Muritala Ajaka: To Whom The Cap Fit By Muhammed Yakubu
“All politics is local.” – Tip O’Neill
POLITICS DIGEST- The forthcoming gubernatorial election in Kogi has generated a lot of buzz in the state. Apparently, a lot of people have been shouting “Emi lo kan.” Within the state, the Okuns feel most marginalized because since the creation of Kogi in 1991, the highest position any of them has ever held is that of Deputy Governor. Meanwhile, the Ebiras are asking for another eight years in office, in order to be at par with the Igalas. And the Igalas are saying that power should be returned to them in the spirit of zoning. Afterall, if not for the tragic demise of the late Prince Abubakar Audu, they would have still been calling the shots as far as the affairs of the state is concerned.
The death of Prince Abubakar Audu is one which all concerned Kogites will never forget in a hurry because he had been regarded as the best thing to happen to the state since its creation by the administration of former Military President, Ibrahim Babangida.
The late Prince died in a manner that was unprecedented in the history of Nigerian politics. Prior to his departure, he was leading then sitting Governor, Captain Idris Wada, by a wide margin. This was cause for wild jubilation in the camp of the APC, only for this joy to be cut short when news started filtering in that their beloved Adoja had kicked the bucket. Subsequently, INEC had no choice but to declare the election inconclusive and the rest, as it is often said, is history.
The death of Audu was indeed a fatal blow not just to the Igalas, but the entire Kogi State. It will take an enormous miracle in the form of a visionary and altruistic Governor for the state to reawake and regain its pride of place amongst the comity of states in Nigeria.
Now, back to the ongoing struggle to determine the successor of the current Governor, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. Interestingly, it seems that the outgoing Governor shares the sentiment of Ebiras who want to rule for another eight years; after all, Kogi belongs to everybody and to nobody (Apologies to President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR).
As such, and in line with the 16 years agenda of the Ebiras, the Governor has long settled for his kinsman, Usman Ododo, as his successor. He even went the extra mile to ensure that he won the ruling party’s primary elections: a hurriedly and controversially conducted affair which drew the chagrin of other contestants from Kogi East and Kogi Central. Ododo’s candidature has now created a major crack in the ruling party, and if it is not well handled, it might be the final nail in the coffin of the APC in Kogi State.
The people of Kogi East are disappointed with GYB for going back on his promises to return power to them after his tenure. In a viral video that was released on social media, the Governor during a campaign somewhere in Igala land, promised one of the Igala sons in his cabinet succession to handle the state’s affairs. Whatever might have happened to make him go back on his words is probably just a story for another day.
Read Also:
Many Nigerians are keenly following the political events unfolding in Kogi State. Their concern on happenings within Kogi is understandable because Kogi is the only state that shares boundaries with ten other states in Nigeria. However, it is sad that the state has not really lived up to expectations inspite of its enormous human and natural resources. For one, Kogi ought to be attracting the highest inflow of tourism but the reverse is the case. This is why the good people of Kogi need to get things right this time around by going for a leader with a clear capacity to lead the state into due prominence: a visionary leader that has the interest of the long-suffering Kogites at heart. And in looking for such an individual, Kogites should look beyond tribe and religion. What should matter most of all is how well the affairs of the state would be regulated for the greater good of all and sundry.
It was the former US Speaker, Tip O’Neill that said, “All politics is local.” More than nine decades after he made that famous statement, it incredibly remains a valid assertion. Among the candidates jostling for the highest office in the state of Kogi, one manages to stand out among them. He is no other person than Alhaji Muritala Ajaka, popularly known as Muri. Calm, diminutive and unassuming, the Igala-born politician’s rise in the nation’s politics can best be described as meteoric. Born on 13th February, 1978 to the family of Alhaji Ojonimi Ajaka in Igala Mela Local Government Area, Kogi State, Muritala Ajaka did not just become a household name in Igala land and the entirety of Kogi by chance. Rather, he achieved due recognition by sheer dint of hard work and perseverance.
Muri is loved by his people. In fact, there is no Kogi politician that is loved and respected after the late Audu than Muri. As Deputy National Publicity Secretary of the All Progressives Congress, he worked tirelessly to ensure the success of his party in the last general election. Not only that, but he has consistently used his position and influence to attract development to Kogi State, especially his constituency. After all, charity as they say, begins at home.
Miffed that the party he had been working so hard for to ensure its growth and development in Kogi and the nation at large could deny him of the opportunity to serve his people, the consummate politician and businessman has decamped to the Social Democratic Party (SDP). This is all in order to fight vested interests and ensure that Kogi is free from the forces of retrogression holding it down.
Ultimately, the forthcoming governorship election in Kogi State is a golden opportunity for true Kogites to emancipate themselves. And it should be known for a fact that whatever choice the electorates in Kogi make at the end of the day will either serve to make or mar the progress of the state itself.
Muri is a compassionate leader whose experience at the national level will be instrumental towards putting Kogi State on a steady path of growth and development. He has, through his philanthropic efforts put smiles on the faces of the poor and the downtrodden. He is the reason why most local governments in Kogi State can boast of sola lights today. Therefore, I urge all Kogites to get behind Honourable Muri and lend him their valuable support. This is because he not only knows the road, but is passionately poised to lead the state to new dimensions of glory and excellence if he is elected as Governor, come November this year.
Muhammed Yakubu writes from Lokoja.
