Many opposition party members, including numerous other Kogites, seem to have the erroneous notion that the All Progressives Congress (APC) governorship ticket is just for the picking by former
governor Prince Audu Abubakar.
Many politicians, partisans and pundits have said this much; repeatedly, they have reinforced the impression in the media that the Okura born politician, is a towering leader in the opposition party, who was one of the founding fathers of the APC in February last year when ACN, CPC, ANPP and a faction of APGA morphed into the new party.
Another factor, they often cite to buttress this claim about his invincibility at the forthcoming APC primary election is the fact that he was able to garner majority votes at the just concluded presidential election. But how correct are these permutations and calculations in the face of the present Kogi political situation?
Could these veteran politicians and pundits be wrong in view of the fluid nature of politics and politicking, especially in this clime? Before advancing reasons for such probable wrong-headedness, it is important to pose this caveat: that this article is neither intended to lampoon Prince Audu’s foibles nor is it about judging his tenure as a former administrator of the state; an argument many have used against him to claim that as a former governor and his age factor he does not fit into the present dispensation.
However, this is a commentary about the seeming naivety of his present campaign which is largely hinged on the projection of his Spartan and puritanical persona; and about him being the only aspirant with the wand that can solve Kogi’s problems through mere proclamations. This approach is not only politically self-serving but ignores the dynamics of the Kogi political vortex along with its dexterously enlightened practitioners.
These constituents cannot be taken for granted. They are clever, tricky and discerning and need to be properly understood for any aspiring politician to succeed. All this put in context, our wager is that Prince Audu loyalists should brace up for an outcome that may not be pleasant, a likelihood that their principal, Adoja, may be on the verge of defeat at the primary; unpleasant it may sound to
his admirers. Politics is pragmatic, not dogmatic.
- Balogun Emmanuel Funsho writes from University Of Ilorin, Ilorin. He can be reached on 07034444976 or via irule9ja@gmail.com
