Boldness vs. Blind Loyalty: A Tale of Two Sons of Okunland
At Kabba Day 2025, two contrasting characters stood before the people of Okunland.
One spoke with courage; the other spoke with caution.
One defended the people; the other defended his benefits.
Distinguished Senator Sunday Steve Karimi once again proved that leadership is not measured by how close you are to power, but how boldly you speak for your people. His words were fearless, his posture unapologetic, and his message clear Okun has suffered enough, and the time to rise is now. His commitment, including his ₦50 million support, was not just generosity; it was a declaration of responsibility to his land.
He spoke as a free man, a man who understands the plight of Okun Nation, which since the creation of Kogi State has never tasted the governorship despite being one of the three major blocs that formed the state. For over three decades:
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Kogi East has ruled for many years
Kogi Central has also taken its turn
But Kogi West, especially the Okun people, remain the only zone yet to govern
This injustice is not accidental; it is the product of years of silence, fear, and leaders who choose loyalty to their benefactors over loyalty to their people.
That is why Senator Karimi’s boldness matters. He is among the few who understand that the time for Okun to produce the governor is NOT “if” it is NOW.
Because if we miss this opening, only God knows when another opportunity will come.
The political atmosphere has aligned in our favour for the first time in decades. The same “who-knows-who” politics that once worked against us is now in our favour. This is not the season for silent leaders; it is the season for courageous patriots.
On the opposite side stands the second son whose posture once again reminds the people of the old proverb:
“He who pays the piper dictates the tune.”
Instead of speaking for Okun interest, he speaks for personal benefits.
Instead of pushing for long-overdue equity, he pushes praise for the state government.
Instead of defending his people’s future, he protects his present privileges.
His style represents the very reason Okun has been sidelined for decades leaders who fear losing favour more than losing their people’s destiny.
But history is never kind to men who remain silent when their people need a voice.
Today, the difference between the two leaders is clear:
One stands for Okun emancipation
The other stands for political survival
And now, more than ever, Okun needs courage, not caution.
Conviction, not convenience.
Men who speak truth, not men who bow for benefits.
The call is simple:
2027 must be the year Okun produces the Governor of Kogi State.
Not out of sentiment, but out of justice, balance, fairness, and history.
And Senator Karimi has shown the type of courage needed to lead this charge.
By Obat Eseyin, written from Kabba
