Faleke: The Eagle That Must Return to the Hills of Kogi
By: Joseph Eneojo Abutu – Kogi East
In a democracy, ideas must be contested, not idolized. It is wrong to say that Hon. Abiodun James Faleke is too big to govern Kogi State. Such thinking shows a poor understanding of what leadership truly means. No man who loves his people is ever too big to serve them. Leadership is about service and sacrifice, not pride or position. Faleke’s experience and exposure are blessings that should be used to develop his home state, not reasons to stay away from it.
The claim that Faleke would be leaving an important national duty for something less important in Kogi State is misleading. True leadership begins from home. Every great leader has served his people before leading at the national level. Faleke once humbled himself to be the running mate of the late Prince Abubakar Audu. He was already a respected politician then. If he could do it before, why can’t he do it again? If he was not too big to deputize Abubakar Audu, he cannot be too big to govern Kogi State.
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Governorship is not about the size of the office, but about the impact made on people’s lives. Faleke’s long years in the National Assembly have prepared him for higher responsibility. If he could serve the people of Lagos West with distinction, then the people of Kogi also deserve his service. It is not a step down to govern one’s people; it is an honour and a duty.
Those who say destiny kept Faleke away from the seat of power after the death of Prince Audu are wrong. Destiny does not mean withdrawal; it means preparation. Maybe that time was meant to build Faleke for the future. What happened then could have been a delay, not denial. It could have been a setup for a greater purpose.
A true leader does not run away from the needs of his people because of challenges. If the state’s resources are small, that is even more reason for someone with Faleke’s experience to come and make a difference. Great leaders do not abandon their roots; they return to rebuild them. That is what service means.
Bringing in President Tinubu’s name to justify Faleke’s stay in Abuja is also wrong. Tinubu himself once left the national stage to lead Lagos when it had far fewer resources than today. Through hard work and vision, he built Lagos into what it has become. Faleke can do the same for Kogi. Tinubu believes in loyalty, but he also believes in service and courage. Faleke can honour his political mentor best by using what he has learned to transform his own state.
No one should say Governor Usman Ododo’s second term is already sealed by destiny. In politics, the people decide through performance, not predictions. Faleke’s record, intelligence, and experience make him one of the most qualified sons of Kogi for higher leadership.
The eagle is not great because it flies far from its nest, but because it always returns to feed its young. If Faleke desires the office, if he is called to serve, and if his party gives him the ticket, he should come home and serve.
