By Abdul Mohammed Lawal
Politics, as they say, is a game of interest, but the common person must understand which interest to align with and choose battles that are truly worth fighting. For the average Nigerian politician, it’s often just business as usual, and not everything that glitters is gold. Most times, the common person, who rarely receives the true dividends of representation, becomes emotional in their expectations, and politicians often exploit this sentiment.
Politicians are strategic. Many prioritise the return on their investments before considering the plight of ordinary citizens. None of them enters the political space to lose. Some are aggressive and assertive, stirring discontent, but the money they bring into politics frequently paves their way. Others employ propaganda to undermine their opponents while projecting themselves as champions, yet their emotional tactics are often more damaging.
Kogi East is a region blessed with a natural leadership spirit, especially among the Igala people, regardless of education level. This advantage was capitalised upon after Kogi State was established and democracy began, leading to successive Igala governors. However, what was once a strength became a weakness, as a region known for unity became divided by a leadership class that prioritised personal interests over the collective good.
Many believe this decline began in 2011 when the ruling PDP government failed to prepare a succession plan, and didn’t see members of its cabinet suitable for the next governorship. Governance is a continuum, and many felt that the role required someone familiar with the political landscape, not just a technocrat with private-sector experience. This view was validated by the administration that followed, from 2012 to 2016.
It was believed that then-Governor Ibrahim Idris acted to protect his personal interests by endorsing two political newcomers. A primary election resulted in Senator Jibrin Isah Echocho emerging as the PDP candidate, only for this result to be overturned with a second in favour of Captain Idris Wada. This decision caused lasting resentment. Many speculated that the governor favoured inexperienced candidates to retain control, perhaps even with the intention of positioning one of his children for a future governorship. Nevertheless, this was a defensible stance to some extent.
Others, however, trace the trend of prioritising personal agendas back to 2003, when officials from the All People’s Party (APP) administration of late Prince Abubakar Audu abandoned a successful blueprint to pursue their ambitions after only one term. Their failure to win majority and unseat him with their unending games generated bitterness, leading them to align with the People’s Democratic Party (PDP), then the ruling party at the federal level, to unseat the incumbent.
This misguided strategy brought lasting consequences. It turned the political environment into one marked by distrust and resentment. This volatility, however, went largely unnoticed by many easterners until power shifted in 2016.
The APC era introduced another wave of divisive tactics, with the younger Igala political class emerging under the “New Direction” administration of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. While these new leaders learned much from their predecessors, they did little to correct past mistakes or foster the unity that Igala Land sorely needed. Instead, they capitalised on the resentment felt by many easterners, who believed that fate had robbed them of their leadership. Arrogance and division became central to their approach.
This strategy did not bode well for them as expected. It backfired without out them even noticing as the public began to engage more actively in politics and leadership, raising questions. The new Igala leaders underestimated this change, treating politics as mere routine. But today, the situation has shifted. The manner in which they managed regional affairs differed from the central government’s approach, and the “New Direction” remained largely what they saw as “their own.”
However, the regional backlash in the 2019 Kogi State gubernatorial election compelled the government at the centre to ask questions, because what they witnessed was different from what they were being told. This wasn’t taken likely, because it found out that trust had broken.
Shortly, new regional leaders that showed signs of understanding the resentment of the average easterner started emerging. Despite the state government’s new focus on Kogi East, regional leaders did not see the flaws in their methods. As new leaders emerged, the older order began to shuffle, but little changed because these fresh leaders viewed it as an opportunity for retribution. It remained politics as usual.
During the 2023 Kogi State gubernatorial election, the same leaders who had exploited the Igala people now posed as saviours and victims. However, their tactics failed. They succeeded only in losing the trust of the central government, though the forgiving nature of the people allowed them to rebuild their reputation somewhat.
Now, in 2024, while the average person in Kogi East is focused on survival, the political class is already scheming for 2027. Politicians on both sides, in the ruling and opposition parties, are fiercely strategising for the 2027 elections, with a strong focus on federal legislative seats. But who truly benefits from these efforts, because they will associate their failures as that of the entire Kogi East in 2027 and employ emotional ploys again to start an ethnic war. How long will this cycle persist before it is broken?
This article is not just for reading but is a call for the Igala youth to rise above the divisions that weaken us. Other regions have moved past the factors that once held them back, their perspectives evolving with time. When will we in Kogi East embrace truth and reject outdated leadership practices? We are greater than a few individuals who manipulate our emotions, forcing an entire ethnic group to support personal agendas while ignoring the real issues.
The future of Kogi East lies not in the hands of a few but in the unity of all. It’s time we reclaim that future for ourselves. Don’t let them keep selling their ideas of the big ethno-political war to their advantage. It’s time to stop letting emotions think for us and beat these few individuals to their games, and build the Igalaland we deserve.
Fortunately, the “New Direction” government of His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, fostered an open system that valued merit and welcomed all. The “Continuity and Consolidation” administration of His Excellency, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, has continued along this path. Who says we cannot embrace the truth, rise above the lies, and become leaders in our own right?