By Yusuf, M.A PhD.,
Executive Summary
Stability in diverse societies is sustained when leadership reflects fairness and shared belonging. This brief examines the structural exclusion of Kogi West from the governorship since 1999 and argues that political balance is a prerequisite for unity. Drawing from public statements by Distinguished Senator Steve Karimi, it emphasizes that unity must be rooted in truth rather than division, and that cooperation with Kogi East is both possible and already developing. A just rotation of leadership in 2027 is therefore not a request for privilege, but a necessary adjustment to preserve the legitimacy, peace, and cohesion of Kogi State.
In every multi-ethnic society, stability is sustained not by power alone, but by fairness. A people remain connected to their state when they can recognize themselves in its leadership and its future. Where inclusion is absent, trust weakens. Where trust weakens, the idea of shared citizenship begins to erode. The question before Kogi State, therefore, is not who desires power most, but what arrangement preserves justice, dignity, and peace.
Since the return to civilian rule in 1999, the rotation of leadership in Kogi State has followed a pattern clear enough to be beyond dispute. Kogi East has held the governorship for sixteen years. Kogi Central has held it for twelve. Kogi West has not held it once. This is not a grievance. It is a structural imbalance with implications for equity, stability, and the emotional legitimacy of the state. No federation can call itself stable when one region is permanently excluded from leadership. The dignity of every citizen is tied to the assurance that the state belongs to all of them—not to some of them.
It is within this sober context that Distinguished Senator Steve Karimi’s words gain their depth. Speaking without theatrics, he observed: “We need unity, but unity must be built on truth, not on those who divide us in order to rule over us.” This is not rhetoric. It is diagnosis. Division has historically been used as an instrument to weaken Kogi West’s collective bargaining power. A community fragmented internally cannot negotiate fairness externally.
Karimi’s intervention is significant because it shifts the conversation from agitation to responsibility. “We all want power,” he said, “and as your representative in Kogi West, I will continue to agitate for you. I will not deceive you. I am a Christian in truth, not just by title.” This is not a religious posture. It is an ethical one. Leadership pursued without moral discipline corrupts both the leader and the people. Leadership pursued with integrity strengthens the entire community.
Yet his most consequential statement concerns Kogi East: “We are reaching out to our people in the East, and they are ready to work with us. The ball is in our court.” This reframes the entire debate. Kogi East is not resisting fairness. Kogi West has simply not spoken with one voice. The challenge, therefore, is not confrontation but internal coherence.
The future does not belong to the region that shouts the loudest, but to the region that is unified, disciplined, principled, and prepared. Political balance cannot be demanded; it must be earned through clarity of purpose and sincerity of conduct.
The call before Kogi West, then, is not to struggle against others, but to organize itself. A just rotation of leadership in 2027 is not an appeal for sympathy; it is the necessary correction to preserve the integrity of the state. If Kogi is to remain a shared inheritance and not a divided house, then its leadership must circulate. The region that stands with truth, speaks with one voice, and negotiates with clean hands will shape the future.
That is the path Distinguished Senator Steve Karimi has outlined — and it is the path that secures both justice and peace.
A just and peaceful state is built not through competition of strength, but through an agreement of fairness. The responsibility before Kogi West is to speak with one voice, approach dialogue with maturity, and ensure that the pursuit of political balance is guided by sincerity rather than agitation. The stability and emotional legitimacy of the state depend on the assurance that no community is permanently excluded from leadership. The future of Kogi will be shaped not by those who shout the loudest, but by those who stand firmest in truth, dignity, and collective responsibility.
Reference Framework
- Rotational Justice Theory — stability is sustained when leadership circulates among constituent regions.
- State Legitimacy & Inclusion Principle — trust is strengthened when all groups see themselves in governance.
- Social Cohesion Doctrine — unity grows where fairness is perceived.
- Public Statements of Distinguished Senator Steve Karimi, 2025.
