THE POLITICAL EQUATION OF KABBA/BUNU/IJUMU CONSTITUENCY
Looking at the critical equation of the Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu federal constituency, we have seen different formulas generated to balance the equation which end up producing various values for X.
I got my value for X, which I will like to breakdown how I arrived at my answer and why no one should feel solely entitled to the constituency’s sit at the green chambers as it is a constitutional right to vote or be voted for without anyone taking it personally against you.
My first step to solving this equation is letting bye-gone be bye-gone by putting between the year 1999-2023 only under review.
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Immediately after the return of the civilian rule in 1999, Honorable Abiodun Ojo(IJUMU)of the PDP represented the good people of kabba-bunu/Ijumu at the green chambers till 2003.
While the present Deputy publicity secretary of the Apc Honorable Duro Meseko(Kabba/Bunu) represented the constituency from 2003-2007.
From 2007-2011 Honorable Dino Malaye(Ijumu) of the PDP who later served as a senator in the eighth assembly represented the constituency at the green chambers.
While the longest serving house of reps member we have on record as at the time under review Honorable Ayo Yusuf (Kabba-Bunu) of the PDP served from 2011-2023.
Then we have Honorable(Arch) Idris Salman (Ijumu) who was elected (2023) on the platform of the ADC but later decamped to the ruling APC for reasons best known to him.
Noting that there was a fair rotational system (4yrs each)between the two local governments that made up the constituency until 2011. Meanwhile, while all these was going on, we have the Senate sit which was supposed to rotate within 3 constituencies which Kabba-Bunu/Ijumu is part of.
Senator Tunde Ogheha (Kogi/Koto Karfe/Lokoja )of the PDP represented the good people of Kogi west at the red chambers between 1999-2007. While Senator Smart Adeyemi (Ijumu)the former NUJ president served from 2007-2015.
Senator Dino Malaye(Ijumu) who was a former house of representative member on the PDP platform unseated the incumbent senator smart on the APC platform in 2015 and served 1 team, although re-elected under the PDP’s umbrella but was bullied out of the red chambers after few months with court judgment, which made Senator Smart who had decamped to APC cling on to the Kogi west sit at the red chambers for another 4yrs.
Senator Sunday Karimi won the 2023 election to retain the Kogi west sit at the red chambers as an Okun man as it seems the lokoja/koto/Kogi constituency has totally given up the struggle.
We will notice that there was a political arrangement at the senatorial level that altered the peaceful rotational system within the two local governments in KBI constituency.
This alteration which could have been better managed, is one of the factors responsible for the power imbalance we face today. I still imagine how IJUMU did it and what we negotiated with to keep the Senate and house of Reps slot to ourselves from 2007-2011.
Not to bore my readers with these interesting facts, let me fast forward to this present day. As it stands now our rotational system has already been bastardized and can only take a deliberate resolution to resolve, that is, if it can ever be corrected.
That means, all things been equal we must focus on a consolation system that will set Kabba-Bunu/IJUMU constituency on the path of sustainable development through innovations.
We need a transformational leadership that will have direct impact on the people without having to line up in front of the cameras. which has to be without sentiment or selfish interest.
It is a deliberate mis-interpretation of fact ‘for people who held the Senate slot for 16yrs as against the 12yrs house of Reps slot’ to cry foul to the public.
After a careful outline of what we really need to grow as a community and how to facilitate the necessary catalyst, one name echoes so loud on my mind and to this effect I present to you that my X= *Prince Kolawole Matthew.*
WE GO AGAIN
~Comrd Olusegun Mobayode Felix
