We, the undersigned leaders of Mopamuro Local Government Area, find it necessary to address the public on a matter of growing concern which is the move to extend the tenure of the current House of Representatives member representing Yagba Federal Constituency beyond 2027.
This development poses a direct threat to the peace, unity, and political stability of Yagba land, and it must be addressed in the interest of fairness, justice, and mutual respect among the three constituent Local Government Areas – Mopamuro, Yagba East, and Yagba West.
Mopamuro is renowned for being industrious, peace-loving, sagacious and development-oriented by its educated, and politically engaged citizens. Together with our brothers and sisters in Yagba East and Yagba West, we have built a legacy of unity, cooperation, and mutual understanding, governed by well-established norms and traditions.
We have always conducted ourselves with civility, never known for political aggression or domination, but for our contributions to local, state, regional and national development.
At the return of democracy in 1999, our respected political forebearers such as the late Chief Sunday Awoniyi, the late Chief S. B. Daniyan, the late Chief Omoniwa, Chief Kola Jamodu, Professor Eyitayo Lambo, and Chief Samuel Akande set out a rotational arrangement for representation of Yagba at the Federal House of Representatives among the three LGAs.
The purpose of this arrangement was to ensure equity, prevent domination, and give every LGA a sense of belonging in our collective political journey. The first set of rotation went as follows:
1999–2003: Mopamuro
2003–2007: Yagba East
2007–2011: Yagba West
After the first full cycle of representation, an argument arose about where the next cycle should start. By majority opinion, it was agreed that Yagba West should begin the second round. This is the decision that led to the Yagba West LGA holding the seat for 12 uninterrupted years (2007–2019).
Despite Mopamuro’s continued calls for fairness, we have remained sidelined. Currently, Hon. Leke Abejide of Yagba East is set to complete two terms (2019–2027), bringing Yagba East’s total years of representation to 12 years as well.
Recent troubling and unsettling reports suggest that Hon. Leke Abejide is making strategic moves and ungodly maneuvers to contest for a third term. We see this as an affront on Mopamuro and an attempt to truncate the existing rotational convention that will ultimately deny us of our rightful turn in 2027. This is a turn that we have patiently and enduringly waited for in the past 12 years.
We find it particularly more troubling that those supporting the third term agenda of Hon Leke Abejide argue passionately that it is for the possibility of Hon. Leke becoming the Speaker of the House, claiming that this would benefit Yagba more. We reject this premise in its entirety for two reasons:
a. There are no leak-proof guarantees for this position as Hon Leke can only be one of the other long timer contenders for the same office.
b. We also believe that Hon. Leke can still serve his people in some other higher offices, including the Senate, where his influence could be even more impactful.
Let it be clear to the advocates of division in Yagba land that Mopamuro will not support any agenda that undermines equity and marginalizes its people. We will never agree to any agenda that relegates us as a people nor shall we accept to be an inferior partner in Yagba project.
Our demand is not just moral but constitutional. Section 14(3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria (as amended) provides that:
“The composition of the Government of the Federation or any of its agencies… shall be carried out in such a manner as to reflect the federal character of Nigeria… ensuring that there shall be no predominance of persons from a few states or… sectional groups…”
This provision underscores inclusivity and equitable office sharing, which supports our call for Mopamuro to take its rightful turn in 2027.
We therefore now make a passionate appeal to:
His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, Governor of Kogi State,
The people of Yagba,
Well-meaning Kogites and Nigerians at large, to intervene and persuade Hon. Leke Abejide to respect the long-standing unwritten rotational convention by ending his tenure in 2027. He should not forget the fact that it was the magnanimity and understanding of Senator Sunday Karimi in rejecting a third term agenda that gave him the current slot.
If Hon Leke Abejide goes ahead with his third term agenda, the injustice done to Mopamuro will clearly look like this:
Yagba East – 16 years.
Yagba West – 12 years.
Mopamuro – 4 years.
Such imbalance is unacceptable and threatens to erode the unity which we have all worked so hard to maintain over the years. Furthermore, we have it on good authority that Yagba West is waiting in the wings to contest in 2031 for Yagba House of Reps slot if Leke proceeds to a third term. This will surely compound the risk of total collapse of the existing rotational framework in Yagba land.
Before we draw the curtains on this Press Release, we want to remind Hon. Leke of his earlier public promise in several campaign forums to support a Mopamuro candidate in 2027. Now is the time to honor that promise.
Finally, we wish to reiterate that:
IT IS MOPAMURO’S TURN IN 2027.
Our slogan remains: “Mopamuro Lokan.”
Our final appeal is to let justice, equity, and mutual respect guide our steps forward, for the peace, progress, unity and development of Yagba land.
SIGNED:
- H. E. Chief Samuel Ola Akande – Former Deputy Governor, kogi state.
- H. E. Chief Clarence Olafemi – Former Acting Governor/ Speaker Kogi State House of Assembly
- H. E. Arch Yomi Awoniyi – Former Deputy Governor, Kogi State
- Commodore Folusho Daniel (Rtd) – Former Member, kogi State House of Assembly .
- Chief Folorunsho Daniyan – Ojomu of Mopa, Former S. A. to Gov. Ibro and Former Chairman Mopamuro Local Government, Kogi State.
- Dr. ( Chief) Ayodele – Delex, APC Stalwart in kogi State.
- Brig- General Benjamin Ipinyomi ( Rtd) – APC Stakeholder, Mopamuro Local Government, Kogi State.
- Dr (chief) Edward Meseko – APC Stakeholder Mopamuro Local Government, Kogi State
- Prince Folorunsho Olafemi, PhD- APC Stakeholder , Mopamuro Local Government, Kogi State.
- Pst. Babagbemi Adejola. – APC Stakeholder, Mopamuro Local Government, Kogi State.
- Chief Makinde Oyebode, APC Stakeholder, Mopamuro Local Government, Kogi State, Kogi State.
- Hon. Jesse Abayomi oloke, APC Stakeholder Mopamuro Local Government, kogi State.
- Alara (Dr.)Ben Ayo Abereaoran – The Alara of Agbajogun, kogi State.
