The Primary elections of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) as well as that of the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) for Assembly, House of Representatives, Senate and Governorship have come and gone.
While the winners are still carried away by the wave of victory, those that lost out due to one reason or the other are nursing the pain of defeat.
The Focus of this epistle is not about Nigeria or Kogi State but my attention is mainly on the Politics of Ijumu Local Government Area.
The bane of Ijumu Politics which culminated into the shameful and disgraceful outing in the Reps and Senate primary elections started with the outcome of the Ward and Local Government Congress of the PDP and APC.
While parallel congresses were held during the election of Executive members of the ruling and main opposition parties, the parties as well as its leaders could not manage the crisis which was carried as hand bag to the primary elections.
The division no doubt is not as a result of the love this leaders have for Ijumu Kingdom, but it is only to satisfy their ego and selfish interest.
With the outcome of the primaries, it has clearly showed that the politics of Ijumu people has really changed to that of bitterness, hatred and selfish interest.
If i may ask, Are we as a people under a spell of disunity? Despite our respective believes in Christianity and Islam, we have failed to realize the importance of love, forgiveness and putting the interest of Ijumu Kingdom above personal gains.
The division among political office holders at the Local Government levels and that of the State Appointees has not yeilded anything good for us in Ijumu Local Government.
In fact, while other Local Governments are celebrating legacies projects of Governor Yahaya Bello, what we celebrate in Ijumu is different cabals without value to the people and facelift to the infrastructure of Ijumu Kingdom.
We are now counting our losses and reflecting on the Tragedy of a divided Ijumu APC and PDP Houses.
For the loss of the Senate tickets in APC and PDP, though the in fighting in the two parties played against Ijumu Aspirants, the two men failed to understand that, it is honourable and polite to live the dancing floor when the ovation is loud.
A position meant to be rotated between 7 Local government areas has been in Ijumu for the past close to 16years. This is not a demonstration of equity, fairness and justice.
Again, Why did we lost out? How on earth can one Local Government pursue Senate again after 4th terms and want to get the House of Representatives Tickets at the same time? This is very undemocratic.
Now that the APC and PDP Primaries are over, What is next for Ijumu people in the politics of Okunland and Kogi State? What we are experiencing now, is a lesson that posterity will not forgive the players.
When you reinforce failure, you will continue to fail and fail. We can still get it right if we are ready.
– Yusuf Dada writes from Iluagba
