By Musa Tanimu Nasidi.
Beyond the offensiveness of the remarks attributed to Hajiya Halima Alfa lies a deeper irony that cannot be ignored.
According to sources familiar with political permutations in Kogi East, she is reportedly seeking the goodwill of the current administration in pursuit of her ambition to contest the Kogi East senatorial seat.
If this is indeed the case, then her choice of words raises serious questions about judgment, foresight and political maturity.
Even within the rough and tumble of politics, ambition must be guided by wisdom.
To refer to the Igala people as “vultures” while simultaneously aspiring to represent a senatorial district largely populated by them is, at best, a grave miscalculation.
Politics is ultimately about the people, and electoral success rests on persuasion, trust and respect—not insult and contempt.
One is therefore compelled to ask: are these the same so-called “vultures” whose votes she hopes to court?
Democracy confers power not through proximity to government or loud displays of loyalty, but through the ballot.
And ballots are cast by human beings with memory, dignity and self-respect.
History has shown repeatedly that ethnic arrogance and reckless speech are poor substitutes for grassroots acceptance.
No amount of elite endorsement can compensate for alienating the very people whose mandate is required at the polls.
In this sense, her remarks do not merely offend; they betray a lack of political foresight and an underestimation of the political consciousness of the Igala people.
The Igala electorate has demonstrated, time and again, that it is discerning, politically aware and capable of making independent choices.
They are neither desperate for validation nor susceptible to political condescension. Any aspirant who seeks their support must do so with humility, respect and a clear understanding of their history and sensibilities.
This is not a matter of personal animosity but a reminder of a fundamental truth: politics without respect is self-defeating. Words spoken in arrogance have consequences, and ambitions built on insult rarely endure.
Whether this episode will serve as a lesson remains to be seen. As the saying goes, only time will tell.
– Musa Tanimu Nasidi, a journalist, writes from Lokoja.
