Ibro’s Son if he (Wada) loses in the PDP Primaries? All these are unlikely! And, there stands defeat starring at Igala aspirants in the forthcoming election. It is altruism that a house divided against itself cannot stand! Are these what we really want for our own good as a State? Well, there is a saying that between two evils, choose the lesser one! But, will Kogites even be allowed to make a choice in the forthcoming election? Only time shall tell!
Historically, the people of Kogi State are reputedly known for their ability and habits of voting out their incumbent Governors. Thus, apart from former Governor Ibrahim Idiris, no other Governor since the creation of the State was able to achieve their reelection bids. But, that Governor Yahaya Bello is about to achieve the same feat like Ibro in spite of all odds, is indeed, against the run of play!
– Solomon Akobe, an Abuja-based Social Commentator/Poet
