Your Excellency sir, let me quickly refresh your memory on the political journey and struggle to which you are a direct beneficiary. Soon after the creation of Kogi State in 1991 by the Ibrahim Babangida military administration, the struggle for relevance became a major characteristic of the peculiar and interesting politics of the state. The marriage between the major ethnic groups that formed the state i.e the Igala, Ebira, Okun, Bassa and Nupe has been the socioeconomic and political identity of the confluence state.
The Igalas who dominates Kogi East came from the old Benue State while the Ebiras and Okuns were carved out of the old Kwara State. It is on record that unlike the Ebiras and Okuns, who were relevant in the politics and bureaucracy of their former state, the Igalas were crammed in between the battles of supremacy that featured between the Tiv and the Idoma of the old Benue State. Thus, the Igalas came into Kogi fully armed with the knowledge and awareness of the political and practical meaning of exclusion, oppression and marginalization. The comfort and political convenience enjoyed by the Okuns and Ebiras in the old Kwara explains the reason why the duo were ill-prepared for the battle of wits, supremacy and political gimmicks which soon set in among the three major ethnic groups
The agitation for power rotation or power shift majorly began in 2003, championed by some politicians from the central and west districts when it became crystal clear that the East had an agenda to retain the governorship of the state for as long as they could. All attempts by political leaders of the central and west to break the Igala oligarchy were frustrated at the primary election level with the political machinery and structural superiority of Kogi East who pundits say were already implementing a political agenda of rotating the governorship among its Igala speaking local government areas having been able to devise a means of retaining power, the potent of which is the divide and rule strategy.
Prominent politicians like the late AT Ahmed, Amb. Usman Bello, Dr. John Lawal, Dr Faruk Abdulazeez, Senator Moh’d Ohiare, Chief Momoh Obaro just to mention a few were at the forefront of the struggle and agitation for power shift, alongside politicians from Kogi West like; Arch. Steven Olorunfemi, Prince Olusola Akanmode, Senator Tunde Ogbeha and a host of others. Not only did the politicians from Ebiraland sacrificed their comfort and hard earned money in championing the course of power shift, they already had a set out and carefully thought motive and agenda they hoped to achieve as soon as power shift became a reality, the ebira agenda.
Revamping the moribund Ajaokuta steel company and Itakpe iron ore and mining project by mounting pressure on the federal government to summon the alacrity needed to make the gigantic steel company which has the capacity to employ more than two million Nigerians fully operational was top on the Ebira agenda. Bridging the huge infrastructural deficit in kogi central and commercializing our cultural festivals [ekwechi and echane] into a world class tourist attraction were also part of the objectives. Uniting the different clans and political interests in ebiraland and using education and sport as a tools to adequately engage and develop our brilliant and agile youth population were fully captured, as well as correcting the injustices and lopsidedness in the state civil service and location of state owned institutions.
Today, by what many has attributed to be an act of God or a divine verdict, power hasn’t only shifted away from Igalaland but we currently have an Ebira son at the helm of affairs of the state. Regardless of what you may feel or think, you owe your ascension into the governorship seat of Kogi state to God almighty and to the political champions of power shift agitation. The overwhelming support you had during the campaigns and immediately after the unfortunate death of Prince Abubakar Audu was a result of the exploits and sacrifices Ebira political leaders have made in the past.Your Excellency, its been a year and a half into your administration yet it doesn’t seem like the dream of those who gave their all and even paid the ultimate sacrifice would be achieved any soon. You should be properly guided and adequately advised that failure to implement the objectives of Ebira agenda will be tantamount to your administration being a colossal waste and total failure Ebiraland.
The youthful exuberance and lack of decorum that you have displayed in several forums has been a source of worry and concern to well meaning Ebira sons and daughters both at home and in the diaspora. Your vehement refusal to heed the call of good spirited Anebira to call a truce and reconcile with notable political figures and leaders of Kogi central is against the tenets and objectives of Ebira agenda. Your recent outburst in a meeting organized by Ebira People’s Association in lokoja was arrogant, unguided, irresponsible and unfortunate. Bragging not to appease or reconcile with anybody in front of the paramount ruler of Ebiraland, His Royal majesty, Alh. Ado Ibrahim was to say the least rude and the height of indiscipline and recklessness.
It’s true that power corrupts and intoxicates. The public opinion is that you are a mistake that shouldn’t have been allowed to happen in the first place, and you keep proving your critics right by the day. Sadly, your undoings and mistakes will be used as the yardstick to judge every Ebira son or daughter who aspires to the office of Governor of the state in future. Your display of arrogance, indiscipline, recklessness and lack of regard for elders will ruin the future chances of Anebira gubernatorial aspiration if you fail to reflect and retrace your steps. Your Excellency sir, it is never too late to make amends. You still have the chance to make things right by taking wise counsel. Long live Your Excellency, long live Kogi state and long live the federal republic of Nigeria.
– Hussain Obaro writes from Lokoja, Kogi state
