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The above topic is coined out of my ardent desire for PDP to win the 2019 Kogi West Senatorial election by considering the chances of either of the above subject in the case study.
To start with, permit me to introduce the duo properly;
Senator Dino Melaye is contesting for a second term, he was a one time suspended House of Representative member who recently decamped to PDP following the national dispute in the APC in order to get an automatic ticket. The Ayetoro born Senator has been lobbying around the National Working Committee of the PDP to guarantee him automatic ticket.
While Hon. Sunday Karimi, a current House of Representative member who is currently representing Yagba Federal Constituency for the second term. The Yagba West Seasoned Politician has held to the clarion calls of his constituents to represent them at the Red Chamber of the National Assembly, it is generally known that Hon. Karimi has been one of the strong pillars of the People’s Democratic Party in Kogi State.
Furthermore, a peep into the memory lane reveals that since the return of democracy in 1999, No Yagba man has ever represented the Senatorial district at the red chamber. In 1999, Senator Tunde Ogbeha from Lokoja/Koton Karfe Federal Constituency became the first Senator to represent the district after the return of democracy.
Senator Ogbeha served for 8 years (2 terms) and he passed the baton to Senator Smart Adeyemi from Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency. Senator Smart Adeyemi spent 8 years(2 terms) and he was expected to allow Yagba Federal Constituency to continue from where he stopped but his personal ambition beclouded him, not minding the existing arrangement, the singular reason why PDP lost the 2015 Kogi west Senatorial election, an injury still very fresh to the party faithfuls.
However, the 2015 democratic terrain which came with deceptive promises from the All Progressive Congress, favour Senator Dino Melaye, and this made him to emerge. Still and all, the 2019 election will greatly take shape as the Kogi West constituents have set their minds to return the initial arrangements a factor which cannot be neglected by any party in the 2019 politicking.
Moreover, there is more to ambition than been eligible, the merit of the candidates to be presented by the PDP is very important , if they are ready to win Kogi West Senatorial election. McAntony warns in Act 3 scene 2 of William Shakespeare’s Julius Caesar then “ambition should be made of sterner stuff”. This is particularly true about the Kogi West Senatorial election, the PDP Primary Election to be precise. Beyond being eligible to contest, the ambition to take over the Kogi west by the PDP requires Vital Ingredients to become viable and achievable. The candidate must be determined, morally upright, just, committed to the cause of his people, steadfast in his pursuit, be a respecter of laid down norms and due process, sellable and accepted by the majority. The nobility in the pursuit of their respective mission should be the driving force, not greed or to be driven by greed.
For our purposes, it is instructive to note that Kogi west constituent have always adhered to the zoning arrangement, what is most important to note is that Yagba People especially have not in any way distorted this arrangement. The electoral preference of Yagba People for zoning has been demonstrated to the point where it has become a culture for Yagba People. This was why they have revolted against the frenzy attempt by some of their son, when it was the turn of Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu to present the Senator representing the district in the time past. Thus without mincing words, I can vividly confirm that Kogi West constituents are truly a people of honour and integrity.
At this juncture, it is pertinent to ask one important question: Which of the duo in the case study meets the requirement of justice and equity? The requirement that can make PDP presentable, victorious and acceptable at the general election come 2019? In answering this question. Let us take a dispassionate look at the ambition of both of them, with a view to determining the extent to which they suit the characteristics of a Senator desired by Kogi West constituents.
Dispassionate performance rating of Senator Dino Melaye has unanimously question his performance at the red chamber of the National assembly. It is noteworthy, that the Senator Popularity has declined immensely following his recent activities, the question to test his popularity is Did any ex- official, party leaders or a notable member decamp along with him from APC To PDP. Over the years constituents had accorded the major achievement of the Senator as his personal greedy fight for power with Gov. Yahaya Bello.
If Senator Dino Melaye is still much popular as claimed why can’t he access the constituency delegates at Kogi rather than sponsoring them to Abuja? Like I usually believe, a champion is not afraid of battle, rather battles reaffirms the championship position. If SDM is that popular among constituents and party delegates, then he should be ready to test such popularity at the poll. Moreover, the singular reason that SDM is not from the zone to produce the next senator is a big factor against him.
Lastly on the assessment of SDM, it is generally known that the Senator ideology of politics has always been the highest bidder, this can be illustrated by clearly opening the annals of record, where SDM dumped the PDP for ACN when he was rejected by the PDP delegates in his 2011aspiration against the rotational arrangement in Kabba/Bunu/Ijumu Federal Constituency. He recently dumped the APC when he knows that his return is not feasible. I am not a prophet but I can clearly prophesy that he will leave PDP after the election, if he is unable to secure his rejected automatic bid.
Again, has the candor of Senator Dino being such as worthy of a senator of the federal republic? All the flamboyant flashy cars and music videos, is that what Representation at the Senate is all about? Especially considering the conservative and cerebral nature of the Kogi West people, especially Okuns?
On the other hand, Hon. Karimi popularity has not only be tested but have been confirmed by being the first House of Representative member to be reelected in Yagba Federal Constituency. His loud popularity is the main engine behind the general disapproval of PDP leaders against the frantic attempts of some demigods to enthrone inequity and automatic ticket. From factual and historical data before me here, Hon. Sunday Karimi has shown his faithfulness to the PDP by returning to the party even after been denied the ticket in 2011. He has been one of the major financial influencers of the party.
The most supportive factor of Hon. Karimi ambition is the fact that he is from Yagba Federal Constituency, the constituency to produce the next Senator.
I would have been an unrepentant antagonist of Hon. Karimi if he is not yielding the desired results expected of him by his constituents. Fortunately for Yagba Federal Constituency and her constituents, Hon Sunday Karimi has not only surpassed the initial anticipation of his people when they voted for him. He has equally moved his people to the developmental world championed by vast infrastructure, youth development, woman empowerment and numerous dividends of democracy, the list of Hon Sunday Karimi achievement in the house of representative is inexhaustible.
Conclusively, a lot of people have argued that equity shouldn’t be a factor to considered, but one diamond question I have always asked and will not stop asking is: Is it a taboo for a Yagba Man to be a Senator? The answer am yet to receive.
In the light of the foregoing, it is groundbreaking that it is the Senatorial ambition of Hon. Sunday Karimi that has met the higher order requirement of determination , morality and equity. In fact, beyond being morally enriched, Karimi 2019 ambition is simply the definition of the desired representative Kogi west constituents at the red chamber come 2019.
However, the unenforceable desire of Senator Dino Melaye might be deleterious to the victory of PDP at the general election, if given power to materialize. The grave implication of this self acclaimed desire makes PDP odd, substandard and unappealing to the constituents. As I drop my pen, let me emphatically state that Kogi west constituents to whom power belonged and still belongs have boldly asserted their desire to stick with the rotational arrangement. Thus given Hon Sunday Karimi the PDP slot to be the party flag bearer come 2019 election will not only ascertain victory, but will lead to the burial of other parties in the zone.
The Party leadership are advised to allow a free and fair primary election where the delegates can freely choose the Party’s flag bearers.
God bless PDP
God bless Kogi West
God bless Nigeria
– Olorunfemi Daniel
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