Our submission to the National Assembly has elicited reactions from different segments of our society, including from Okun and non-Okun citizens of the State. It is clear that some of the reactions have not been properly contextualised. It has therefore become necessary to issue this statement to address such reactions.
At every point in our recent history, it became more or less a regular ritual for each National Assembly to invite the general public for memorandum on the review of the 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
In response to such invitation, we, the Okun people, like many other ethnic nationalities, always seized on such opportunity to articulate our long-term desire and views as to how Nigeria can be better positioned to realise her full potentials for the benefit of the citizens.
This is what we then submit to the National Assembly for consideration.
The main theme of our submission has always been appropriately enunciated as Internal Restructuring of Nigeria for Federalism; Regionalism; Parliamentary System, Power Rotation; and Boundary Adjustment of Okun Territory to the South-West Region.
This is a statement of intention and it predates the present democratic dispensation. It has been a long standing position of our people.
The Willinks Commission of 1957 eloquently attests to this. Yet we are still here and and still playing our full role in Kogi State.
The theme of our submission is borne out of our long history of endurance in an environment that has, for too long, shown no respect for fairness, equity and justice; where our people are limited, not by their innate abilities, but by accident of historical, geographical and administrative circumstances. Under such unfair treatment, it is natural and not surprising that people begin to crave for alternatives.
While we commend the present Administration of Governor Yahaya Bello for his commitment to fairness, equity and justice in his public and private remarks, as well as what he has visibly demonstrated in his style and practices in the governance of the State, our major concern is what will happen in a Post-Governor Yahaya Bello’s Kogi State, what with recent expansionist pronouncements from some parts of Kogi State which we regard as long term threats to our survival as Okun People.
This is the context in which our recent submission should be viewed.
Our submission does not in any way diminish our being an integral part of Kogi State and the Administration of Governor Yahaya Bello.
In fact if our people had over the years enjoyed governance with the degree of fairness, equity and justice we feel under the administration of Governor Yahaya Bello, who knows.
Barrister Femi Mokikan,
National President
Okun Development Association (ODA)
