Prof.Mustapha Momoh in green outfit while the two other elders of the association listened.
,,,Calls for political integration in kogi central.
By Dada Ahmed.
The governor of Kogi state, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, has been described as a man of destiny and the “Jagaban of Kogi politics”, whose political sagacity contributed immensely to the victory of the candidate of the All Progressives Congress, APC, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo in the recent governorship election in the state.
The leader of northeast advocacy group for the electioneering campaign of Ododo, Prof. Mustapha Momoh, made the remarks when he paid a ‘Thank you visit” to members of Ebira Avaibe association in Lokoja on Thursday.
Prof.Momoh, who teaches information management at the University of Maiduguri, Borno state, commended the governor and the electorate for the victory of Ododo.
The don, who is also and is a social researcher, commended the governor for ensuring the adhering strictly to the philosophy of equity and social justice in the distribution of infrastructure and human development in the state.
According to him, such factor helped in the success of his administration and Ododo’s and APC’s victory in the last election.
The professor noted that Governor Bello, like the President of Nigeria, Ahmed Bola Tinubu, believes in raising people, without tribal, religious and other divisive considerations.
He said though Bello did this through politics of integration and inclusion, was however betrayed by many of the such beneficiaries of his large heart as indicated in the last election.
The don commended the Egbiras for their massive turn out during the election, disclosed that no fewer than 50,000 Egbira indigenes in diaspora, came home to witness and give moral support to Ododo’s success.
According to him,most Egbiras, who registered for their voters card in the area but working outside the district, returned home en masse to vote for their choice candidate(Ododo).
” Never in the history of Egbira land has election united the people of kogi central district of the state such as the 2023 governorship in kogi state.
“Most Egbiras see the election of Ododo as a worthy cause, given the track record of one of their own and they exercised their voting right in favour in his favour.
“This goes to debunk the insinuation in some quarters that the Egbiras are minority ethnic nationality in the state.
“The Egbira nation in kogi state could not have been minority group perse,because they have many of their indigenes living outside the state pursuing their legitimate means of livelihood in many states of the federation and abroad.
“People should not judge their numerical strength in the district to conclude that they are in the minority because have of their own in other states of the federation, he stressed.
The University lecturer,however ,called on the indigenes of the district to imbibe the culture of political integration to be able to win the support of those in Ajaokuta, Ogori-Magongo and kogi Local Government Areas.
He expressed the optimism that such development would go along way in ensuring effective inclusive politicking, solve perceived political marginalization and boost political relevance of kogi central in the political equation of kogi state.
Prof.Momoh commended members of Ebira Avaibe Association for voting massively for Ododo but urged the electorate not to bombard Ododdo with a plethora of demands once he assume office, on account of voting for him to win the election.
He assured that at the appropriate time, Ododo would reciprocate the good done to him by the electorate.
The don argued that experience had shown that heaping demands on the table of the governors by electorate, in many instances, often confuse such leader, adding that if not managed well, such instance could lead to problem of governance.
The leader of the association and one time member, Kogi State House of Assembly, Hon.Musa Ak’aaba, commended the professor for his intellectual, moral and other valued contributions to the success of Ododo during the election.
He expressed the delight of members of the association towards the electoral victory of Ododo and promised their continued support for the success of his administration, schedule to commence on January 27,2024.
