Okun Leaders League Applauds Traditional Rulers for Steadfast Conduct Amidst Governor Ododo’s Visit,
..Says Kogi West quest for 2027 governorship is beyond any individual.
The Okun Leaders League (OLL) has commended traditional rulers in the Okun region of Kogi State for their statesmanlike conduct during Governor Ahmed Ododo’s recent visit.
The governor’s visit was speculated to be aimed at canvassing support for his second-term bid in 2027, but the traditional rulers reportedly apprised him of potential backlashes given the region’s resolve for power shift to Kogi West in 2027.
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OLL praised the traditional rulers for their sensitivity to the prevailing political mood, emphasizing that they should remain neutral and apolitical in the evolving political landscape.
The group’s leaders, including Sheikh Abdulrahman Ohinoyi Kotonkarfe and Group Captain Denja Mahmud (rtd), urged the royals to prioritize their respected offices and avoid being swayed by political inducements.
The OLL also weighed in on the power shift dynamics in Kogi State, stressing that the aspiration of Kogi West for the governorship position in 2027 should not be tied to individual interests.
They emphasized that Kogi West boasts a wealth of competent and qualified individuals beyond Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, who can effectively lead the state.
Full Details below:
PRESS RELEASE
GROUP APPLAUDS ROYAL FATHERS, SAYS OKUN STRUGGLE BEYOND INDIVIDUALS
The Okun Leaders League, (OLL), has commended traditional rulers under the auspices of the Okun Traditional Council, (OTC), for their statesmanly conduct during the recent visit of Governor Ahmed Ododo. News footages showed Ododo’s unwieldy convoy constitute a nuisance on the Lokoja-Obajana-Kabba road at the weekend, when Ododo drove through the highway en route Kabba to meet with Okun royalties. Ododo was reportedly supposed to have used the visit to canvas the endorsement of the Okun traditional superstructure for his bid for a second term in 2027.
Local intelligence about the total aversion of Kogi West Senatorial Zone and Okunland to the thought of a perpetuation of the Yahaya Bello political dynasty, however, consigned the subject to the back burner. Ododo rather inspected projects undertaken by the state government and Kabba-Bunu council area, in the course of the visit. The traditional rulers allegedly apprised Ododo of possible backlashes of such a conversation given the uncompromising resolve of Kogi West for power shift to the zone in 2027.
*Okun Leaders League* commends the sensitivity of the royals to the pervading political mood and enjoins them to remain neutral, apolitical and non-partisan in the evolving political space. OLL advises them not to allow their respected offices to be rubbished for a morsel of porridge. According to the group: “Traditional rulers must stand above the noise and controversies of politics and resist the rubbishing of their names and offices. Truth be told, no single traditional ruler exercises overarching control over his ward or polling unit such that he can compel voters to do his bidding. The responsibility of our royal fathers in our politics is to encourage their subjects to register to vote, and to exercise their voting rights freely during elections, no more, no less.”
The group also warned against the personalisation of the quest for power shift to Kogi West, noting that it is beyond an individual’s ambition. Said OLL: “We observe that the genuine quest of Kogi West for the governorship of Kogi State come 2027, is being narrowed to the person of Hon James Abiodun Faleke, a distinguished son of Ijumuland. A recent report indeed called for the exclusion of Faleke from the 2027 gubernatorial calculations, positing that President Bola Tinubu has assigned him specific responsibilities ahead of his presidential reelection bid. We make bold to say that nobody has published a transcript of an engagement with Hon Faleke, where he has disavowed his interest in the Kogi 2027 gubernatorial race.
More importantly, Kogi West boasts an avalanche of extremely competent, qualified and experienced human resources beyond the single individual of Hon Faleke, who can do a much better job of leading Kogi State, than has been witnessed in the last 10 years. Kogi West matches the most endowed of states and senatorial zones anywhere in Nigeria with the sheer quality and diversity of its human capital. From Kotonkarfe, through Lokoja, Kabba-Bunu, Ijumu, Mopamuro, Yagba East and Yagba West, there are rather overflows, not shortages of world class talent and competence.
The aspiration of Kogi West for *Lugard House* come 2027, will not be determined by political contractors procured to sell the “fourth term” of the Yahaya Bello hegemony. Enough of the backwardness and stagnation which Kogi has witnessed under those who have made our state their political industry and sole revenue provider. There is no going back on the Kogi West push for 2027.
*UNDER THE SEAL OF:*
● Sheikh Abdulrahman Ohinoyi
Kotonkarfe
● Group Captain Denja Mahmud (rtd)
Oworo, Lokoja
● Canon Andrew Baiyekuhi
Kabba-Bunu
● Mallam Qassim Yusuf
Ijumu
● Dr James Ogbondeminu
Mopamuro
● Engineer Omobowale Palufe
Yagba East
● Chief Samuel Obaro
Yagba West
