I posted this piece in a News Daily sometime ago and it is so encouraging, the depth of knowledge and passion for truth, people have.
To start with, it is very immoral to stand on the assertion that Igalas are responsible for the under-development in Kogi State.
All tribes have contributed to the failure of governance in the state. There is no tribe that can be exempted from the menace of under-development, poverty, corruption and backwardness that is presently bedevilling the State. Being it; Igala, Okun, Ebira or any other tribe: all are guilty of this.
All the tribes in Kogi State are appropriately represented, either at the state or at the national level. Both in appointment, election or selection. Blaming a particular tribe or chanting power shift all around will not and can never develop the state.
Let’s ponder on the issues below;
*Are Igalas the only tribe that make up all the members of the state executive council? Are there no Okuns, Ebiras and other tribes who serve in various Capacity?
*Are there no members in the state house of assembly that are of Ebira, Okun or of other tribes extraction, whose duty is to make laws and serve as a body for checks and balances? Or have they sold their birthright, and if so, who is to blame for their own failure?
*Are Igalas the chairmen of Local Governments in Okun or in Ebira land? Are they not billions in allocations?
*Those that have represented the Okuns and Ebiras in various positions, what have they done for their people apart from using their people to play politics and dump them afterwards.
*Are Igalas the reason why Senator Smart Adeyemi abandoned his SENATORIAL district and rather choose to invest in Kwara State?
*Why didn,t Hon. Abiodun Ojo develop his hometown when he was Commissioner for Finance, close to 8 years under Ibro?
*Why didn’t Philip Salawu develop Ebiraland when he was the Deputy Governor under the same Ibro regime?
*Why didn’t Clarence Olafemi develop his hometown when he was the Speaker, House of Assembly (and at one time a GOVERNOR) with the constituency allowances and allocations acrued to the state under him?
*Yomi Awoniyi is the Deputy Governor; why is he not facilitating the construction of Obajana – Kabba road?
*Even the Igalas that have been rulling; are all their roads motorable, are all their youths employed, are their villages developed with basic infrastructure, are all their primary shools working and their teachers paid? A lot of questions begging for answers.
It is therefore evident that these clamouring for powershift are just doing that for their selfish ends. AKA (stomach infrastructure) They won’t even remember that you are part of these that join them in the struggle for the powershift.
Let’s not approach issues with feelings and emotions, let’s tryand learn to be objective in our approach.
At juncture of our political experiment, we should not be agitating tribal or sectional leadership.
What all Kogi State indigines should clamour for instead should be a selfless leader who will change the fortune of the state for better. No matter the region he comes from.
We need drastic development and improvement in all sectors of the state: Education, Health, Agriculture, Commerce, youth development, etc.
Let’s put sentiment aside and focus on the problem solving plan.
If Kogi State works, all tribes will enjoy. Even the non-indigines will benefit.
Our State will become a destination for investors and we will all be happy.
But if Kogi State fails, we all fail. Irrespective of your tribe, religion or affiliation.
This is why many progressive minded people can not mortgage the candidature of PRINCE ABUBAKAR AUDU for anything else.
JOIN THE VOICE OF THE POPULAR MANDATE.
Sunday Ochigbo