The coast seem to have been cleared for what would be one of the most keenly contested gubernatorial elections in the history of Kogi State. The two major contenders i.e Prince Abubakar Audu of APC and Captain Idris Wada of PDP have been reaching out to the different political interests in the state and beyond, personally and through their various emissaries and campaign channels, while the camp of the former Deputy Governor of the state Dr. Philip O. Salawu of LP is also making frantic efforts at proving his political worth and giving the APC and PDP a good run for their money come November 21st 2015.
It is no longer news that the Central Senatorial district of the state have been relegated politically since the past years with the incumbent governor who is also contesting in the forthcoming election deciding that picking his running mate form the West Senatorial District of the state proffers a better winning advantage than the Ebira-speaking dominated central district. Obviously, the PDP and its gubernatorial candidate are not planning of changing their choice of running mate at the November elections either. Now that the APC and its gubernatorial campaign team has beaten the PDP to their game by also picking a running mate from the West district, the Central District has now become the center of attraction and the beautiful bride in the forthcoming elections and in deciding who becomes the occupant of Lord Lugard’s House come November 21st 2015.
Mathematically, the present configuration would have boosted the political fortune of Dr. Philip O. Salawu at the polls, being the only formidable candidate from the Central District for now, but for the indecision of the power shift agitators headed curently by the first runner up at the last APC governorship primaries, Mr. Yahaya Bello who still commands the loyalty of a vast “army” of supporters within and outside Ebiraland and the fact that the candidacy of Dr. Salawu has not really gotten the required support from all and sundry in Kogi Central, due to what they termed “sins of the past”. Regardless of any sin Dr. Salawu may have committed in the past through his utterances, I believe its time for Mr Yahayah Bello to prove to the whole world that he is a legitimate son of the soil, by mobilizing all his supporters to come out enmass and cast their votes for a fellow anebira, Dr Philip O.Salawu at the forthcoming polls so that posterity and ohiku anebira can jugde him right in the near future.
Owing to the inhumane treatment, deprivation and marginalization that the people of central senatorial district where subjected to during the first and second coming of the self acclaimed prince of the Niger and the humiliation, exclusion and disrespect that Ebiraland and environs has suffered so far under Captain Wada. It’s only a bastard son or daughter of Kogi Central that is expected to vote in favour of either of these two, in the forthcoming gubernatorial election. An African adage says its only “it’s only a bastard whose father will be insulted, without reacting” This is the best time for the people of Kogi Central to totally react to the insults that have been melted in it for a large time, by turning out en masse to vote against the enemies of Ebiraland.
As true sons and daughters of Adayi Ebira, this is the time for us all to eschew bitterness, hatred, and acrimony and speak in harmony, unity and one loud voice with our votes. Only an indigene of Kogi Central is good enough for our votes, we have been insulted, cheated and humiliated enough in our own state, we must now prove to our oppressors that we aren’t bastard but legitimate sons and daughters of the soil by voting en blog and en masse for Dr. Philip O. Salawu.
Hussain Obaro,
oseniobaro@yahoo.com, 08065396694
