The meteoric rise of Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka’s political profile has dumbfounded and amazed his enemies and nay sayers. Presently, he is operating with a type of star that cannot be quenched, by any human being! Even Muri cannot understand what has hit him!
The so-called ‘critical stakeholders’ in the current dispensation are those that were privileged to be voted into political offices in the past, from Kogi East. They are those whose political lamp stands have been removed, for sins they committed against their people.
When the ‘popular stakeholders’ (the masses) appointed a committee headed by Arc. Gabriel Aduku to select a consensus candidate for the November 11, 2023 governorship election, these ‘unbelievers’ hurriedly formed themselves into a committee to select their own. The reason was that, they felt they should be the ones to decide for their people – the masses!!
Some of them were members of Aduku committee, collectively put in place by the masses. But, they pulled out and formed the infamous ‘critical stakeholders’ committee, where false pride held sway. They didn’t know that the power and authority they were trying to exercise were no more available.
Seven and a half years of Yahaya Bello’s misgovernment, these ‘finished politicians’ abandoned their people to face the misrule of the state government. In their various communities, they didn’t come home to identify with their people’s sufferings.
The appellation ”critical stakeholders” should have been suitable for a group of patriotic Kogians standing against Bello’s recklessness. They all went underground, for fear of the unknown. Suddenly, we now have a group called ‘critical stakeholders’ to fight against the political ambition of one of their kinsmen. WITCHCRAFT!!!
Even the governorship primary elections of their various political parties that held this year, in Lokoja, these so called ‘critical stakeholders’ were not deemed qualified to be delegates. Their political parties excluded them.
Unknown to them the masses have elected to take their destiny in their own hands. The spontaneous support for Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, as Kogi Consensus candidate, is an indication that power belongs to the people. He emerged out of a laborious process, involving several community development associations. Aduku’s committee just collated the voting results of these associations.
Let nobody make mistake, Kogi East voting population is not divided. Every other candidate outside Muri is a distraction. Gov. Bello knows this! That is why Muri is his number one enemy. Gov. Bello has allegedly boasted in private places that Muri would be state governor, ”over my dead body,” in common parlance. A good wish! Don’t you think so? God answers prayers.
But, Bello is not God!! In history, we saw imperial kingdoms and empires being swept away with the passage of time and by the same force that created them. We saw the fall of Nebuchadnezzar, Pharaoh, Hitler, Mussolini Benito, among other blood sucking despots. Bello is a neophyte compared to these emperors.
Here are some of the reasons why some of the so called governorship candidates have failed to step down for Muri:
Pride: They believe Muri is a political juvenile, who should not receive the honour. What they have failed to understand is that election is not about the ‘MOST QUALIFIED’. If it is, Professor Sole Soyinka, Nobel Laurette, for example, would have been President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, long ago.
Election is for the MOST PREPARED, MOST POPULAR, in addition to the grace of God. Presently, Muri seems to be enjoying all these.
Very sadly enough, one of the candidates feel that he was selected by ‘critical stakeholders’ – supposed political heavyweights, in Kogi East! The candidate has, no doubt, seen the reality and futility of his misadventure, but does not have the courage to step down, because of the intimidating presence of the ‘critical stakeholders’. Many of the ‘critical stakeholders can no longer win their polling units!! Their communities have alienated them. Before they arrived home, after a long time, their communities selected their consensus candidate (Muri), instead of waiting for them to choose for them.
Many of the ‘critical stakeholders’ believe that Muri has no requisite educational qualification to contest the governorship election. Delusion!! We have asked them to wait and approach the tribunal, when Muri eventually wins.
Educational qualification is a key requirement for any election. Muri (the underdog) cannot be stupid not to have perfected this before offering himself for votes.
Crowd at rallies may not be a true reflection of success at polls. But the craze and the madness at every gathering Muri comes, is an unmistakable sign of popularity/acceptability.
In contrast, we have seen recently, where rallies by one of the candidates were attended mostly by curious children and masquerades. In some places, the number of black SUVs were more than the spectators. Several times those that attend were mere SPECTATORS, not AUDIENCE, as it were.
We have it on record that some of these candidates are in secret alliance with Gov. Bello/Ododo. They exchange phone calls and compare notes, at intervals. They even boast that they are the only ones that can campaign freely, without fear of molestation or attack.
Some of us painstakingly and grudgingly accepted Muri as a true and destined candidate. From all indications, the grace to occupy Lugard House has been released on him.
We are waiting for God to perfect it.
