By joshua EJEH OF OFU, HRH DR OBAJE ENDORSE POWER ROTATION IN KOGI, SAYS SAME IDEA RESTORED ORDER IN ATTAH IGALA SELECTION PROCESS AS POWER ROTATION CAMPAIGNERS HITS OFU LGA
As the advocacy for power rotation as championed by Kogi Unity Accord intensifies, the Ejeh of Ofu in Ofu LGA of Kogi State, DR Akwu OBAJE has thrown his full support and that of the Ofu traditional council behind the proposal as a permanent way to solve the power conundrum that plagues the state since her creation in 1991.
The Royal father who received the delegation at his Ugwolawo palace alongside his council members, further said the Igala kingdom was faced with internal crisis on succession plan and selection process for the seat of Attah Igala after the demise of late Atta Alh Aliyu Obaje, a situation that led to irreconcilable difference until the then Governor Idris Wada repealed the law to allow for proper power rotation among the original four ruling houses in the Kingdom.
The monarch insisted that the decision on rotation of Attah stool was not acceptable to some traditional rulers but today it has become the harbinger of peace, development and unity in choosing successive Attah which has united the people more than before. Drawing inspiration from this, the Royal father said it is about time for Kogi state leaders to come on a roundtable and agree on amicable and equitable way of power rotation for peace and development.
The EJEH described the advocacy campaign as first of it’s kind and a timely intervention for peaceful coexistence. He promised to attend the proposed summit, mobilize his people to come with a common goal for the actualization of the noble idea.
Speaking earlier, the team lead and the Convener of the Kogi Unity Alliance, Omoluabi Bode Adeyemi said the engagement provides an opportunity for the delegation to explain the vision behind the proposed summit and seek the active participation and support of the traditional institution and people of Ofu LGA in the emerging conversation on equitable political power sharing and balanced development across the state.
Addressing the gathering, Omoluabi Bode Adeyemi said the visit was part of the group’s deliberate effort to engage every component of Kogi society before the proposed Kogi Leadership and Stakeholders Summit on Power Rotation.
He explained that the Kogi Unity Accord believes that issues concerning political power, governance and resource distribution should not be determined through confrontation or exclusion, but through constructive dialogue, mutual respect and a broad consensus among the people.
According to him, the proposed summit is designed to create a neutral and inclusive platform where traditional rulers, religious leaders, socio-cultural organisations and other respected voices can openly discuss the future of power rotation and resource allocation in Kogi State.
Omoluabi Bode Adeyemi emphasized that the campaign is not targeted against any individual, ethnic group, senatorial district or political interest, but is focused on building consensus around a more equitable political arrangement capable of strengthening unity and peaceful coexistence among the people of Kogi State.
He further noted that Governor Usman Ahmed Ododo’s second-term ambition provides an important foundation upon which the conversation on rotational governorship should rest and begin.
The Convener argued that continuity in governance is necessary for the consolidation of ongoing policies, projects and institutional reforms, stressing that a stable political environment would also provide the opportunity for stakeholders to deepen discussions on an equitable succession arrangement.
He said the Kogi Unity Accord would continue to encourage stakeholders to look beyond immediate political interests and consider the long-term consequences of decisions taken today on the unity, stability and political future of the state.
The Kogi Unity Accord maintained that the Ofu engagement represents another important milestone in its ongoing statewide consultation.
The group noted that sustainable power rotation cannot be achieved through political declarations alone, but requires the collective understanding and participation of the people, particularly traditional rulers, religious leaders, community leaders and socio-cultural organisations.
The delegation therefore called on stakeholders across the state to approach the proposed summit with an open mind and a commitment to finding a framework that guarantees fairness, strengthens unity and protects the interests of present and future generations.
Omoluabi Bode Adeyemi reiterated that the Kogi Unity Accord would continue its consultations across the three senatorial districts, stressing that every community and interest group deserves an opportunity to contribute to the conversation.
He said the group remains committed to promoting a political culture where power is shared through dialogue, consensus and mutual respect rather than bitterness, division or exclusion.
The delegation disclosed that consultations with traditional rulers, religious leaders, and socio-cultural organisations would continue in the coming days as the group builds momentum for the proposed summit.
The group described the commitment from Ofu as a strong indication that the conversation on power rotation and equitable resource allocation is gaining wider acceptance across Kogi State.
It reiterated that the ultimate objective is to strengthen unity, justice, equity, inclusion and peaceful political coexistence, while creating a sustainable roadmap for the future political development of Kogi State.