An open letter to the state chairman of PDP in Kogi State Hon. Hassan Salawu By Aminu Musa
I feel I should bring to your listening ear as the chairman of the Kogi State chapter of the People Democratic Party (PDP), of one of the worst democratic scenario to be witnessed under your watch in Idah Local Government.
As you may be aware, Idah has been one of the core areas of the party operations since 1998. The likes of Dr Amadu Alli, Late Dr Steven Achema, and Late P. S. Achimugu etc all hailed from there.
The Local Government has three districts namely: Idah Native Town, Idah Waterside (popularly known as Ega) and Edeke District.
The positions of the Council Chairman, House of Assembly and Vice Chairman to the Council are usually zoned along these District lines. Although, right from the time of Adam and Eve, both the Idah Native Town and Ega have been exchanging the Chairmanship and House of Assembly, to the detriments of Edeke. This has been centred on the basis of ill-fated ratio 2: 2:4, never a time Edeke had been left at least without the Vice Chairmanship in any political dispensation.
It is on record that the nomination of the Vice has always been carried out by the PDP community in the Wards or District where it has been zoned to in the first place. At least, proper consultation must be made because it is a grassroots affair.That was how the likes of Late Hon Achor Yakubu, Hon. Moses Acholo, and Late Hon. James Atanuku etc emerged at their respective times.
Before the present dispensation commenced, there was a zoning of these major elective offices by the Idah Local Government PDP-House of Assembly for Idah Native Town and that was why Hon. Musa Idoko Haruna was elected. Council Chairmanship was zoned to Ega, and that is why Hon Major Abutalib Musa has just emerged the PDP flag bearer.
Vice Chairmanship was zoned to Edeke District. Now the entire Edeke PDP of Idah Local Government of Kogi State have unanimously nominated Mrs Hafsat Hussein Audu for consideration for the PDP Vice Chairmanship candidate the forthcoming Local Government polls, being the first time a woman is being considered for any political office (both elective and appointive)from that District. Her popular nomination was based on her sound morality and the need to justify women participation and contribution to the political fortunes of the party since inception. The situation on ground is suggestive of the fact that some ‘political figures’ at the top who feel that political office is their birth rights are already bent on frustrating the PDP Edeke community mandate. They are capitalising on the perceived rural-ness and vulnerability of the area to deny them of their voice. The question is if others before her went through the popular mandate of the community, why will her own be different?
The news going round is that what the grassroots decided must not be reckon with even though it has been the procedure. I pray your good office to intervene in the matter through proper and independent investigation so the mandate of the people can restore. The decision to make my mind known through this medium was predicated on your humane and justice philosophy. This is the only way the name of the party can be justified.
Mr Aminu Musa, an indigene of Ugwoda Ward in Edeke District, Idah Local Government, Kogi State writes from Liverpool in the United Kingdom
