There is a great influence of tribal agendas on political leadership which can result in the appointment of individuals to positions of power based on their tribal affiliations and sentiments rather than their qualifications. This has led to the enthronement of mediocrity in public governance in Nigeria, Kogi State not an exception. Appointments and elections on the platform of ethnicity has continued to compromise the quality and effectiveness of political governance and undermine the legitimacy of the political process.
The popular Igala maxim, “ENEMUNEME” which literally means “ a stranger is better than my brother” was a political ideology founded and propounded by our own Igala brothers which became the trending slang among young, old and kinsmen of Igalaland after the the emergence of the administration of His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Bello, a government that came into existence after the sudden demise of our political Icon, Late Prince Abubakar Audu.
ENEMUNEME read jointly with “EBIGO” means that ‘the seat of Governor should be tested by other tribes, not only in Igala speaking areas of the State, but its length and breadth’. In fact, it became a nightmare to those who stood against its popularisation.
As a democrat, I support the rights of every Kogites irrespective of tribe to aspire to the highest political office in the State. I am not a tribal demagogue that will hail political leaders of my tribal extraction while condemning or seeing nothing good in leaders from other tribes. I am an Igala man mentored for over 27 years by an Ebira man, Engr. Joseph Oyeyani Makoju of blessed memory. I continue to be a proud member of the Makoju’s family till date. What I am against is that despite the hue of maladministration by the Governor, perilous and profound political prodigality of 8 years, there was so much excitement in chorusing the term ‘Enemuneme’ on the lips of our people. To the extent, our brothers also with the Governor came up with an agenda ‘EBIGO’ meaning Ebira, Igala and Okun which was a concept that vowed to the three major tribes in Kogi State in the power-rotation equation. It was on this note that our people were cajoled and manipulated to deliver their zones for Governor Yahaya Bello. But as soon as the time reaches to do the needful as promised, he dumped the EBIGO concept in the dustbin and came up with “16:16:16” agenda which implies that since the Igalas did 16 years before power left them, the Ebiras should be allowed to now do extra 8 years before relinquishing power hopefully to the Okuns to do same 16 years in power too on behalf of the people of Kogi West or per chance for the Igalas to rather find their way back to power already.
The Enemuneme catchphrase itches our skins to the deep, Ebigo dumped and thrown into the trash and we are here with a new counter-coinage, Omayemime.
As earlier pointed out, I am not an ethnic jingoist.
This ethnic bigotry is capable of stoking the negative embers of ethnic empathy to the disadvantage of the rest of Kogites. This is the time to come together to clamor for a ‘Good Governance Agenda’ and embrace love, peace and unity to have a stable political leadership in Kogi State.
According to Priti Patel, “We must put behind us the tribalism and divisions seen in the referendum between Leave and Remain and focus on defining our place in the world, healing our wonderful nation and putting core Conservative principles and values into action.”
All we are seeking for in Kogi State is ‘An Agenda for Good Governance’ not IGALA, EBIRA, YORUBA, BASSA OR OKUN AGENDAS. Only Agenda for Good Governance can redeem our people from poverty, ignorance and deficient infrastructural development of our dear state. Politicians have deceived and divided us enough. Our blood brothers have betrayed and sold us. Those we call strangers did not help us. All the tribes feel the excruciating effects of bad governance. All the tribes must rise to reject mismanagement of our resources and good will.
An Igala adage goes thus ‘Anya ki bule jo, onwu ma du rulei’ meaning ‘The Horse that has the strength that is steady and faster will be the Horse that will be deployed to run”. That is who the cap fits, let him wear it’. Muri is a horse. He has strength. He can work. He can run. But we must not vote for him because he is Igala. Vote for him because he is capable. He is kind. He has empathy. He knows how to play political chess. I have taken a stand. Everyone today should look at the list of all the aspirants (Muri, Dino, Ododo, Col Sule, beyond ethnicity and take a stand.
Take a stand for your future, your children tomorrow and for posterity.
Kogi State needs all of us whether Igala, EBIRA or Yoruba. Don’t support bad governance because it is headed by your kinsmen.
