THE DIFFERENCE
In a few days, the restriction on formal campaigns will be lifted. With that, the limits on lies, manipulations, selling and marketing (of all sorts) will be removed. Lies like the Naira becoming at par with the dollar. Lies like creating 5 million jobs a year. On the contrary, in 7 years Nigeria has become the poverty capital of the world and the country with the highest number of unemployment people. APC met the exchange at N197/$1 but today it is over N700/$1.
There are essentially two political parties qualified for the appellation of a national organization in Nigeria: PDP and APC. There are four renowned personalities (Atiku, Tinubu, Obi and Kwankwaso) gunning for the Presidency out of which only two combine the advantages of party-pedigree, national spread-reach and personal network-net worth.
As for our dear but challenged state, arguably there are three political parties; GYB’s APC, fledgling APC and the opposition PDP. I dare say all APC candidates in Kogi (particularly Kogi East) are Yahaya Bello’s candidates on the platform of the APC whilst all the PDP candidates are the Igala-Bassa candidates. We are told that all those who made Bello’s list of candidates are those who accede to his desperate desire to foist his goon on the state as the next Governor. Clearly, the elections in February and March 2023 are a pointer to the November gubernatorial election.
Inferably, a vote for any APC candidate is a vote for Bello’s third term agenda and the continued marginalization of Kogi East. A vote for APC is a vote for poverty and inequality. A vote for APC is a vote for continued non-existence of the Local Government councils.
Yes, there are dissents in our ranks (not unexpected) but this is not the time to be divided if our motifs are beyond personal. As candidates, we are not Igala’s best but providence has put us in this position (today) and I beg you to look beyond our frailties as human beings. It could be any of you tomorrow and as such I beseech you to do for us what you would expect from us if you were the candidate.
You can see from the body languages of ALL the frontline Presidential candidates that RESTRUCTURING would be a key issue of any of them who becomes President. Igala-Bassa needs her best at the national table in such critical time and not someone who will look to Lugard House for approval.
I carry the Igala-Bassa mandate on the platform of the PDP and to this end, I pledge that in all my doings and dealings as your Senator, the Igala-Bassa will be sacrosanct at all times.