Kogi State and the Expected Change -By Aliyu Audu

If there is a state in Nigeria that needs change more than Nigeria itself, it has to be Kogi State. Kogi, so blessed with both human and natural resources yet, never lives up to expectation. It has always dwelt in the bottom spot in any ranking of performing states, either in terms of governance, the economy or development.

The poor governance and lack of development in Kogi State is further compounded by the uneven distribution of political appointments and limited infrastructure. The Kogi East senatorial zone enjoys an undue, overwhelming preference over the other two – Kogi Central and Kogi West senatorial zones. The Kogi East senatorial zone has, since creation, always produced the
governor of the state. It has also always enjoyed an unfair advantage in a manner that attempts to redefine democracy as a system of government by a certain people for a certain people.

Kogi state was created in 1991 from parts of Kwara and Benue states, with three main ethnic groups and languages, the Igala, Ebira, and Okun (a Yoruba Group). Other minorities in the state are the Bassa, Nupe, Ogugu, Gwari, Kakanda, Oworo, ogori magongo and the Eggan. The Kogi East senatorial zone is home to the Igalas, while Kogi Central and Kogi West are for the Igbiras and Okuns respectively. I have listened to aspirants and politicians from the Kogi East senatorial zone make unguarded declarations that it is impossible to have a governor from anywhere outside their zone – an utterance that is disrespectful to the people of the two other senatorial zones.

The introduction of Permanent Voter’s Cards (PVCs) and card readers into our electoral process has put an end to the era of virtual votes, and the result was evident in the last presidential election in the state that saw the Kogi Central and West zones record about 60 percent of the total votes cast to about 40 percent from the Kogi East senatorial zone. While Kogi East enjoys a simple numerical head-to-head advantage over each of the other two senatorial zones, its continuous retention of the governorship slot cannot be the only possible option for the people of Kogi State. Kogi East by itself cannot determine who becomes the governor. It is equally an act of hypocrisy for the same people calling for the rotation of power at the national level to defend the retention of power at the state level in one senatorial zone, despite the poor performances of the governors from there, which have plunged the state into underdevelopment and debts.

There have been no signs of development in the state over the years despite the huge sums received from the federal allocation, internally generated revenues and borrowed funds. The state currently competes for top spot in categories of states with unpaid salaries for public workers, poor conditions of infrastructure, and a generally visionless leadership. It is pertinent for the leaders and stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC), both at the national and state levels, to know that Nigerians and indeed the world are watching with keen interest the degree of change they bring to Kogi State. The party that rode on the mantra of change to the centre will, in a few months, conduct its gubernatorial primary election to produce the party’s flag bearer for its next gubernatorial election. The only type of change befitting the people of Kogi State is one that includes the rotation of power from the Kogi East senatorial zone to another zone in the state, in the spirit of the equity, justice and fairness that APC preaches.

The level of corruption, the bad economy, poor conditions of living and general lack of development in the state after 16 years of governance from the Kogi East senatorial zone are more than enough reasons for the people of either of the other two senatorial zones in the state to be given a chance to produce a governor, in order to strengthen unity and promote a general sense of belonging amongst the people of the state. The people of Kogi state yearn for change and there is no better time than now to get it.

Aliyu Audu is a member of the Confluence Alliance For Leadership Movement (CALM). He tweets @aliyu_audu.