Kogi 2011: Time for generational change

However, it becomes more interesting when the ‘young’ is pitched against the ‘old’. This is the case of Jibrin Isah of the PDP and Abubakar Audu of the ANPP.  The interesting characteristic of both candidates is that they have aliases to their name. Abubakar Audu is Ad’oja, translating to servant of the people. Jibrin Isah […]

However, it becomes more interesting when the ‘young’ is pitched against the ‘old’. This is the case of Jibrin Isah of the PDP and Abubakar Audu of the ANPP.  The interesting characteristic of both candidates is that they have aliases to their name. Abubakar Audu is Ad’oja, translating to servant of the people. Jibrin Isah is Echocho, translating to abundance in Igala.

Abubakar Audu is the old war horse from Ogbonicha in Ofu local government area; he was the first executive governor of the state in 1991. He got another shot at governance in 1999 and was demystified by relatively unknown Alhaji Ibrahim Idris (Ibro) in 2003. Audu has equally remained a perpetual face in the governorship race in the state. Jibrin Isah is 50-year-old from Aj’olo in Dekina local government area. He is new in politics. He is brilliant and dexterous.

The calculation is that given the dynamics in the state, Echocho is likely to pick an Okun (West) as his deputy. This will be a good political move coming from someone that is perceived to be new in the terrain. In essence, it will be disconnect from the norm of an Ebira deputy. Prince Audu might stick to the norm and pick an Ebira (central) as his running mate.

The effect is that Abubakar Audu will be aiming at the discontent from the Okuns to latch home victory. This move might be unpopular, considering the fact that the people are perceptibly tired of this approach. This much was highlighted in the 2007 contest that culminated in a re-run in 2008. However, times have changed and the tide is tilting towards the much awaited Kogi renaissance. And most people see Echocho as that agent. This is my thinking.

Echocho must have understood the effect of ‘changing the rhythm’ in strategic political thoughts, by proposing an Okun as running mate. It is understood that his campaign team consists of young professionals, drawn from various walks of life, with a mandate to think outside the box.

If elected, Echocho will likely be at the helm for eight years, baring all unforeseen circumstances and if he performs creditably well. This is in contrast to Audu’s constitutionally permitted four years. The tricky aspect of it all is that there will be lots of anti-party activities from both ends. But politics is a game of ‘immediate’ interest. Immediate interest in the sense that people are more interested in what they can see and hold, than what the future holds. This political orientation might impede on the Adoja ‘game plan’ of power shift to either west or central after his four year tenure. But who says promises can’t be broken?

It is also understood that Adoja’s campaign team is top-quality, but with little room for independent thinking and expression. I think that might be an encumbrance to posting an impressive result. In this era of creative ingenuity, an attempt to single-handedly dictate the rhythm will lead to a low productivity level. This has been the norm, but it is not tenable any longer in the politics of the state. I stand to be corrected. With the way things are now, I see Echocho carrying the day.

I say this for three reasons: Kogi professionals see him as one of them; Igalas in the diaspora also see in his candidature a departure from mediocrity; and Kogi youths see him as that channel through which hopes and aspirations can be translated into reality. This is also my thinking. So regardless of perceived discontent from the west and the central, Echocho will likely be given massive support across board.

Ocheja can be reached at [email protected]