Ododo’s Emergence and Resurgence of Ethnic Politics in Kogi
By Ozumi Abdul
Before now, I thought tribal politics in Kogi state had gone for good with the coming of Governor Yahaya Bello in 2016.
This is discernible from his penchant to appeal to the ethnic, cultural, social and religious diversities of the people of the state.
I had honestly heaved a sigh of relief that tribal politics that gripped Kogi is now entombed and interred to rest eternally in the graveyard of history, and never to reincarnate like an abiku child whose spirit keeps lurking around the threshold, and coming back to the same fatigued and weary mother for rebirths.
My confidence was borne out of the fact that Governor Bello has been very deliberate in addressing the ugly menace of tribal politics in the state.
He does this by breaking down the walls and bricks of ethnicity that hitherto divided the state and its people, while also institutionalising equity and equality, with the birth of EBIGO, (Ebira, Igala, Okun) agenda.
Regrettably however, here we are again as a state and people. Here we are with acerbic tribal politics again, with its comminatory and disconsolate kite being first flown by one Phrank Shaibu, the Special Assistant on Public Communications to the former vice president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar last week, with his piece published by Daily Trust, titled, “Kogi 2023: Why Yahaya Bello will bellow in agony”.
In what appeared to have noisome interposition in Kogi’s affairs, he questioned the governor’s endorsement of Mr Usman Ahmed Ododo, the Kogi state Accountant General, as his anointed candidate to pick the All Progressives Congress (APC) ticket.
The ember of divisive ethnic and tribal politics stoked by that piece has today metamorphosed into a wild, wide and barbarous fire threatening to consume the euphoric and intermittent cordial harmony enjoyed so far by the major ethnic extractions of the state since this New Direction administration of Governor Bello assumed the Lugard House.
Sadly enough, our ants of different species that hitherto co-inhabited harmoniously and peacefully in an enclosed jar have now been pitched against one another by Shaibu who shook the jar and allowed us to riotously sting one another with tribal venoms and vituperations.
Our Igala brothers and sisters are now shouting on top of their voices, contesting what they call ” tribal bias” because of the governor’s adoption of Ododo.
In all sincerity and in all ramifications, what wrong(s) has the governor done in anointing Ododo, since the latter emerged via a direct primary election?
Are the Igalas angry that the governor prevailed on other aspirants of Ebira extraction, particularly his Chief of Staff, Abdulkareem Asuku, to step down for Ododo which aided his easy victory?
Do the Igalas quickly need to be reminded of the political melodrama of April 19, 2003, that was exactly 20 years ago; when the late AT Ahmed was the leading aspirant of Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), and the former Kogi state governor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris (Ibro) was trailing him, and all of a sudden, Dr Alex Kadir in the third position stepped down for Ibro, and instructed his supporters to vote him and Ibro emerged the PDP candidate?
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The Kogites who expected Governor Bello to anoint his deputy, Edward Onoja, may be unaware that there is no precedent for that kind of succession arrangement in the political history of the state.
After ruling the state for over nine years, Governor Ibrahim Idris once ignored his deputy, Dr Philip Salawu, an Ebira man, to anoint a fellow Igala man, Jibrin Isa Echocho, and when he was disqualified, he picked another Igala man, Idris Wada, who was governor for four years.
For the sake of fairness, equity and equality, why was Dr Salawu not handed the party’s ticket then on the silver platter to run so that power can shift to the Central, since PDP was the strongest party then? How come the present set of emergency preachers did not find their voices that time?
We really need to tone down the ethnic rhetoric in our elections. Governance is not about ethnicity and religion as Bello has shown in the obvious government presence in Kogi East in recent years.
As an Ebira governor, Bello has done a lot for the Igalas without thinking about ethnic considerations? What makes them think Ododo, another Ebira man, will not repeat the feat or even do better for the Igala race?
Bello’s administration provided succour to the people of Kogi East, via the ‘light-up Kogi East Project’. The programme, which was flagged off in June 2020, was able to upgrade critical electricity distribution infrastructure, enabling and enhancing power evacuation from Itobe substation in Ajaokuta to most parts of Kogi East.
This has increased in no small measure the load capacity of evacuated power from 14.5 MW to circa 45 MW, thereby providing sustainable electricity to 24 communities spread across nine Local Government Areas (LGAs) of Kogi East.
Bello’s administration constructed Umomi — Akpagidigbo — Ugwolawo — Ajaka — Idah road which links 3 Local Government Areas viz: Ofu, Igalaland/Odolu and Idah LGAs; and the Ibana — Okpo — Ogugu — Ette road in Olamaboro Local Government Area, as well as Ankpa — Ejegbo — Ejema — Odagba — Enabo — Ofugo — Inye — Abejukolo road which links Ankpa and Omala Local Government Areas respectively.
His administration built the township road, remodelled it, and refurbished Ankpa Central Mosque after many years of abandonment.
The 55 KM Ayingba-Idah road that connects the Igala land to her traditional headquarters comes out like a circle of smooth travel.
The 36 KM Ibana-Okpo-Igah-Ogugu-Ete Road in Olamaboro LGA. The Ayingba-Ogane Aji erosion work and road network in Dekina which includes the old University gate road with full Asphalt overlay was constructed by Bello’s administration.
The governor has also constructed the ‘Igala Unity House’ (Unyi – Udama – Igala) and 11 fully furnished Guest Houses.
The Adumu erosion work and adjoining roads in Ogugu District in Olamaboro LGA is another testament of Governor Bello’s impact. The Idah General Hospital is now renovated and equipped as Zonal Hospital with attractions from the three Senatorial districts.
Aside from renaming the Kogi State University (KSU), Anyigba, after Prince Abubakar Audu, the government also remodelled the PAUU Teaching Hospital with state-of-the-art medical facilities with capacity to handle major medical issues.
There is therefore no evidence whatsoever that Ododo will depart from the Bello legacy if he wins the election. The outcry coming from Kogi East is needless and hasty.
Ozumi Abdul is a journalist and staff writer with PR-NIGERIA. He can be reached via [email protected]
