THE POSITION OF YAGBA LEADERS ON THE 2027 YAGBA FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY ELECTION
The leaders of Yagba Federal Constituency have deemed it fit to address some of the issues relating to Yagba Federal Constituency ahead of the 2027 Federal House of Representatives election.
Yagba Federal Constituency has been enjoying adequate representation and the delivery of dividends of democracy and development under our current House of Representatives member, Hon. Leke Abejide, through his commitment to development in Yagba.
Recently, issues of rotational arrangement have sprung up from one of the three local governments that make up the Yagba Federal Constituency. To set the records straight, Mopamuro as a local government has never been shut out of the political landscape of Yagba, indeed they have being at the helm of the affairs of Yagba politics. Here’s a quick review of how Mopamuro has been on the pedestal of power in Yagba.
Mopamuro has produced the highest number of political and public office holders across Yagba.
1. Mopamuro produced the first pioneer Deputy Governor of Kogi State under NRC H.E. Chief Samuel Ola Akande.
2. Chief S.B Daniyan the Ojomu of Mopa was the first Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Planning in Northern Nigeria, he was appointed as the Minister of National Planning.
3. Chief S.B Awoniyi, was elected to the Senate of Nigeria for Kogi West.
Historical facts, Chief S.B Awoniyi became a staunch antagonist to Chief S.B Daniyan from becoming the pioneer Governor of Kogi State.
4. Chief Shola Ojo, a lawyer served as the Secretary to the State Government and a former member of the House of Representatives from Mopamuro.
5. Chief Clarence Olafemi became the minority leader of Kogi State House of Assembly and later the Speaker of the Kogi State House of Assembly, he metamorphosed as the acting Governor of Kogi State.
6. Chief Yomi Awoniyi from Mopamuro, former the Deputy Governor of Kogi State to Capt. Idris Wada.
History has helped to lay a proper foundation that Mopamuro is the hub of political leaders who decide for other local governments in Yagba and has produced personalities for political appointements within the state.
Going into another historical excursion, we recall that Hon. Barr. Shola Ojo was a member of the House of Representatives from Mopamuro, In 2007 Mopamuro had a candidate Folorusho Daniyan against Hon. Sam Aro from Yagba West where he lost out to Aro during the primary election, It is also pertinent to state that Hon. Tuesday Abimbola from Mopamuro contested twice, a faceoff against Sen.Karimi in the general election for House of Representatives, he also contested against Abejide in 2019 and Prince Folorusho Olafemi against Abejide in 2023, where they also had the opportunity to flag the ruling party ticket.
Mopamuro has produced candidates to contest against other local governments in Yagba Federal Constituency in Yagba, where was the rotational arrangement? We understand that democracy is participatory which empowers every individual from a certain age to participate and get involved.
Emphatically, there has never been a time where there was a rotational or any form of gentleman arrangement” In Yagba, interestingly, there is no form of historic arrangement in play to enthrone or elect a member. People who were believed to have made the political delusion called arrangement belong to a particular political party.
For the benefit of the people who are not from Yagba Federal Constituency, Yagba is an autonomous constituency where every individual has the right to contest an election and voted for based on political antecedent.
The people of Yagba are known to be creative, passionate, determined, focused, intelligent, virtuous, and resilient, who believe true leadership is all about responsibility and the ability to achieve goals in their collective interest to bring mass-based representation institutionalised on achieving goals for a progressive Yagba.
Therefore, those clamoring that the Federal House of Representatives seat should be narrowed down to one local government are off track, hypocritical, and insensitive to what representation means. One local government can not stand alone in the interest of the other two LGAs.
To solidify our political stance, we want to say that Yagba Federal Constituency is one and can not be divided by interests that will cause division, disarray, and deny the people of good representation. Elective position as Yagba Federal Constituency should be in the interest of the people devoid of sentiment, division, and political discord.
1. Where there is a qualitative representation and productive governance, it would therefore be unfair, unjust, and ungodly to deprive the people of meaningful development on the philosophy of rotation, while the development which is the core objective of Representation is blatantly neglected.
2. The word injustice can only arise where a chance is not given to every individual to contest, the principle of open contest has always been given its role in Yagba.
3. Legislative business is not a zone for a refresher course, it is not for selective voice, where the people’s interest would not be well represented.
4. Leadership is critical and requires democratic practices and not to be sacrificed on the altar of rotation.
As leaders, our objective in Yagba Federal Constituency is to continue to drive the dividends of democracy to attract progress and not retrogress. We hereby, urge the people of Yagba to support Rt. Hon. Abejide for a third term in the best interest of the people.
It should be clear that we will not welcome any form of division, that will tear apart, cause disunity, and dissension in Yagba.
Hon. Abejide deserves support and a chance to contest an election for a third term based on these facts.
a. Abejide possesses what qualifies every citizen of the Federal Republic of Nigeria to contest for an election as stated in the 1999 Constitution (as amended).
b. Holds the right to vote and the right to contest for public office in section 7 of the 1999 Constitution. This Constitutional provision ensures the participation of every citizen in political activities which includes the right to vote and the right to contest.
The right to political participation is also protected and the right to freedom of expression. It is within the fundamental rights of Abejide to contest.
c. Hon. Leke is a man of exceptional intelligence with knowledge anchored on qualitative representation.
d. Hon. Leke Abejide stands as a representative who can resolve Yagba’s multifarious challenges, one who never isolates himself but rather shares the collective dreams of the people.
As leaders with divides cutting across the Yagba East, Yagba West, and Mopamuro LGAs in Kogi State, we say in an unequivocal term that Leke Abejide deserves to represent Yagba Federal Constituency for a third term for him to achieve more for the people of Yagba through excellence.
It is the turn of Yagba, because Yagba Federal Constituency is one entity, united for progress and we can not be divided by a mere political mathematical error. Therefore, Hon. Leke Abejide has the pedigree and other qualities to contest and represent Yagba for 3rd Term.
SIGNED BY POLITICAL LEADERS ACROSS YAGBA FEDERAL CONSTITUENCY
1. Pastor Kehinde Asalu. Fmr. State Chairman Of SIEC, Yagba West, Kogi State.
2. Hon. Chief Shola Ojo, Fmr. SSG Kogi state and Fmr HOR Member Yagba Federal Constituency, Mopamuro Kogi State.
3. Barr. Bamidele Suru, Fmr. Commissioner on Solid Minerals, APC Member and Leader, Yagba West, Kogi State.
4. Chief Omotosho Henry, Political Stalwart Yagba West
5. Hon. Barr. Bola Fabola Fmr S.A Political to Gov. Ibrahim Idris, fmr House of Rep. Candidate, APC Member Yagba East, Kogi State.
6. Hon. Hassan T Salau Fmr. State PDP Chairman and Special Advicer to Gov. Wada, Yagba East, Kogi State.
7. Chief Richard Asaje, Elderstate Man and Coordinator Like Minds, Yagba West, Kogi State.
8. Hon. Toba Adebayo Fmr. S. A to Gov.Yahaya Bello, APC Member Yagba West, Kogi State.
9. Chief Yomi Charlse Olorunishola, Political Leader Mopamuro, Kogi State.
10. Chief Babatunde Samuel, Political Leader Mopamuro, Kogi State
11. Hon. Segun Ashiru S. A Solid Minerals, APC Member Yagba East, Kogi State.
12. Hon. Tunji Aro, Fmr. Council Chairman, APC Member Yagba West, Kogi State.
13. Babatunde Moses (Bablo) Political Stalwart Mopamuro, Kogi State.
14. Chief Mrs Ebun Joel, Educationist and Women Mobilizer, Yagba East Kogi State.
15. Hon. Jones Daniel S.A to Mopamuro LGA Chairman on Inter-party Affairs, APC Member Mopamuro, Kogi State.
16. Hon. Ayo Olumayegun, Youth Leader Yagba West, Kogi State.
17. Chief Mrs Adegoke, Women Mobilizer Yagba West, Kogi State
18. Mrs Nike Akolade, Fmr. S.A Women & Children Affairs, Yagba West, Kogi State.
19. Comrade Ajengbe, Youth Leader Yagba East, Kogi State.
20. Hon Oluseyi Giwa, Political Leader Yagba East, Kogi State.
21. Comrade Jemituwi Youth Leader Mopamuro, Kogi State.
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