Power rotation, 2023 Governorship poll in Kogi
Ademu Usman Idakwo, Abuja
Following the release of official timetable for the conduct of Governorship elections in Imo, Bayelsa and Kogi States, the political rivalry between the three major ethnic tribes in kogi State seems to have been renewed, as agitations for power retention and shift of power raised its ugly head with political bickering.
The Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) had last month approved a timetable for the conduct of elections in those three states slated to be held on 11th of November, 2023.
INEC said primary election for the affected states will be March 27th to April 17th , 2023
The Commission further disclosed that, the statutory notice for the elections shall be published in the states on 14th, November, 2022, while the online portal for the submission of nomination forms (EC9 and EC9B) by political parties opens at 9.00am on 24th April2023 and closes at 6.00 pm on the 5th May 2023.
Shortly after the announcement, major political players and political parties in kogi State went back to the drawing board to look for who and where their candidates will come from. While the main opposition, Peoples Democratic Party, PDP are now contemplating of returning the ticket to Kogi East Senatorial District, the ruling All Progressive Congress, APC were waiting to take instruction from the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello on where the ticket will be zoned to.
Politicians from the Central Senatorial District, the home of the incumbent Governor are however not hiding their intentions to succeed their kinsman and retain the power in the central senatorial district which is presently running their second term of Eight years in the office.
Those rumored to be eyeing the coveted seat are the present Chief of Staff to Governor Yahaya Bello, Pharmacist, Jamiu Asuku, a young and vibrant personality but not too experienced political actor.
Though he should not be underrated in the scheme of things because of his close association with the Governor.
The other contender also alleged to be nursing ambition is the State Accountant General, Alhaji Momoh Jibrin.
Alhaji Jibrin reputed to have followership and command structure within the rank of some politicians across the state, just like the Chief of Staff but the popularity does not sound enough to give him victory over any other contestant from the two other senatorial districts except they are given a push by the Governor who is presently having the party structure at his grip.
Political observers in the state have however given credit to Governor Yahaya Bello for his politics of inclusion which has earned him acceptability among political gladiators across the state.
It was revealed that he will earn more if he allow free hands in the party for the flag bearer to be nominated based on popular demand but not to impose any candidate on the party. The two other senatorial districts; Kogi East and the West are now parading aspirants gunning to succeed Governor Yahaya Bello, despite agitation from supporters of Pharmacist Asuku and Alhaji Jibrin to cause power to remain in the Central.
Among these aspirants are the Deputy Governor of kogi State and Bello’s man friday, Chief Edward David Onoja.
Despite repeated denial by the Deputy Governor of his intention to succeed his boss, the body language continues to betray him as someone who will go into the race.
He is politically experienced no doubt, with support base across the state but the agitation for power shift to the West looks like a wedge between him and his ambition as the Western Senatorial District were said to be working assiduously to achieve their aim.
Another aspirant from kogi East, is the Deputy National Publicity Secretary of All Progressive Congress, APC, Alhaji Murtala Ajaka, who had recently declared during his tour of the nine Local Government Areas of Kogi East.
He said to have started having a running battle with the powers that be in APC in the state as his ambition doesn’t sit well with them.
Shaibu Audu, son of the former Governor, late Prince Abubakar Audu, is also in the race from Kogi East.
Shaibu Audu looks more of a pretender in the race than to be seen as a contender, because his political activities are yet to be reckoned with as most of his outings were seen to be one sided without cutting across the three senatorial districts or having direct bearing on the people.
Although, he was said to be building his ambition on the popularity of his late father which may not clearly give him a victory as many of the late Prince Abubakar Audu political dynasty have gone on separate ways to further their political career following the demise of the political icon in 2015.
The acceptability of the remaining figures, the duo of Edward Onoja and Murtala Ajaka in Kogi East continue growing among their supporters and admirers though it is not too clear if any of them will receive the blessing on the Governor to succeed him.
As the permutations continue, those agitating for the shift of power to the west senatorial district have started drumming their support to ensure the actualization of Kogi West governorship candidate on the APC.
One of the early caller in the struggle, Kogi Unity Forum, KUF had recently in a well publicized press statement urged aspirants from other senatorial districts in the state to support the west senatorial district to produce the next Governor in the state.
In a their statement which was jointly signed by Honourable, Adama Usman from Kogi East, Honourable Adinoyi Omaiza Simon from the Central Senatorial District and Abiodun Agbana from the West Senatorial District respectively said the group commended the State Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello for promoting equity in governance for past seven years.
The group further stated that for continuity of Kogi agenda (Igala,Ebira, Okun which is Ebigo) as entrenched by the present administration, power should naturally move to the West. The group which was speaking in support of the present Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Makadam Asiru Idris, called on the Governor to throw his weight behind some experienced members of his cabinet in order to continue the good governance.
The group said they are specifically happy with the support their calling is getting from the entire West, East and Central for power shift to the West adding that it is a glaring way of promoting brotherhood among the people of the state.
The crux of the campaign is that the East has had their fair share of 16 years, the central 8 years while the west had not tasted power since the creation of the state except the nomination of the then Speaker of Kogi State House of Assembly, Mr. Clarence Olafemi as Acting Governor for a brief transition during a governorship re-run election in 2007.
The group commended the Finance Commissioner as a very prudent and meticulous person who runs an open-door policies.
The West appeared ready for the battle ahead because at the last count, it is the only the Commissioner for Finance, Alhaji Makadam Asiru Idris that is gathering support from the West on the platform of All Progressive Congress, APC while other two senatorial districts are gradually witnessing upsurge of governorship aspirants on the many political parties in Nigeria. Though it will be too early to conclude that APC may field its governorship candidate from Kogi West but all indications are pointing to that, few months into the governorship primary in the state.
