By Musa Bakare
Silence becomes complicity when deliberate misrepresentation is not confronted, and when those who arrogate to themselves political identities and institutional recognition they do not possess are not called to order.
The controversy surrounding the purported existence and activities of an organisation parading itself as the Faleke Youth Vanguard in Kogi State demands a decisive response.
Let the message be unequivocal, unmistakable and without ambiguity: there is no recognised political organisation known as the Faleke Youth Vanguard within the established political structure, historical trajectory and recognised political family of Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke in Kogi State.
It is therefore necessary to draw a clear distinction between genuine political followers, legitimate supporters and personal political associates on the one hand, and individuals who, out of personal ambition, have elected to manufacture political identities and trade on the established reputation of a respected political leader on the other.
The political family of Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke in Kogi State and in other parts of the country is not an accidental political association.
In Kogi State in particular, it is a political heritage with a history, established relationships, identifiable leadership, enduring loyalty and a recognisable structure. Its roots are traceable to the political struggles and legacy of the late former Governor of Kogi State, Prince Abubakar Audu, whose political movement produced generations of loyalists, political associates and committed followers.
Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, a distinguished political figure and representative of Ikeja Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, occupies a leadership position in that political heritage. His political identity, relationships and established networks are not commodities available for anybody to appropriate, manipulate or commercialise for personal political advancement.
In the run-up to the Kogi State gubernatorial election of 2019, when Hon. Faleke was to endorse former Governor Yahaya Bello for a second term, the entire Faleke political family was invited to a series of meetings, personally sponsored by Hon. Faleke himself in Abuja, which culminated in the massively attended meeting for endorsement at the Glass House, Lugard House Lokoja, Nothing was done through any pseudo political group.
No individual has the political authority to manufacture an organisation in his name, confer legitimacy upon it by self – appointment and subsequently present it to unsuspecting members of the public as an established institution of the Faleke political family.
The recent publicity attributed to one Kehinde Alamo Samuel, parading an organisation described variously as the Faleke Youth Vanguard or the Faleke Political Vanguard, raises serious questions about the authenticity of the claimed political identity, the source of its mandate and the legitimacy of its purported representation of the Faleke political family.
The purported claim that the organisation possesses a statewide structure covering 21 local government areas, 239 wards and a projected membership of 23,900 people is particularly suspect.
Such suspect numerical claims cannot, by themselves, establish political legitimacy, confer recognition or authenticate an organisational mandate.
Political legitimacy is not manufactured through press statements, inflated membership projections, courtesy visits, photographs or carefully choreographed political appearances. It derives from credible authorisation, established relationships, recognised leadership and verifiable institutional acceptance.
It is important to emphasise that Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke is a foundational member of the All Progressives Congress (APC) political family in Kogi State. He has invested heavily in the growth, development and sustainability of the party, not just in Kogi State but in Nigeria as a whole. He holds Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo in very high esteem and his membership of the party very dare to his geart .
Nobody is questioning the constitutional right of any Nigerian to establish a youth organisation, mobilise political supporters or express solidarity with any other political leader. Such freedoms are fundamental to democratic participation.
However, the freedom to organise does not translate into the freedom to appropriate another person’s political identity or to falsely suggest an endorsement, recognition or mandate that has not been established.
You may establish your own political organisation, but you cannot manufacture a political inheritance that does not belong to you. You may mobilise your followers, but you cannot turn personal ambition into an institutional mandate from the Faleke political family.
More importantly, the activities of any youth group must not be construed as automatic recognition by Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, nor should every individual, group or political structure claiming association with his name be so regarded.
A meeting with a public officeholder is not a substitute for authorisation from the political personality whose name is being deployed.
Kogi State has witnessed enough political intrigues, personality-driven propaganda and artificial political structures. The state must not become a theatre where political adventurers manufacture identities, distribute fictitious mandates and exploit the goodwill of established political leaders to create relevance for themselves.
The Faleke political family deserves respect. Its history must not be rewritten by political opportunists, and its leadership must not be subjected to the whims of individuals seeking instant recognition through manufactured platforms.
Kehinde Alamo Samuel should therefore be strongly advised to desist from any further conduct that could be interpreted as name-trading, unauthorised representation or the merchandising of the political reputation of Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke.
If he has a legitimate political platform, let him identify it by its proper name, establish its independent identity and allow it to operate without creating an impression of institutional endorsement that has not been demonstrated.
The political future of Kogi State cannot continue to be built on fabricated affiliations, questionable representations and the exploitation of unsuspecting citizens. It must be built on honesty, credibility, loyalty and respect for political heritage.
Let those who genuinely belong to the Faleke political family continue to demonstrate their loyalty through responsible political engagement. Let those who wish to support any political leader do so openly and independently. Nobody should hide behind the respected name of Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke to manufacture political relevance or advance an undisclosed personal agenda.
There is a difference between being a supporter of a political leader and being authorised to speak for that leader. There is a difference between political association and institutional recognition. Above all, there is a difference between genuine loyalty and opportunistic political adventurism.
The integrity of the Faleke political family must be protected, its leadership respected and its political identity preserved.
– Musa Asiru Bakare, foundation member of the Faleke political family, political analyst, writes from Lokoja, Kogi State.
