A Question of Political Self-Determination
Why must it be Ebira from Kogi Central Senatorial District that will sit down to select the Senator, House of Representatives, and House of Assembly Members, going forward to include Chairmen of Councils and even Councillors for the Igala people of Kogi East Senatorial District?
This reality must be confronted and stopped from resonating.
The Okun people of Kogi West have successfully resisted political enslavement; they drew the line and said “enough.” Today, they decide who represents them.
*What are the Igalas doing about it?*
It is deeply disheartening to hear a former Governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello, makes a public comment that “he is on the ballot and not Joseph Erico Ameh, his preferred candidate for the exalted position,” for a whole Igala Nation?
Let that sink in.
A leader from another Senatorial District is telling us, the Igala people, who are and who are not on the ballot for our own seats. He is deciding the fate of Kogi East from Lokoja, from Okene, from anywhere but here.
*THE HARD TRUTH*
1. *Representation is not a gift*; it is a right. No Senatorial District should play god over another.
2. *When outsiders choose our leaders, they will serve outsiders first*. Loyalty follows the hand that feeds.
3. *Silence is consent*. If we do nothing, then we have agreed to be tenants in our own political house.
*THE OKUN EXAMPLE*
The Okun people resisted; they organized and spoke with one voice. They refused to allow their destiny to be written in another man’s compound. And today, they are respected.
*What is stopping Igala?*
Is it a division? Is it money politics? Is it fear? Is it that we have too many “errand boys” and too few stakeholders?
*THE WAY FORWARD*
The time has come for Kogi East to rise.
1. *We must decide our candidates* by consensus, by primaries, by due process — but by us.
2. *We must defend our votes*; not sell them, not mortgage them.
3. *We must build institutions, not personalities*, so that no single man, from Central or elsewhere, can sit and handpick our future.
4. *We must speak with one voice*; Igala’s interest must be above Igala ego.
*FINAL WORD*
The ballot belongs to the people, not to a godfather or another zone.
*Kogi East must produce Kogi East leaders*.
If we fail to act now, history will judge us. The suffering generations will ask: “When they were selling your future, where were you?”
*Enough is Enough*.
Let the Igala people take back their voice, take back their power, and take back their destiny.
*Truth fears no trial.*
God bless Kogi East. God bless Igala land.
Chief Akwu Umar Pharooq Goodman
