Group Urge APC NWC to Adopt Direct Primaries for Kogi Governorship

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  • Seeks rotation power to Kogi West for equity, justice and fair play.

A political movement, Coalition of Kogi State Patriots, has called on the national leadership of All Progressives Congress (APC) to adopt the direct mode for the conduct of the party’s governorship primary elections, in line with the popular demand in the state.

The group is also seeking power rotation to Kogi West senatorial district, saying that it is the only way the other two zones, East and Central, could be said to be fair to their brothers from west.

In a speech by the Director General of the Coalition, Dr. Tom Ohikere, titled ‘the Imperative of Power Rotation in Kogi State’, the party chieftain noted that direct primary mode will enable transparency and inclusion of all members of the party.

He noted that the party can not have the direct mode for Bayelsa and Imo states primary elections and be taking a contrary decision on Kogi state, saying that there must be uniformity and transparency by the party headquarters.

On the quest for power to rotate to the western part of the state, the group encouraged the Kogi West elders and other well-meaning stakeholders to ensure that the best aspirant is projected from the zone.

He stressed that Kogi West should, as a matter of urgency, establish a holistic approach towards sensitizing and orientating the people to attract all the needed support for power rotation this time.

“In the days ahead, our coalition will be in contact with all the contestants and party leaders and will finally host an unveiling ceremony to publicly present the wish of the zone.

“We wish to specifically, in the spirit of what is morally expedient, call on their Excellencies, the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu; Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the National Chairman of our dear party, the APC; Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State and a host of other God-fearing leaders and elders of APC all over Nigeria being champions of power rotation to assist this quest and also persuade the party to urge the very patriotic APC members from Kogi East and Central senatorial districts who had picked the Governorship nomination form to align with this quest.

“As Kogi is a stand-alone governorship election, it is in the eye of the world that wants to know if we are worthy of the perception and expectation as a great and friendly state of abundance and benevolence.

“We appeal to our amiable and youthful Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello to approach the quest for power rotation to Kogi West in the forthcoming election from the new generation’s point of view of extraordinary possibilities of the Kogi spirit, hospitality, and brotherliness.

“The world today is governed by the principle of fairness which is the bedrock of rule of law to enhance peace, stability, and economic development. His excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello should carve his name in history by allowing power to rotate to Kogi West this time.

“As a member of the APC family, Kogi West has proven itself a noble comrade, not only by delivering a senator-elect but also by maintaining the seat in the APC. This is further boosted by their recent commitment to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the presidential election where the district put up a very commendable performance by pulling 78,796 votes, while Kogi Central had 55,858 and Kogi East with 107,358.

“Ours is a journey that gives credence to the renewed hope that would soon sweep the length and breadth of our dear Nation and Kogi state inclusive, where equity, justice, and fairness engender inclusiveness and bring about a conclusive end and a system averse to suspicion, disharmony, mutual distrust, and strife.

“Our resolve and commitment to push through this system that would embrace all are total. We are hopeful to sail through without bitterness to those who do not believe in power rotation across the three districts. Politics is a dynamic process and we shall continue to engage our stakeholders.”

Full text;

THE IMPERATIVE OF POWER ROTATION IN KOGI STATE: BEING THE SPEECH DELIVERED BY THE DIRECTOR GENERAL OF COALITION OF KOGI STATE PATRIOTS, DR. TOM OHIKERE
TUESDAY 28TH MARCH, 2023

Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen of the press, It is with great pleasure and a deep sense of responsibility that we have decided to call for this inaugural press conference today as concerned stakeholders in the Kogi Project. Welcome and thank you for being here. Today is a very important date in the building of democracy in Kogi state as one of the most critical issues needed for the stability and political survival of the state is being addressed here as we approach the 2023 governorship election, and that is the quest for power rotation to kogi west.

We the Coalition of Kogi State Patriots as you know is a group of accomplished and veteran politicians and Professionals committed to the agenda of a modern, equitable and progressive Kogi state. This esteemed body which has for long being an influential voice in the governance equation of the state has once again found it imperative to oversee the peaceful and progressive change and transfer of power, particularly as one constitutional term limit gradually rolls to an end.

The political direction of Nigerian politics in recent times have focused on the principle of power zoning and rotation in a bid to balance development and inculcate greater feelings of inclusiveness and equity in the body politics which is quickly becoming the trend. Many states in the country have stroved and are striving in that direction and the peculiar tripod or tripartite nature of ethnic composition in Kogi state, divided into three equal senatorial disticts, makes it an inevitable necessary experiment. And now seems like the divine timing, particulary given the circumstances of the past eight years, whether at the national or state levels, and new realities are emerging. Kogi state has a chance to be a shining example, especially rising from a general election that has witnessed the triumph of principles as the south negotiated and fought for powers after eight years in the north. All our neighboring States have taken this path and are reaping the benefits including states like Kwara, Osun, Delta, Edo, Enugu, Kwara, Nassarawa, Ekiti, Niger, and Anambra state, among others. Kogi state cannot be different. While the state in general is gifted with brilliant and excellent potential at this juncture in our political history Kogi West has the caliber and personalities that have been tested and proven, in both political dexterity and administrative competence. It will be selfish stupidity to forget the excellent roles that the people and representatives of this district have played in important national and even state assignments, with their passion and brilliance, the likes of Pa Sunday Awoniyi, who at one time was the chairman of the Arewa Consultative Forum (ACF), the likes Of late Silas Bamidele Daniyan, Dr. Stephen Olorunfemi, Maj Gen. David Jemibewon, Gen.AB Mamman, Prof. Eyitayo Lambo, Chief Bayo Ojo, Senator Smart Adeyemi, Hon. James Faleke, and a host of other eminent leaders.

Within the parlance of the 2023 general election contest, one can safely say Kogi Lokan, properly interpreted in this circumstance of power negotiation in the kogi Guber 2023 race means it is the turn of Kogi State to replicate the now nationally embraced power rotation mantra with which our President-elect Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu was overwhelmingly elected towards engendering power equilibrium and power rotation on a nationwide basis.

The quest for power rotation amongst the three senatorial districts in kogi state is as old as the formation of the state as a national sub-unit. Kogi State was created in 1991 and has 3 Senatorial Districts, the Eastern Senatorial District has governed Kogi State at different times for 20 years uninterrupted, which includes; Abubakar Audu (NRC) 1992-1993, Abubakar Audu (APP) 1999-2003, Ibrahim Idris 2003-2012. (PDP), Idris Wada (PDP) 2012-2016 amid fierce call and politicking for powershift until the unforgettable event of the 2015 election day, abrupt as it led for the first time to a new power structure, when a political actor, least expected, a man from the Central Senatorial District mounted the helm and now seems like the best of time for the power shift progressive movement to carry their cause and agitations.
The relative mutual respect, socioeconomic equilibrium, and socio-cultural stability the power shift injected into our idiosyncrasies within the last seven years made it crystal clear to every discerning Kogi citizen that complete and continuous rotation of political power at every level in the governance of the state is possible and even necessary. That the third and only remaining senatorial district should have the necessary fair share of that most esteemed office.

We wish to specify in the spirit of what is morally expedient call on their Excellencies, the President-elect of the Federal Republic of Nigeria Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu, Senator Abdullahi Adamu, the National Chairman of our dear party, the APC, Governor Nasir El-Rufai, Governor of Kaduna State, Governor Simon Bako Lalong of Plateau State and a host of other God-fearing leaders and elders of APC all over Nigeria being champions of power rotation to assist this quest and also persuade the party to urge the very patriotic APC members from kogi East and Central senatorial districts who had picked the Governorship nomination form to align with this quest. As Kogi is a stand-alone governorship election, it is in the eye of the world that wants to know if we are worthy of the perception and expectation as a great and friendly state of abundance and benevolence.

We appeal to our amiable and youthful Governor Alhaji Yahaya Bello to approach the quest for power rotation to kogi west in the forthcoming election from the new generation’s point of view of extraordinary possibilities of the Kogi spirit, hospitality, and brotherliness.

The world today is governed by the principle of fairness which is the bedrock of rule of law to enhance peace, stability, and economic development. His excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello should carve his name in history by allowing power to rotate to Kogi west this time.

As a member of the APC family, Kogi West has proven itself a noble comrade, not only by delivering a senator-elect but also by maintaining the seat in the APC. This is further boosted by their recent commitment to Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the presidential election where the district put up a very commendable performance by pulling 78,796 votes, while kogi central had 55,858 and Kogi east with 107,358.

Ours is a journey that gives credence to the renewed hope that would soon sweep the length and breadth of our dear Nation and Kogi state inclusive, where equity, justice, and fairness engender inclusiveness and bring about a conclusive end and a system averse to suspicion, disharmony, mutual distrust, and strife.

Our resolve and commitment to push through this system that would embrace all are total. We are hopeful to sail through without bitterness to those who do not believe in power rotation across the three districts. Politics is a dynamic process and we shall continue to engage our stakeholders, constituencies, and the leadership of the party both nationally and on a state-wide basis.

We will hope, strive and pray that the labor of our heroes passed across the three Senatorial Districts does not go in vain.

In pursuance of the above, we hereby make the following demands ;

1, We call the All Progressives Congress headquarters to use the Direct mode for the conduct of the APC primary elections, in line with the popular demand in the state. This mode will enable transparency and inclusion of the members of the party.

2, The party can not have the above mode for Bayelsa and Imo states primary elections and be taking a contrary decision on Kogi state. There must be uniformity and transparency by the party headquarters.

3, We also encourage the Kogi west elders and another well-meaning stakeholders to ensure that the best aspirant is projected from the zone.

4, That kogi west, should, as a matter of urgency establish a holistic approach toward sensitization and orientation of the people to attract all the needed support for power rotation this time .

In the days ahead, our coalition will be in contact with all the contestants and party leaders and will finally host an unveiling ceremony to publicly present the wish of the zone.

Thank you all and God bless.


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