Rethinking power rotation in Kogi State
In the peculiar politics of post first republic Nigeria, power shift or rotational arrangement has come to assume the status of an unwritten law even among the most homogenous of socio-political collections. The phenomenon has become so much a part of our way of life that even respected professional bodies like the Nigerian Medical Association […]
In the peculiar politics of post first republic Nigeria, power shift or rotational arrangement has come to assume the status of an unwritten law even among the most homogenous of socio-political collections. The phenomenon has become so much a part of our way of life that even respected professional bodies like the Nigerian Medical Association and the Nigerian Bar Association are not left out in this rather pragmatic art of balancing power among contending interest groups. On this score alone, the long standing agitation by the Ebiras and the Okuns for power rotation in Kogi state can be rightly situated, even reasonably justified. My worry as a concerned Anaebira though lies in the reactionary attitude adopted particularly by my fellow Ebira kinsfolk in relating with this very important, if sensitive subject.
It is not unusual for mischief makers to always take undue advantage of the high wire emotions associated with such sensitive subjects as power shift and Kogi state cannot possibly be an exception. But should the good people of Ebiraland and their Okun neighbours fall victims to this age old and unholy agenda of their detractors both at home and abroad? I think not, instead a proactive strategy should be evolved whereby our Igala brethren are made to see our genuine and well intentioned agitation as a call to political harmony and social progress for all in the confluence state. Any approach short of reassuring the Igalas of the purity of our intent would be perceived by them as a rude challenge to their comfortable grip on power in the state and this would naturally be met by an equally stiff resistance from them. Incidentally, such an outcome can only serve the diabolical ends of our enemies and all efforts should be deployed towards averting such a parochial outcome to this timeless quest to build lasting trust and amity among the three catchment areas to Lugard House through a negotiated and harmonious power rotation formula.
World over, interest grouping is a well known political reality that should not be undermined because it serves not only as a means for projecting and protecting the aspirations of a given people within a pluralistic polity, it promotes social activism for improved condition of living, and accountable governance. It is within this context that I reprimand Anaebira for collectively failing to forge the kind of communal cohesion that would improve our present political fortunes and guarantee a secure future for our generations unborn. Similarly, the recent insinuation by some section of the media that Chief Philips Salau, the Deputy Governor of Kogi state is facing impeachment threats, though lacking any modicum of credibility, can at best be termed a most reprehensible distortion of facts that should provoke the ire of every genuine, well meaning and progressive Anaebira.
To insinuate that Chief Clarence Olafemi, the current Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly is positioning for the post of Deputy Governor upon the removal of Chief Salau smacks of dim witted appraisal of the political equation leading up to 2012 in the state.
But enough of this personality profiling and back to the place of the Ebiras and the Okuns in the politics of Kogi state vis-a-viz their good neighbourly cousins from the East senatorial district. And this is because the overall peace and progress of the state may well rest with finding a sustainable and all inclusive answer to this intractable political question.
The vociferous clamour for power rotation that has come to typify our politics both at national, state and even local government level is by no means limited to Kogi state alone. At least, we have seen how the cry by the Idomas of Benue state led to their being compensated with an even bigger position of the number three citizen in the country. Likewise, the emergence of Vice President Goodluck Jonathan can not be completely divorced from the rather discordant agitation by the South East for an Igbo President. Internationally too, the historic election of President Barak Obama came as a fitting climax to the protracted American civil rights movement championed by generations of black Americans antedating even the great Martin Luther King Jnr himself. And what is more, it took ages of struggle in the face of repressive apartheid to produce the first black president of South Africa in the person of our own legendary Madiba.
Like most other states in Nigeria where the power shift crusade is at its crescendo, it is apparent that a progressive resolution can hardly be achieved without the cooperation of the group welding power at the moment. I have no doubt that the Igalas fully understand this and are most willing to yield their much needed understanding in this regard, especially given the auspicious atmosphere engendered by Gov. Ibro’s evenhanded leadership in the past six years. But it is up to the Ebiras and the Okuns, the former especially, to put their acts together and rally round their political leaders in readiness for 2012.
Dr. Jerry is an Abuja-based doctor and politician