Of course the 2015 election has come and gone leaving behind it victory of the majority over the minority a true definition of democracy! The journey to the present senatorial victory started some years back when our people voted massively for Senator Smart Adeyemi, a buoyant and true son of Kogi west, who while in office tried all he could to represent his people.
While in office Smart Adeyemi doled out all he thought to be enough to woo his people as to bring him back for as long as he wishes, among his contributions or what our people term dividends of democracy this honourable gave in return to our people includes; provision of utility vehicles to some of our traditional rulers, commercial cabs for some drivers in the name of creating job opportunities for those in the driving sector, ambulances and other hospital equipment. Well, I in person like some others quite appreciate the efforts of this noble Senator and do hereby say thank you our honourable senator, but the majority of Kogi-west still say you have not tried enough.
Among of the many sins committed by the former senator is that while in office as senator representing Kogi-west, Smart Adeyemi established more than one viable venture in a neighbouring state employing tens if not hundreds of people, thereby promoting the neighbouring hosting state economically, socially and psychologically while his constituency remains as it was or otherwise before he was given their mandates in terms of job opportunities and infrastructural developments.
The issue of zoning is another factor in which it was agree that each senator shall remain in office for but not more than two-term. My people “power corrupt, so absolute power corrupt absolutely” so they say, as of a sudden our humble senator though smart as his name, became roaring lion and he from Smart became “Atari ajanaku” Elephant head! Yes it is better to be feared than to be respected, this I know but in the long run we always realize that as it works for some times the principle does not work for a long time most especially in a secular society like ours in Kogi-west as even before the emergency of the present ruling party APC when the PDP was in control, most Kogi Westerners have all been clamouring for a change. The emergence of APC was a great set-back for our former senator as while Atari Ajanaku was battling with his party internal rancour as to who is representing her as aspirant, the majority of kogi westerners had already made up their minds as not wanting him any longer for having taken them for fools for so long. Finally the various party primaries came and Atari Ajanaku won on the platform of his party PDP which led to defection of some of his aggrieved party members into other parties while the present senator Dino Melaye also won on the platform of APC.
Of course many people would had expected and therefore expected the election of Smart Adeyemi as a relief simply because of his vast experience being past president of National Union Of Journalism and his social background, here I would love to remind us of our people adage “oni eni eghuni” (he who does not possess, does not give). Smart Adeyemi gave all he has or understands but all still not enough as if it cannot, it will not. My people it is high time we all learn to think by making use of our brain and stop all form of beggary while all hypocrite who for the sake of what people say turn away from their ungodly giving in the form of charity. Woe unto you who give with the intent to receive back in return either in equivalent or whatsoever measure because you shall be disappointed. While our people should also be aware that they will always be disappointed in as long as they vote solely for a candidate who they think will better their lives. ‘Whosoever that thinks the government will ever do it for him is a failure- Donald Trump.
Give and it shall be given unto you’ sayeth the scripture. My people It is high time we close our mind from all these charity stuff or screen before we either receive or give because researches have shown that charity is nothing but a mere temporary solution and in most cases brings back heavier pains when the supposed fought problem fights back. If charity could solve most of the worldly problems, by now the world should have been freed from such evils for which charities or foundations are set up. The art of giving in the form of charity mostly encouraged by the various religious groups should always be moderate as some of these giving render the receivers lazy and sometimes unproductive. Give me not a fish but teach me how to catch a fish” this idea is so creative and can and therefore will render anybody with such idea productive, the sole idea behind human breakthrough. Giving a million naira each to every Nigerian will never stop or eradicate poverty from the surface of our country, because as I understand if such money is given to each citizen, surely in the next six months, the beggars will still find their route back to the Nigerian streets, while the whole money will find their ways back to the rightful owners.
It is good we learn from past mistakes either directly committed by us or by other person and this best defines a wise man. Yes the Kogi-Westerners had given their minds to Dino Melaye to represent them for the next four years as senator, it is now left for him to decides how he think he can best represent his people and see whether he will be beautifully welcomed back by his people after four years. To me, I suggest that Dino learns from the mistakes of his predecessor Smart Adeyemi by making it his duty to not only limiting his senatorial work to giving his best on the senatorial floor or throwing Greek gifts to the few traditional rulers or though viable projects but such that will not directly play favourable on the life of an average Kogi Westerner. I am not and will never support anyone to help fix someone into an office or work as every paid job absorbs the mind and degrade the soul according to Aristotle, rather I believe in equipping the mind dimensionally so that everyone will have his or her own job.
In this century, going creative is the only way and therefore to me it is easier winning minds through permanent registration of a mark on people’s mind than mere cream rubbing either the mind or body. The world is very different now. For man holds in his mortal hands the power to abolish all forms of human poverty and all forms of human life. And yet the same revolutionary beliefs for which our forebears fought are still at issue around the globe — the belief that the rights of man come not from the generosity of the state, but from the hand of God.
Kogi State like every other part of Nigeria possesses vibrant individuals who can and will always be productive if properly groomed. In this realm I advise that our various political office holders in Kogi west give back to the electorates their best most especially our youths who hopefully are our future leaders. While it was rumoured that our former Senator sometime in the year 2014 spent close to six hundred million naira in procuring hospital equipment and vehicles for the traditional rulers which to me I quite appreciate but still not enough as most of those expenditures, categorically the vehicles procurement to the traditional rulers are nothing but liabilities as they bring nothing but unprofitable Spending. To me sum of six hundred million naira will go in long way making more than three hundred Kogi west youths become gainfully self-employed for life and the breakdown or simple analysis as follows:
For any business or trade to thrive, the first thing is for such business to be feasible and this account mostly for why the banking, telecommunication, and petroleum sectors are ever growing while the power sector for now is nothing but the best approved robbery point which to me is an avenue to create a lawful fastest growing business. I will not as I cannot continue to keep mentioning the latent opportunities in Kogi West among which are mining ,( marble, iron ore, clay, lime-stones), Agriculture notably, Kogi west possess one of the best arable land for coffee production, palm-trees, cashew and other cash crops to mention but a few. As today, Nigerian is waving between 2,000-5,000 mega watts and Saudi Arabia with less population or land mass stands at 3,000 gigabytes mostly generated through solar energy. Today we are not celebrating party victory but victory of total liberation from self imposed individuals and this will ever remain a lesson to all of us here in Kogi west, and the world at large.
Positively—positively, if we cannot beat them why not join them. I suggest our Senators, Reps and others house of assembly members in Kogi west namely:
Hon. Tajudeen Yusuf,
Hon. Umar Buba Jibril,
Hon. Steve Karim Sunday,
Ade Omofaiye,
Hon. Mathew Kolawole Olushola,
Hon. Obaro Abayomi Sunday,
Hon. Oluwatoyin Lawal,
Hon. Zakari Mohammed,
Hon. Umar Ahmed Immam,
Hon. Omiata Jimoh
and others all form a kind of alliance through which certain numbers of selected youth are trained in how to generate power through either solar or wind energy. Sending them abroad may be more expensive, but we can as well invite expatriates here in Nigeria to train the selected youths who after training will be decently self-employed for life. The aim of such training is to equip nationals or indigene of Kogi west and not necessarily limiting where they centered or expend their gained knowledge to Kogi-west. All I believe is that training about an average of fifty citizens of Kogi West annually will definitely result into having about between 150 and 200 professional graduates in four years. Of course providing the needed training may not be enough, but provision of the minimum start-up capital will be an added incentives. For the best, such trainees will be made to undergo training in human development and resource management, a must for every aspiring individual. In togetherness we can always achieve a better world, and Kogi west will soar like her counterparts in the advanced world but on two conditions, if we think and cooperate. To those people in the huts and villages of more than half of Kogi west struggling to break the bonds of mass misery, we should try our best efforts to help them help themselves, for whatever period is required — not because the capitalists may be doing it, not because we seek their votes, but because it is right. If a free society cannot help the many who are poor, it cannot save the few who are rich.
God bless Kogi West!
God bless Kogi State!
God bless Nigeria!
Personal opinion of the writer.
– Ikupeleye Oladele, owner of Carpe Diem World is a Public Speaker/Business Plan, Proposal & Profile writer. He resides in Abuja and can be contacted at: carpediemworld4@gmail.com or oladeleikupeleye@gmail.com 09050276278 or 08038375693
