By joshua FROM WADA TO ODODO: How Fear Has Replaced Fair Play in Kogi Politics.History is a great teacher, if we care to learn.
Simon Atuluku Opaluwa
Former Governor of Kogi State, Captain Idris Ichala Wada, was a one-term Governor. When he sought re-election in 2015, something remarkable happened – something we must not forget.
A governorship candidate from Kogi Easy Alh. Jibrin Isa Echocho contested the primaries against him in the same party. It was open, it was fierce, it was democratic.
The political leaders at that time, even with all their interests, had no issues with the West and its long, legitimate ambition to produce a Governor. All candidates enjoyed a level playing field to pursue their respective ambitions. That is what democracy looks like.
Fast forward to 2026.Today, die-hard political gladiators from the Central are beating their chests and telling anyone who cares to listen that only Ododo and nobody else must rear his head. Not even Kogi West – a district that has endured, that has been drenched, that has been drained and denied for 34 years, must dare to make any attempt at Lugard House.
Why has confidence been replaced with cowardice? Why has a level playing field been replaced with threats and intimidation?
It is important to stress here that the West has resolved to participate. And not just to participate, but to ensure that power rotates to the West in 2027.
Let Governor Ododo oil his re-election campaign team. That is his right.The West will also mobilize. We will support our own candidate and vote en-bloc with our allies – those genuine friends who have continued to support the West and have offered us a clear path to victory in 2027.
We are not taking their support for granted. We know how their support base helped enthrone this present administration. We are leveraging on that goodwill. They have rekindled our belief. And because of them, Kogi West is more determined than ever before to take its turn.
We have the people. We have the talent. We have the capacity to turn things around , introduce people-centred ideas into governance – ideas driven by unity and genuine shared prosperity. Kogi west holds that collective promise.
The immediate past and current administrations have demonstrated nothing but ineptitude and a clear lack of vision to pilot the affairs of this state. We have seen their best in the last 13 years and still counting.
2027 is not about fighting the Central. It is about rescuing Kogi from incompetence. And the West is ready to lead that rescue.