Rector Calls For Political Summit, advocates for power rotation in Kogi
Odimayo O.F
Against the backdrop of perceived ethnic politics and political marginalization among the Kogi state polity, the Rector, Kogi state Polytechnic, Professor Salisu Usman Ogbo has advocated for a consensus power rotation among the three senatorial zones of the state.
Professor Ogbo made the call in a lecture titled”Sustaining Kogi ‘s unbroken Unity , prospects and possibilities, this House must not fall , organised by the Nigeria Post newspapers to commemorate Kogi at 33.
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He noted that there is urgent need for the convocation of political Summit to address some perceived grey areas among the people of the state.
The Erudite Professor of political Science averred that the principles of power rotation is not explicitly enshrined in the Constitution, adding that, it has however, become politically expedient for mutual trust and harmony among the political class in Kogi state.
He noted that the continued dominance of political space by a particular zone of the state breeds disunity, jealousy and insecurity as , the marginalised zones would likely to adopt unauthorized methods to wrestle power.
Prof. Ogbo stressed that for even development of all parts of Kogi state, there is a need for political class to chart a course of action for a seamless rotation of power among the three senatorial zones.
He called for immediate convocation of political and economic summit to ignite conversation on how to achieve mutual agreement to begin the process of rotation not only in the state but to twinkle down local Government Areas and even within ward levels .
He posited that if the rotation is achieved it will fast tract unity, reduce tensions, agitations and bring about rapid transformation of all the sections of the state.
The Professor of Political Science bemoaned the infighting in the state which he said has robbed the people of opportunities that abound for the people at the federal level.
He charged for a concerted effort to restore the mutual trust that existed among the people who have coexisted from the era of Kabba Province in the old Northern Nigeria.
Prof. Ogbo disclosed that God in his infinite mercy has to bring back the people of Kabba Province together to form Kogi state after a section, now Kogi East was excised from Kwara state to form Benue state.
He advise the political actors not to overheat the ethnic card when they lost of out of power equation, but rather, to use their vantage positions to promote those ideals that bind the people together.
“Yes the issue of power rotation among three zones of the state is not expressly written in the constitution, but most states in the country have advanced the principle of power rotation in their body polity, which has galvanize growth and development of their States.
“We have many things to gain, if every zone knows when it will be its turn to rule Kogi state. This principle will engender competition as each zone will throw up her best”he added.
Prof Ogbo, however, commended the organiser of the Lecture and award ceremony, Mike Abu , publisher of Nigeria Post for his consistency in reminding the people the need for kogi’s unbroken unity.
