By joshua 2027: Kogi West Group Insists on Power Rotation, Alleges Harassment.
A pressure group, De-Group Kogi West O’Clock, has restated its demand for rotation of governorship power to Kogi West Senatorial District in 2027, saying the issue should not be subjected to unnecessary debate.
The group made its position known on Wednesday at a press conference held at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Press Centre, Lokoja.
Addressing journalists, spokesperson of the group and former member of the House of Representatives for Lokoja/Kogi Federal Constituency, Barr. Shaba Ibrahim, said the agitation for power shift to Kogi West remains non-negotiable.
Ibrahim recalled that the quest for power rotation was not new, noting that it had been discussed under previous administrations including those of late former Governors Abubakar Audu, Ibrahim Idris and Captain Idris Wada.
He said the group had honoured the invitation to the power-shift summit recently organised by the Kogi State Government, which was expected to provide a platform for dialogue and peaceful engagement.
“We were invited to the summit which was supposed to advocate peace, but some of our delegates were intimidated. Our supporters were harassed and our banners were destroyed,” he alleged.
He acknowledged that Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo has a constitutional right to seek a second term in 2027, but insisted that such right would not stop the legitimate demand for equity and fairness.
“The Governor has a constitutional right to a second term, but that cannot stop our agitation,” he said.
Also speaking, Alhaji Sulaiman Baba, who represented the Dankwo Development Forum, said community-based organisations backing the agitation were doing so on the principles of equity, justice and fairness.
Baba disclosed that the Forum submitted seven recommendations to the summit, including that power rotation should commence with Kogi West from 2027.
He said the stated objective of the summit was to promote peace and dialogue, but alleged that events at the venue fell short of expectations, with banners belonging to supporters of power shift destroyed by persons he described as thugs.
Similarly, retired Colonel Kabir Ndamadu Mohammed described what transpired at the summit as “a show of shame,” insisting that advocates of power rotation would remain resolute despite alleged intimidation.
“What we saw today is a show of shame,” Mohammed said.
The press conference was attended by a former Director of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL), Alhaji Bala Haruna, Alhaji Sulaiman Muhammed Baba, Alhaji Hamisu Nayashi and retired Colonel Ndamadu Mohammed, among others.