By Musa Bakare.
In the political evolution of every state, there comes a moment when the people must rise above sentiment, mediocrity, and recycled leadership failures to embrace a destiny shaping opportunity. For Kogi State, that moment is 2028. And the name at the centre of this decisive turning point is loud, clear, and beyond contestation: RT. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke.
This is not a politician begging for acceptance. This is a leader whose legitimacy was built brick by brick on loyalty, service, intelligence, and unbroken consistency. In an era when political prostitution has become fashionable and defection is rewarded over dedication, Faleke stands out as a rare emblem of honour, the one Nigerian politician who never traded his identity, never abandoned his people, and never compromised his values for personal convenience.
Kogi State is not a barren territory. It is blessed with vast human capital, abundant mineral deposits, rich cultural heritage, and significant economic potential. Yet, for decades, the state has drifted through cycles of leadership confusion, infrastructural decay, and political instability.
Where others advanced, Kogi retreated. Where visionary states built, Kogi struggled to maintain. Where strategic governance transformed communities, Kogi endured avoidable decline.
The people are yearning for something different. The youth want direction. Civil servants want dignity.
Communities want peace and economic motion. The entire state wants a leader who understands development, not as propaganda, but as a practical, actionable blueprint.
Hon. Dr. James Abiodun Faleke did not rise by luck. He rose by structure, strategy, hard work, and results. From Lagos where he helped shape efficient local governance to Abuja, where he has become a national stabilizer and respected legislative strategist, Faleke carries a political weight that no prospective Kogi governorship contender can match.
In an age where many politicians chase federal appointments without capacity, Faleke stands out.
He brings federal connection, grassroots acceptance, national respect, and administrative competence.
This is what makes him different. This is what makes him needed. This is why 2028 is the year Kogi cannot joke with destiny.
While others defected from one party to another like political nomads, Faleke remained rooted. While some insulted APC leaders and returned pretending to be saints, Faleke remained loyal, consistent, and predictable. While others chased contracts, Faleke built credibility. While many pursued personal comfort, he stabilized political structures.
Loyalty is not just a virtue, it is a political asset. And Faleke embodies loyalty, consistency, and structure, the three ingredients of sustainable governance.
In 2015, when Kogi West stood at a critical crossroads, Faleke refused to betray the trust of his people. He did not bow to pressure. He did not trade integrity for convenience. He did not abandon those who believed in him.
Kogi people remember. They remember who stood with them. They remember who stood against them. They remember who stood aside watching.
In 2028, the people do not want experiments; they want a man whose political history is stainless.
A man who has invested in the state even from afar, paying school fees, supporting widows, funding community development, empowering youths, sponsoring medical outreaches, and maintaining genuine ties with the grassroots.
The 2027/2028 election is not just another electoral cycle. It is a turning point that will determine whether Kogi continues in trial-and-error governance or steps boldly into a new era of competence, stability, and purposeful leadership.
This election is more than politics. More than party. More than ambition. It is a generational verdict.
Who will stabilize Kogi? Who will unite the districts? Who will attract investment? Who will end needless tensions? Who will create opportunities for the youth? Who will manage the mineral wealth responsibly?
Who has national leverage to bring federal-backed development?
The answer is not in guesswork. Not in propaganda. Not in emotional gambling. The answer is Hon. James Abiodun Faleke.
The greatest tragedy for any state is not lack of resources, it is lack of vision and leadership. Kogi has suffered enough setbacks. The people have waited long enough. The state has endured too many needless failures.
Missing Faleke in 2028 would be like rejecting a bridge while drowning or ignoring a cure during illness.
It would be a setback history will not forgive. Because opportunities like Faleke do not come every season, they come once in a generation.
2028 is the year to correct old mistakes. 2028 is the year to reclaim lost glory. 2028 is the year to bring home the man spiritually, politically, and strategically prepared for this assignment.
From Kabba to Lokoja, From Okene to Idah, From Yagba to Ankpa, From Bassa to Mopa…
The chorus is rising: Faleke, 2028 is your time – come and serve your people.
The market women are speaking. The youths are speaking. The elders are speaking. The civil servants are speaking. The churches and mosques whisper the same prayer. The diaspora echoes the same desire….Kogi is ready. Destiny is calling.
In 2028, Kogi State has a sacred opportunity to choose development over drama, competence over confusion, stability over stagnation, unity over division, and a tested leader over experiments.
Hon. James Abiodun Faleke will not just be a candidate. He is a defining opportunity. An opportunity Kogi State cannot, must not afford to miss.
– Musa Asiru Bakare, APC member and political analyst, writes from Lokoja, Kogi State.
