By Musa Bakare
There comes a time in the history of a people when silence is no longer patience and waiting is no longer wisdom. For Kogi West, that time is now.
The message must remain loud, clear and unwavering:
Kogi West must produce the next Governor of Kogi State.
This is not a call for violence, hatred or political exclusion. It is a legitimate democratic demand for equity, inclusion, justice and fairness.
Kogi State was created in 1991. More than three decades later, Kogi West remains the only senatorial district that has never produced a Governor of the state.
Kogi East has had its opportunity. Kogi Central having its opportunity. When, therefore, will Kogi West have its own opportunity?
Are we seriously saying that Kogi West must continue to wait indefinitely while other senatorial districts enjoy sixteen years or more of governorship? At what point does political accommodation become fairness? At what point does rotation become meaningful?
That is the historical question that 2027 gubernatorial election must answer.
The Constitution does not automatically confer the governorship on any senatorial district. Ultimately, the Governor must be elected by the people.
But democracy is not merely about counting votes. It is also about fairness, inclusion, accommodation, mutual respect and equitable political participation.
Kogi West is not demanding power because it is superior to other parts of Kogi State. It is demanding a fair opportunity to present a competent, credible and capable candidate who can earn the confidence of all Kogites.
The aspiration must therefore rise above ethnic sentiment, sectionalism and personal ambition.
The candidate must possess the capacity to build bridges across Kogi East, Kogi Central and Kogi West and govern the entire state with equity, fairness and with the fear of God.
Keeping the agitation alive means keeping the conversation, advocacy, mobilisation and political education alive.
Let the issue be debated openly in political parties, communities, traditional institutions, professional organisations, youth groups, civil society and every legitimate democratic platform.
And let no one in Kogi West deceive themselves into believing that the district is not ready.
Ready for what?
Kogi West has produced men and women of distinction in politics, public administration, business, academia and national service.
The argument that Kogi West is somehow perpetually “not ready” is nothing more than a dangerous form of self defeatism.
Let political leaders answer the historical question.
Let Kogi West organise. Let Kogi West persuade. Let Kogi West negotiate and let Kogi West mobilise.
Politics rewards organised people, not communities that wait indefinitely.
Nobody is coming to hand Kogi West the governorship. No ! not in 2027 and not by simply waiting until 2031.
The district must build the coalition, produce the right candidate, win hearts and ultimately win votes.
There is a time to wait and a time to stand.
Kogi West has waited for decades.
Now is the time to stand. Not against fellow Kogites, but for justice, dignity, equity and inclusion.
Let the agitation be conducted with clean hands, discipline, peace, wisdom and faith in God.
The enemy is not Kogi East. The enemy is not Kogi Central.
The real obstacle is the self-defeatist mindset that tells Kogi West to keep waiting while others continue to occupy the highest political office in the state.
The issue is political balance, not tribal hatred. When justice is extended to one part of a house, the entire house becomes stronger.
The election that determines who occupies Lugard House in January 2028 will be fought in 2027.
Therefore, the time to build the argument is now. The time to unite all like-minded people across the length and breadth of Kogi State is now. The time to mobilise is now. The time to educate our people is now. The time to build bridges is now.
And the time to make the Kogi West question impossible to ignore is now. Kogi West must enter 2027 united, strategic, peaceful, organised and determined.
No personal interest should be bigger than the collective aspiration of Kogi people.
No temporary political appointment should make anyone forget history. Positions come and go. History remains.
Let the message therefore travel from Egbe to Lokoja, Ogaminana to Kpareke, Ogori to Ankpa, and to every corner of Kogi State:
Kogi West has waited long enough. Kogi West is ready. Kogi West will organise. Kogi West will persuade.
Kogi West will mobilise.
And, by the grace of God and the democratic will of the people of Kogi State: KOGI WEST WILL TAKE OVER LUGARD HOUSE IN JANUARY 2028!
Not through force. Not through hatred.
Not through intimidation.
But through unity, strategy, persuasion, competence and the power of the ballot.
– Musa Asiru Bakare, a Political Analyst, writes from Lokoja, Kogi State
