Spread the love
Dear James Abiodun Faleke,
I do not know you personally, but I admire your political bravery, however misguided, in arrogating yourself to the status of a statesman during your last ‘heroic’ visit to Ekinrin-Adde. James Freeman Clarke envisaged this trend when he said that “a statesman thinks of the next generation while a politician, the next election”. Sir, you presently epitomize the latter.
The problem I have with your 29th, October visit, however, arises from three issues:
(i) your disparaging of the APC hierarchy, despite the fact that you are currently representing a Constituency you don’t originate from, courtesy of this same party leadership.
(ii) your attempt to misrepresent the ‘new direction’ program of the Gov Yahaya Bello led administration and substitute our experience as Kogites with your personal opinions
(iii) the conspicuous absence of Mr Mohammed Audu at the venue of the jamboree.
Therefore it is imperative that we, who promulgated the ‘power must shift’ crusade or who are currently experiencing life under Alhaji Yahaya Bello speak out urgently against your misplaced epistles, lest some future historians stumble across them, and confuse your self-aggrandized opinions for the perception of Kogites in general.
Let us immediately engage on facts:
Until now, you don’t have a single stake in Kogi, either as an indigene or as an APC member. Perhaps you need to learn from the ilks of Engr. George Olumoroti who being among the few stakeholders from the Okun extraction that incubated the party in Kogi State with their personal resources and yet have benefited nothing in return but still, are not as aggrieved as you are. Perhaps you need to be reminded that you were imposed on the good people of Okun and Kogi in general as the running mate of Late Abubakar Audu during the build up to the inconclusive gubernatorial poll, an alliance that was anti – power shift.
Now, for my personal interpretations:
The ownership of votes by party was not called to question when the complacent people of Ikeja Constituency looked on while a non indigene got the party mandate to represent them in the national assembly but now it’s being heavily criticized by you because the same party has denied you the golden opportunity of crossing from the green chambers to Lugard house..Sir, you must be fair enough to those of us that have spent our lives in Kogi politics but yet have never had the privilege of serving even as Ward Counselors by accepting the Supreme Court verdict, by accepting the will of God and by declaring support for the APC led Kogi government instead of trying to discredit their efforts.
I was one of the early day preachers of ‘Power must shift from Kogi East’ gospel but was later convinced to believe in the Audu-Faleke ticket. I’ll explain myself. Some of us that fronted the ‘power must shift’ campaign believed that indigenes from both Kogi Central and West have over time been subjected to perpetual slavery by our brothers from the East, with whom we share the same patrimony. We sought to express our discontent in the governorship poll by jointly supporting any aspirant from either West or Central. Since the ruling PDP couldn’t oblige our request by not giving an Igala man the party ticket, we resulted to consult the only formidable alternative political platform which was APC where the late political giant had already concluded all permutations to clinch the party ticket. But unlike the PDP, the APC power bloc was open to power shift discussion with a promise to support it in 2019 with you (Mr Faleke) as the anticipated driver. This promise was what informed my strong belief and support for the Audu-Faleke ticket. My loyalty to this ticket was unalloyed until the Supreme Court gave her landmark judgement. As a growing unionist that had learnt to uphold the spirit of sportsmanship in every political race and always allow public interest preponderate over personal interest, I was quick to lick my wounds and declare full support for the government of the day, a virtue I would want you to imitate.
Away from the endless list of accusations earlier mentioned, you have recently alleged the GYB led government of awarding a particular road contract twice, the government has replied by daring you to approach the EFCC with your facts. Certainly, we cannot continue like this and you know it.
While the GYB led administration has decided to slightly deviate from old tradition by appointing youthful and competent hands to jointly stir the ship of the state from the low depth where it was parked, there’s a moral burden on you to support the Governor with ideas based on your experience. Your actions and inactions now will go a long way to define your level of patriotism (or otherwise) to Kogi State.
Mr Mohammed Audu has decided to pull out from your camp as a backdrop of the final Court judgement to pursue his 2019 ambition, reason why he didn’t show up for the Ekinrin-Adde welcome party. Well, some of us saw it coming. it’s only incumbent on you now to join hands with GYB to build a stronger APC instead of towing the same lane with Mr Mohammed to further tear the party to shred for personal gains.
Prince Abubakar Audu of blessed memories left APC as his only legacy for Kogites, hence you can only display the infinitesimality of your loyalty to him by working with the current APC led government to ensure that they deliver on his blueprint manifesto for Kogi State. Gov. Yahaya Bello has reiterated his readiness to work with all.
The next electioneering is still a distant time, only God knows who will be privileged to see 2019. But how about what the future generation will remember you for; a daring politician or an elder statesman?
Your Okun brother,
Omotugba Tolu,
Lokoja.
Spread the love
