The fourth Republic is unarguably not the best of time for the Igala/Bassa nation in the national equation. The Igala nation which dubbed itself as the ninth most populous ethnic group in the country has of late lost focus and momentum in the scramble for national patrimony.
Although, the ninth position being bandied is however contested by some ethnic nationalities, the fact that the 1963 population census still remained the most authentic marker , makes the assertion invaluable.
However, during the first , Second and the early part of the fourth Republics , the zone and her people were a force to reckon with in politics , academia, Military / paramilitary services and in the industry.
In the first Republic, personalities like Peter S Achimugu, Colonel Ahmodu Alih and others held sway in both the Northern and Federal politics.
At this time they fought for positioning of the zone which attracted lots of developmental projects which largely became cynosure till today. That was the glorious era for the zone when its citizenry could raise their shoulders high anywhere across the country without being tongue lashed.
In the same token, the Second and the early part of the fourth Republics also presented irreducible appearance of the zone’s best in the national equation. The representatives of the zone in the senate in 1979 were firebrand personalities. Ahmodu Alih and Andrew Abogede gave brilliant accounts of themselves cornering essential committees that translated into bumper harvest of development to Igala land. Ahmodu Alih had to chair senate committee on state creation which gains metamorphosed into Kogi state.
Even in the 1999, Senator Yahaya Nicholas Ugbane, the two term senator from Egwume, was a sonorous voice in the Senate. His voice on issues that affect the zone was as vitriolic as thunder. There is no legislative sitting that Ugbane would not carry the strings of Igala on his shoulders. Projects were attracted to the zone.
At this time, senator Colonel Ahmodu Alih one of the greatest minds from the kingdom has taken over Wadata House, as the Chairman of the then ruling Peoples Democratic Party. Igala and its Agbada ( senator Ugbane / chairman Ahmodu Alih) were on display wrestling for national cakes to the zone.
Unfortunately, the Second part of the fourth Republics, grasshoppers suddenly crept into politics of the zone. Votes from the electorate no longer counts. Shenanigan has become synonymous with senatorial elections in the zone. Senator Atai Aidoko, a two terms member of the House of Representatives has tacitly declared war against the people of the zone. He no longer respects the will of the people except verdicts from the courts.
He would not devote his energy to canvass and showcase to the people why they should vote for him. His major supporters were the courts. While aspirants were toiling the nooks and crannies of the zone seeking for votes, yours senator Aidoko would be busy piling up funds to collect mandates from the courts. He knows the Courts and the Courts knows him.
During the 2011 PDP senatorial primary election which was held at the main bow of the Kogi State Stadium Anyigba, Aidoko had waylaid the electoral officials and forcibly snatched the materials and declared himself the winner. The malfeasance became a tussle to the national headquarters of the PDP which later cancelled the purported primary and rescheduled it.
Barrister Dangana Ocheja, from Idah won the rescheduled primary and went on to win the general election. Hardly had Dangana settled down for legislative business, that a court verdict came like a whirlwind to sweep away Dangana, who instead of challenging the ruling stayed in his cocoons , making the embattled Aidoko to cling to senate.
Having realised from the pitfall of the 2011 primary election which was conducted at Anyigba, though considered central to the Igala Kingdom was assumed not to be the headquarters of the zone. The argument that Idah being the cradle of Igala civilization ought to be the political capital of the zone held waters and so PDP not to be caught in the web took the 2015 senatorial primary to Idah.
The major contenders were a former Air Force Chief , Air Marshal Isaac Alfa, Barrister Halimat Alfa and Atai Aidoko.
The primary came and three contenders held on to their separate results. Even the Airforce Chief Alfa, with the retinue of his armed orderlies washed helplessly as Aidoko and his ragtag private armies unleashed terror on the ballot materials, even as Halimat Alfa held tenaciously to her presumed results.
In the melee, PDP in the state stood with Isaac Alfa as the authentic winner as testified by the returning officer, Hon Seidu Odoma, but expectedly, Aidoko backed by his godfather senator Ahmodu Abuh have curried PDP headquarters to his side.
As the crisis lingered, the Buhari ‘s bandwagon effect undeservedly gave to a one time Managing Director of Nigeria Railway Corporation Alhaji Abdurahman Abdullahi who was considered liliputian in the election .. His victory was short-lived as the court sacked and barred his APC from participating in the bye election. Before then Isaac had been declared by court as the authentic flagbearer of PDP which he won the bye election.
Barely few months in the senate, Aidoko again sacked Isaac Alfa . Not relenting in the struggle to retain perceived mandate Alfa, went to court again , which Justice Gabriel Kolawole of the Abuja High Court subsequently upheld his prayers with consequential judgement asking INEC to withdraw the certificate of returns to Aidoko and give it back to Alfa. However, the naked drama continued into the senate which is yet to comply, as Aidoko headed to the Court of Appeal.
According to Usman Baba a commentator on Igala Politics said Igala nation has lost its voice in the matters affecting the Igala nation as it has presented four senators in less than three years .
Baba noted with nostalgia, that Kogi East which is the biggest zone in the state has lost a voice , leaving representatives of the Ebira and okuns to dictate the actions on matters affecting the state.
He added that the outspoken senator Dino Melaye had in the last three years attracted over 169 projects to his constituency even as his counterpart from central has not lagged behind leaving East as orphan.
Speaking further Baba said the two senators , Dino Melaye from the West and Ahmed Ogembe Central, were unanimous in asking the presidency to plough the last batch of the Abacha loot to revamp the Ajaokuta Steel Company of which the Igala voice was conspicuously missing.
He warned the belligerent and the elites that unless they close ranks to elect untainted and dignified Igala son in the mould pf Victor Adoji a seasoned banker, the zone risk being extincted politically.
– Atabor Julius writes from Lokoja.
