For decades, politics in Kogi State has been shaped by alliances, rivalries, and ethnic interests. Every major ethnic group has, at one point or another, made difficult political decisions aimed at protecting and advancing its collective interests. The Ebira people must also begin to view politics through the lens of long-term strategy rather than short-term emotions.
History reminds us that political disagreements have sometimes come at a heavy price. During the ITU/IPU era, lives and properties were affected, with houses burnt in the heat of political conflict. Similar tensions resurfaced during the NPC, NPN/UPN periods, and later in the ACN/PDP era, with further pockets of political unrest witnessed during subsequent APC/PDP contests, including senatorial elections. These experiences should teach us the importance of unity, not deepen our divisions.
Today, we see the people of Okun proudly paying political homage to one of their own, Hon. James Faleke, and many of us see nothing unusual about it. They understand the political influence he commands within the administration of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and have strategically identified him as a strong pillar capable of advancing their collective interests.
What many of us have forgotten is that our own leaders have, on several occasions, also paid political homage to Hon. James Faleke. They did so because they recognised his political relevance and influence. If that was considered a wise political decision, then we should also ask ourselves an important question: Why did our leaders, or even the Igala political establishment, not accord the same level of political homage to the son of the late Prince Abubakar Audu, who now serves as a Federal Minister? These are legitimate questions that deserve thoughtful reflection as we assess political strategy in Kogi State.
Many of us also remember how the late Senator Ahmed was regarded by numerous Ebira people as a respected leader capable of advancing the interests of the district. Whether one agreed with him politically or not, that period demonstrated the desire of our people to rally around strong leadership when necessary.
In one of my previous articles, I expressed my personal opinion that Ebiras should not rely solely on the expectation that any President, regardless of ethnic background, will automatically prioritise our political interests. Political relevance is earned through unity, strategic engagement, effective negotiation, and the ability of our leaders to work together for the common good.
From my perspective, the emergence of an Ebira governor became possible through the grace of Almighty Allah, the political circumstances of the time, and the support available under the administration of the late President Muhammadu Buhari. I believe those factors created an opportunity that may not have unfolded in the same way under different political circumstances. This remains my personal political assessment.
Unfortunately, one of the greatest challenges confronting Ebira politics today is internal division. We often spend more energy fighting one another than building consensus. Politics should not become a battlefield where personal interests consistently outweigh the collective aspirations of the people.
As we look beyond 2027, there is an urgent need for an Ebira Political Summit. Such a gathering should bring together respected political leaders, elders, youth representatives, women, professionals, traditional institutions, and stakeholders from all political parties. The objective should not be to erase political differences but to establish common ground on issues affecting the future of Ebiraland.
If we truly desire to consolidate political influence beyond 2027, we must deliberately strengthen unity, solidarity, and cohesion among ourselves. Let us strive to build at least 76% political unity among Ebiras. A divided house can never maximise its political potential.
There are valuable lessons to learn from other regions of Kogi State. Political cooperation, negotiation, and consensus-building have often enabled communities to remain influential over time. Rather than allowing every election to deepen our divisions, we should begin to build institutions and relationships that outlive individual ambitions.
The future of Ebiraland depends not only on who occupies political offices but also on how united we are in pursuing shared goals. Unity does not mean uniformity; it means recognising that our common interest is greater than our individual differences.
There is still time to change the narrative. There is still time to call for unity. The future of Ebiraland depends on the decisions we make today.
– Comrade Abduljelil Adabara El-Okene, an Administrator, Political Analyst and Peace Ambassador, writes from Okene, Kogi State.
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