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A reaction to Yagba For Senate race.
The quest for Yagba for Senate, which is no more news in the political terrain of Kogi State and Kogi West in particular has necessitated this historical political literature for the innocent people who are being misinformed.
When Late Senator Olu was contesting from Egbe, Yagba West Local Government, Nobody in Bunu/Ijumu/Kabba (BIK) and Lokoja/Koto contested against him. All the delegates met and Senator Olu was affirmed based on zoning arrangement.
When Late Senator (Chief) Sunday Awoniyi from Mopamuro Local Government, Nobody in Bunu/Ijumu/Kabba (BIK) and Lokoja/Koto contested against him. He was also affirmed based on zoning arrangement.
Late Arch. Olorunfemi from Kabba stated that the main reason for the zoning is to avoid overspending by aspirants so as to prevent same for demanding for second term.
In 1999, Senator Tunde Ogbeha also emerged unopposed based on same zoning arrangement and he represented Kogi West till 2007.
In 2007, it was zoned to Ijumu Local Government after the emergence of two different Senators from Yagba Federal Constituency and one from Lokoja/Koto Federal Constituency. Senator Smart Adeyemi from Iyara, Ijumu Local Government was supposed to be affirmed then; but Yagba leaders truncated the effort, saying after wide consultation, zoning is unconstitutional.
Yagba political leaders; the likes of former Deputy Governors Yomi Awoniyi and S.O. Akande; F.G. Ibrahim, Sola Ojo, Mrs. Abanida and others said the time of zoning has passed and they all contested against Senator Smart Adeyemi, including T.J. Faniyi in 2007 and 2011 respectively.
The third term, 2015 when Senator Smart Adeyemi recontested again, Yagba people; Samuel Bamidele Aro, Toyin Akanle, T.J. Faniyi and others also contested against him.
If they had won all these while contesting against the zoning arrangement, what would they be clamouring for today? Ijumu for Senate? I’m afraid not.
During preparation for the 2007 general elections, Senator Smart Adeyemi won the primaries by 48.8%, then same Yagba people came and said he won below the PDP Constitutional requirement of 50%. There was a rerun primary which resulted to consumption of more resources and reproduced Senator Smart Adeyemi as substantial candidate of the Party.
It should be noted that the number of times that Ijumu has been Kogi West Senator, it has been fairly contested by Yagba aspirants as, against the zoning arrangement which produced some Yagba persons as Senators differently.
Senator David Mark of Benue State and Senator Ike Ekweremadu of Enugu State who has been serving since 1999 and 2003 respectively. This persons have their dichotomies and division yet the people prefers it as it pays to them better.
It should also be noted that no Yagba Political Leader(s) or Public Appointee(s) has done what Senator Smart Adeyemi has done for Yagba Federal Constituency – the records are there.
When all the Yagba aspirants were contesting before Ijumu turn, no candidate or aspirant from Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency; and earlier when Senator Obasaju from Kabba-Bunu contested, no aspirant from Ijumu and Yagba.
Senator Smart Adeyemi has been the only candidate being attacked on Kogi West Senatorial seat, reason not far fetched from his popularity and general acceptability.
I have seen Yagba persons clamouring for Yagba for Senate and coming back to declare support for Senator Smart Adeyemi, it is on this note that I declare that zoning has been killed by Yagba leaders as initially stretched out here and as such everyone as far as they are from Kogi West Senatorial District is free to contest and challenge one another.
– Ogbeni David Oni Sunday, a bonafide Kogi West Constituent.
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