By Jesse Abayomi Oloke
Democracy, in its classical definition, is government of the people, by the people, and for the people. That definition holds true only in a sane society.
In Europe, democracy is practised as a culture rather than a theory. In Africa, it is often reduced to a textbook concept.
In Europe, the will and wishes of the people count. In Africa, the will of the people is often treated as an aberration to the doctrine of governance.
In Europe, leadership is subject to change through established procedures. In Africa, leadership is often subject to the whims of self-styled Lords of the Manor who see themselves as Lion Kings with the license to prey on the will of the people.
However, there is a people south of the Sudan Savannah known as Yagba who do not grovel at the feet of their leaders. Their will must count.
Politically, the Yagba do not dance to the tune of their political leaders.
The Yagba are politically sophisticated and well-educated enough to know that when certain individuals begin to assert theories and permutations, it is because a narrow interest is being protected. That is when you begin to hear phrases like “government candidate” — as if such a label should eternally confer lordship.
Tell that to the Yagba and you have erred. No wonder government candidates have consistently failed here.
The government candidate lost to the now Senator Sunday Karimi in the 2011 House of Representatives election. In 2019, the government candidate lost to the opposition again. The same fate repeated itself in 2023.
In 2011, serving local government chairmen and PDP government candidates — Hon. Ropo Asala, Hon. Obaro, and Hon. Sunday Abayomi Pedro— in all three Yagba local governments lost to opposition parties (ACN and ANPP) in that year’s Kogi State House of Assembly election.
One thing was glaring: the people stood for fairness, justice and equity, and refused to be swayed against their collective will.
Yagba people are known for truth. They are God-fearing. They abhor oppression. They love justice, they are fair in all their dealings, and they preach equal opportunity. That is why 2027 will not be an exception.
They are already expressing it — in words, in actions, and in proverbs. I can assure you that Yagba people will not succumb to intimidation and official harassment. They know how they handle their affairs.
I see Senator Sunday Karimi and Hon. Seun Ibigbemi dancing again in 2027 to celebrate another resounding Yagba victory.
– Jesse Abayomi Oloke writes from Yagba Land.
