The ways of God is ever-pure and His thought is higher than ours just as heaven is higher than the earth.
Many months back out of my jingoistic heart, I delved into the political space with the aim to emancipate the people of Ijumu constituency of Kogi State from the hands of political tyrants – enemies of development and participatory democracy.
The day I communicated to the young and old people across the 15 Wards that make up the Ijumu constituency, I was received.
UPN Leadership Are Somewhat Dribblers
I began my internal and external consultation on the platform to run. Having weighed other political parties and their serial failures and oppressive tendency, I considered Unity Party of Nigeria, UPN.
Myself, in company of my supporters, went to meet with UPN stakeholders at the state level. We even went further to meet with the National chairman on my ambition, reason being that the party’s ideology is in consonance with my political ideology.
During the consultation period, I saw the filthiness in politics and the scam in the NOT TOO YOUNG TO RUN.
In a generic term, UPN leadership scuttled the process of my aspiration after I have went through a lot financially and permutation-wise.
The spirit of late Obafemi Awolowo will never forgive you guys for burying the ambition of young men/women that wanted to run on UPN platform but disallowed technically by party leaders due to their financial constraints.
I traveled down to Abuja where I submitted the nomination form to the party secretary as expected thinking they will be truthful to me; by submitting it to INEC, not until on the 12th of November after sending two of my friends to check if my name was published as submitted to INEC, but he said no. I went there and confirmed that my name was not included on the list that was sent to INEC office in Ijumu constituency.
Immediately I made a different contact to the politicians in the party: National chairman, National secretary and his assistant but their submission clarified there stands in everything – actions speaks louder than voice.
I had called the party leaders of UPN time without number for them to rectify the grey areas, but I was kept in their “political darkroom” i.e they waited until INEC closes. But I waited patiently until 2nd of December before sending this to inform good people of Ijumu that UNITY PARTY OF NIGERIA, UPN, tactically removed the only legitimate candidate from the contest due to reason best known to them.
I am assuring the good people of Ijumu constituency and environs that I will continue to cry out until the dividend of democracy is practical in every nooks and crannies of our great land. UPN might be tactical, but we are more sensible to drive development as against political loyalty that is now a norm in the land.
Opportunities Lost When With UPN
I lost several opportunities just because I thought I could use the platform of UPN to resurrect the ideologies of Obafemi Awolowo but unfortunately political Haggai has adulterated his ideologies:
1. I lost money in my business because I was not giving it attention
2. A mega invitation to me by not too young to run group, national program for 400,000 youths aspiring for elective offices coming up on the 10th – 12th December in Abuja.
3. I was invited by other parties, I turned it down because I wanted UPN party.
4. I paid a courtesy visits to traditional rulers and mobilised young men and women in my Ijumu constituency which I don’t see as a waste of time, but a big cheat on the other side because I was propagating for UPN in the area.
My Joy In Every Thing
The book of Zachariah 4:10 “Do not despise these small beginnings, for the Lord rejoices to seethe work begin, to see the plumb line in Zerubbabel’s hand.”
This is my political debut, I will count it as an experienced I need to “blow” Kogi and Nigeria political space.
UNITY PARTY OF NIGERIA has shown me the road despite they did not meant well for the me and is tantamount to betrayal of the young people of Kogi and Nigeria at large.
My Conclusion
I owe Nigeria Youths and good people of Ijumu constituency the explanation above and that is why I came public to announced the reason behind my WITHDRAWAL.
I appreciate Unity Party Of Nigeria, UPN for not submitting my Name to INEC after I had produced 150 T-shirts, 3000 A3 size posters, 2000 stickers, 50 4by8 flex banner with the party name and logo.
I believe in what the holy book say that there is Time for every thing under sun, and I key into what the book of Habakkuk 2:3 says,
“FOR THE VISION AWAIT AN APPOINTED TIME; IT SPEAKS OF THE END AND WILL NOT PROVE FALSE. THOUGH IT LINGER, WAIT FOR IT; IT WILL CERTAINLY COME AND WILL NOT DELAY”.
I have decide to wait till the appointed time of God, and will surely come to pass.
My media team, Alelagba media team is open to any political party that have good plans for Ijumu people; I mean candidate with tangible manifesto embed in contemporary policies.
Appreciation
I thank God Almighty for the privileges to come this far, second to my parent and family for allowing me to embark on the journey at first and to my ever-sincere supporters that believed in my capacity and leadership credits; I am extremely grateful.
Finally, thanks to UPN for showing me the exit door unceremoniously! Not too young to run has come to be, if your platform says no; we will continue to be on a look out for the best platform that will contain us and sponsor our ideologies.
God bless bless Ijumu constituency.
– Awobiyi Timilehin Ojoanu
