I will begin with reactions from unscrupulous persons after this child of necessity (Adoji) was robbed of the senatorial mandate in the last elections. Barely 48 hours before that of Kogi East was declared inconclusive, a post was directed to him on social media by a man I deemed fit to surname as a betrayer, that Dr. Victor Adoji, though very proactive, he does not understand the philosophy of modern-day politics.
He (Adoji) was eventually asked to be tutored about it. Upon stumbling on the post, I knew instantly he is one of the Rick-rack political ideologists, what popularize a party or aspirant in their dome is money. However, the trend was copycatted by those who keeked through the window thereafter, which is indeed the necessity of this post.
It’s also sacrosanct we set the record straight in view of the forthcoming governorship race. But it won’t sound interesting without asking this question- does Adoji truly understand modern-day politics?
The above question also cannot be well answered without a cognitive ideology of what modern-day politics is all about with regards to political notions in the present Kogi settings.
For instance, as an aspirant vouching to hold public office in Kogi state, your campaign is not complete without PUSHING.
Pushing time is normally two days to the elections, and it’s an act whereby aspirants are expected to dole out money to some self-acclaimed grassroots canvassers in order to get voted. Consequently, if you like, tour the entire Kogi state and preach your ass out, without pushing you are going nowhere.
It is the determinant of an aspirant’s fate- whether or not you will be voted into power. As a matter of fact, the old school politicians have cultured it as a norm, when the campaign is going on you won’t see them in the street until it’s time for pushing. That was what our former senator Attai Aidoko leveraged and it almost worked for him if not that those who counted the votes actually decided the winner.
Fellow Kogites, that’s the major factor fizzling the credibility of an aspirant vying for any political office in the state as they extort money consistently without seeking to know the source, and aspirant is, however happily doling it out without a rethink because he knows when he gets to the office, what he frittered would be replenished in folds. This also formed deadlocks on our endless quests for transparency and accountability in the realm of leadership as well as, the genesis of the dilapidated narrative.
Unfortunately, the evil trend still lingers unrealized. In fact, it has gone worst.
The revered Adoji was asked to spend money on pushing but he declined, sighting that he was not going to the senate to steal what is meant for Kogi Easterners. Voters, on the other hand, twisted it and concluded Adoji does not understand the modern-day politics perspective. Some were of the opinion that he was induced by APC to step down for Echocho
Having said this, I will repeat the above question- Does Adoji truly understand modern-day politics?
The answer is therefore clear, what we referred to as modern-day politics is actually akin to money bag politics which has been rejected by numerous democratic societies because of its outright corruptive inflicting influences. It’s a force that devours the credibility of an aspirant over a given mandate.
In actual sense, modern-day politics has to do with the century’s innovative ideologies, putting politics in more democratically defining ways. In fact, its politics of pragmatism and governance in a more accessible way.
Let us, therefore set the record straight. Adoji understands the philosophy of modern-day politics much more than anyone else. His campaign activities in the last election were historically unprecedented. His political blueprint was also new, I stand to be corrected. And one of the reasons I felt he should be given the senatorial mandate was, he is able to tell us what we have not heard in the twenty years history of democracy in Nigeria.
Be that as it may, my view here is exclusive; that the electorates share in the architectural minds behind the dilapidating narratives is appalling. And the fact that we cheaply sell out our rights in a broad daylight, not necessarily because of the impoverished circumstances but because we see politics as a money-making venture is repulsive. Just like Adoji, anyone who does not or refuses to fritter money during and after campaigns is not a genuine candidate. In fact, check out the 21st-century com-raids hacking the cyberspace and constricting media freedom, it’s not about Kogi state or candidate’s ingenuity but what goes to the pocket at the end of the day. APC Kogi government actually achieved a lot in this perspective. In short, the demonic act was deepened by this government.
In an attempt to turn down the then speculating nonpayment of salaries, the government held media practitioners from all over the country to banqueting entreaties, wasted Kogi’s fund on them just to change what is on the public domain. But unfortunately, evil could not triumph over good.
Currently, it has reduced the governor’s media office to a puppet, where some harebrained youths are hired just to brandish the governor.
My stance, until this menace is curbed and people start seeing politics in a more innovative way, we may not get it right. Adoji to the best of my knowledge still stands out as the best hand for this tasking job. If you are an ardent observer, you will understand that the sector he is coming from (Zenith Bank) has produced unrivaled technocrats, instilled in its employees zero tolerance for mundane and sluggish attitude towards the public affairs. This is why Godwin Emefiele was reelected the second time as CBN governor against all pressures.
Check what Akwa Ibom has become today under the leadership of one of Zenith Bank’s former employee, Dr. Emmanuel Udom. When Kogi state could not pay salaries, he was the only governor in Nigeria who paid salaries to the state civil servants alongside all accrued bonuses last year. Findings also revealed that the state is not owing, and while the federal government dragged its over N30,000 as minimum wage, Emmanuel may increase the state civil servants’ wages to N50,000 before the end of his second tenure.
The same opportunities knock for a glowing Kogi state out of the numerous resources with Adoji but greed will not let.
I pray Dr. Adoji being the only clean hand, heed calls from his people to succeed Yahaya Bello just as I hope we get it right this time.
God bless Kogi state.
– John Paul
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