Kogi East is the largest of the three senatorial districts in Kogi State with nine local governments and 51 per cent of total voter population of Kogi State. The senatorial district covers Idah, Ibaji, Igalamela/Odolu, Ofu, Dekina, Ankpa, Olamaboro, Bassa and Omala local governments. The district is currently represented by Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho in upper red chamber of Nigeria senate.
Despite its political advantage, family loyalty and patronage has destroyed it political stance at the mercy of other senatorial district.
First and foremost, i will like to call on all political activist and advocate for good governances within kogi East to posses the habit of fair and square in her analysis and also shun tribal bigotry. In kogi east, many things has gone wrong and that affect the entire Igala kingdom, morally, socially and politically. It’s pertinent we acknowledge them and talk about them often, i belief this would send signal to our past leaders of the damages they have caused and equally prepare the mind of our young ones, especially those aspiring for different political offices that we the Igalas are not please with our past hence, they’re urgent need of alteration tactics politically.
In 2003, we all know how unified we were and that play a significance role in unseating the then incumbent governor of kogi state late Prince Audu because of his inability to pay state civil servants mostly the teachers and his choice of words used in promoting himself during his electioneering campaign that most Igala sons and daughter saw as pride and insult. In a beat to remove Audu out of office, Igalas optioned in Alhaji Idris who spent nine years in office with average performance and left us with major political crack and division we are still suffering till date.
I mention that because of the role he played in installing Wada as his successor. On the side of Mr Wada, am very certain many kogites will understand his situation, base on the process that birthed him, he did not enjoy full freedom or independent as a governor and that caused him to experience difficulties in his administration, he was put under tight corner by the power that brought him. He who play the piper dictate it tune. He left office with little or no tangible projects to account for as most time in office was used to pay homages to the power that brought him.
Come 2015 when Igala people felt to have Prince Audu Abubakar back to insult them and have development unlike Wada who never believe in development but only play to the gallery to please federal government that kogi was debt free. The lost of Prince Audu to the cold hand of death saw to the emergency of Yahaya Bello from a minority group what seems to be impossible in political history in Kogi state. Many people saw to his victory as the hand of God and power belong to God. There’s every need we must accept to the fact that Igala politics of divide, double standard, gluttonous and rule play against themselves during 2019 gubernatorial election set off unavoidable defeat of Engr Musa Wada to the incumbent and if this is not properly addressed, 2023 is another sheen chance to lose.
It will be insensitive and trivial of anyone to undermine this narrative and continue to trade blame on Governor Yahaya Bello over self deficiencies we failed to acknowledge.
