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The Advent of Hon. James Abiodun Faleke (JAF) on the political landscape of Okunland, Western Senatorial District and indeed Kogi State, along with the tremendous changes that he brought to us will someday be fully documented in a book for not just permanent record purposes and historical purposes but also for the reason or reasons that the lessons his coming foisted on us will remain for ever in the knot of our hearts and not be lost for the sake of posterity.
JAF came to Kogi politics at a time our political leaders were never before more fragmented and divided with the followers also so terribly disenchanted to such an ugly extend that some were not on talking terms. some will even tell you that if “Lagbaja” is invited to a function he will never go there. The situation was so terrible that if it persists, the consequence on us as a people is better imagined. The level of distrust, mistrust and internal wrangling both inter and intra parties was terribly unhealthy for any meaningful gathering and campaign.
Faleke came in with a tremendous political experience and sophistication never experience in this part of the world
before his coming there were virtually no relationship between different political parties and within political parties as a result of the disputes arising largely from the wobbled party primary elections.
In APC our political party for instance, the level of rancour thrown up by primary elections and the resultant effect was capable of killing the party.
This was the reason APC lost so woefully in the State House of Assembly election. Worse still, there was totally no attempt made by the party at any level towards pacifying aggrieved party members that had invested huge resources into the elections and their candidature denied them with ignominy.
May be the leaders thought there was absolutely no need or that there is no way of bringing together the terribly injured APC members that had left the party for other parties such as the Accord party and labour party in protest against the very untidy primary elections that preceded the gubernatorial primaries. There was also no conscious attempt made by anybody to nurture the friendship and camaraderie that emerged as a result of the massive support of other parties principally the PDP for the Buhari/Osibajo and APC during the Presidential election that was responsible for the massively successes recorded by APC in Kogi State against the incumbent PDP.
There was as it were the dearth of a political leader to steer the politicians on the course of reconciliation, forgiveness and pacification
JAF like one of the biblical prophets of old came in at this time with huge political experience from Lagos on this politically precarious firmament bearing golden olive branches like a thunderbolt, determined to make a movement of peace, reconciliation and forgiveness with waring factions and everyone irrespective of whatever considerations and grievances
The very first meeting at the God Grace event centre in Kabba jugged our imaginations. Our preconceived notion before then was that he was going to address the fully packed hall with the Lagos brand of Yoruba language along with Queen English ! We were however pleasantly surprised and shocked hearing him address us in a flawless Okun, his people felt in love with him from then and up to now, there is no looking back.
His humility was and had remained infectious. His love and concern for his people was unquantifiable, unquenchable as well as demonstrative.
It there and then occurred to as many of us that indeed our long sought political leader in Okunland had arrived little reason his people are dogged in their followership of their leader JAF.
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Within a very short time of his arrival, warring groups who had earlier vowed never to see eyeball to eyeball were settled, brought, reconciled together and talking together, old wounds were hurriedly healed and a totally new form of campaign very alien to us surfaced. Success was there and then clearly staring us in the face.
As many of us as could see beyond just politics in Hon. Faleke began to learn politics as it is played in Lagos, the major reason Lagos State and Lagos people had excelled and excelling in all area of human endeavour.
I have so far learnt reconciliation, forgiveness, ruggedness, doggedness and principle from JAF as our leader and am still learning.
I am pretty sure JAF too had learnt one or two things of, about and from us his people especially our own brand of loyalty.
The political sagacity of JAF was the singular reason Okunland and indeed Okun people very quickly forgave and accepted the person of Prince Abubakar Audu’s gubernatorial candidature of age long perceived grievances and misgivings to such a glorious extend that APC under Audu/Faleke ticket won massively in the election in the entire length and breadth of Okunland.
Worthy of mentioning is Audu/Faleke winning in areas that Prince himself confessed he had never won and probably can never win ! Place like Kabba, the headquarters of Western Senatorial District of Kogi State.
It is in the spirit of the Faleke political school that we advocate forgiveness, reconciliation and progress for as many as had a hand in the political misfortune that had bedevilled us bearing in mind that God is already visiting their offences on them.
God Himself says in the holy scriptures “vengeance is mine”
Whoever is therefore a political disciple of JAF and behaving like there are people he/she can never forgive of whatever grievances or offences, he/she is not learning. Let no one continue to hide behind whatever any guise or of whatever any one had done and continue to betray consciences on the alter of vindictiveness
When we heard that Smart Adeyemi was coming to join us in APC we were hugely suspicious and wary considering the depth of his roles and relationships in PDP! But then, that too was the JAF spirit.
– Hon. Musa Bakare
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