Okun people are Yoruba descendants in Kogi state. Kogi is a multi-ethnic state and Okun people are up to 27% of Kogi State population, smaller than the other two major completely different tribes, Igala and Ebira. Okun people spread across six local government areas in Kogi State, known as Kabba-Bunu, Yagba-West, Yagba-East, Mopa-Muro, Ìjùmú and Lokoja local government Areas.
They speak varied dialects…Owé, Ìyàgbà, Ìjùmú, Bùnú and Oworo, but their
language is generally called Okun, Kabba is the present headquarters of Kogi Western senatorial district, Kabba was the administrative headquarters of the Kabba province of the defunct Northern Region of Nigeria, which includes all of the current Kogi State. But with this intimidating pioneering antiquity it is yet to regain its pride of place in the socio-economic and political equation of Nigeria.
“The Okun world is composed intrinsically of Kingship and brotherhood. The Okuns are driven with the passion to excel in all endeavors. I have outline several crucial points detailing a myriad of other externalities that has characterized the fate of Okun people in the Federal Republic of Nigeria and has tended to accelerate the pace and dynamics of dysfunction in the socio-economic, political and cultural life of the Okun man, making him the laughing stock of his fellow citizens and the hewers of wood and drawers of water in the Nigerian
scheme of things.
The 1999 constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, under the fundamental objective and directive principles of state policy, as outlined in section 17 (1) explicitly states that: “The state social order is founded on ideals of Freedom,
Equality and Justice. But a careful reading and observation of successive government actions and pronouncements since the inception of democratic system of government in Nigeria in 1999, with regards to the provisions of this section of our constitution vis-a–viz its relation to the Okun race in Nigeria is contradictory and leaves much to be desired. The Okun axis is yet to produce a state governor after the creation of the state in august 27, 1991 and one thing stands clear that the Okuns are faithful, they do not abandon their neighbors in the hour of need.
For a region that have produced worthy nationalists both locally and internationally too numerous to mention due to space constraints, all
accomplished in their choosing fields of endeavors as well as contributed positively towards shaping Nigeria’s history in one way or the other.
In my humble and honest opinion and also in the beauty of democracy and fairness, the 2019 Kogi governorship poll should be exclusively opened to a credible, trustworthy, reliable and firm but decent Okun aspirant that will make Kogites proud.
Conclusively, In making these demands it should not be misconstrued to mean that the Okun nation is begging for patronage or attention, but rather a genuine call for justice, fairness and equity from a nation that has been unfairly treated and robed of its fair share among the committee of regions in the state.
For justice and equity are prerequisite of peace in any social system.
By Balogun Emmanuel Funsho.
Phone: 07034444976
Email: irule9ja@gmail.com
