Kogi Debacle: The Unraveling Of A State

By

Dr Felix S. Odaibo

fsodaibo@telus.net

 

The former Kabba Province evolved into the present KOGI state. Since then it has been an uneasy relationship with the inhabitants of this state. This union is now on the brink of bursting at the seams given the recent news that the Igalas are seeking OKURA state.  The seal is the agitations for the creation of a new state out of the present Kogi State being on the rise with youth groups from Ebira and Okun, the Yoruba speaking areas of Kogi State coming out with their demands for a separate state.  There are 3 senatorial zones in Kogi for the record.

 

I understand that the youths, under the aegis of Coalition of Okun and Ebira Youths (COEY) have called for the restructuring of the present Kogi state in a way to have the West and Central senatorial districts, peopled mainly by the Okun-Yoruba and the Ebira, in a separate state. They envisage the  state will be exclusive of the East zone peopled by the Igala.

 

 How did KOGI get to this point? I really have memories and sentiments about the old Kabba Province especially when we were all in the old GSS Dekina.

 

Historically, it  was by way of a circuitous route. When in 1967,the Igalas joined their kith in Benue state, they were ab initio, happy, but pretty soon and having been lorded over by the Tivs, they quickly found their way to the present Kogi arrangement. Because the system had been in a sound working Provincial relationship, all parties were happy that the Igala’s had come back home! Whilst they were struggling alongside the Idoma’s in Benue to be seen and not heard, meanwhile, the Ebira had had a shot at the Governorship whilst in Kwara state, which  at that  time included the Borgu’s, Nupe, Igbomina’s, Okuns and the other smaller units such as the Ogori/Magongo, Ebira Koto, Oworo etc. 

 

Since coming back home, The Igala’s have by way of Majority held a gridlock in the Lugard seat of power in Lokoja and beyond. The Governorship lodge is as if it is an ancestral home for they have now held the Governors position twice successively and by the simple rule of the winner takes all, they are now themselves paying the OKUN and the EBIRA, Ogori/Magongo, Ebira Koto, Oworo in the same coin they were paid by the Tiv! If there is any uncanny way a State can be unraveled it is by the way the Federal posts are being selectively and craftily (I forgot that the Governor is a carpenter) arrogated to only the individuals in the East of Kogi Senatorial District. I have not observed any of these Federally appointed officers bearing a Bassa Nge or Bassa Komo name! So it is only EAST by name. To make matters even more desperate there appears to be no immediate relief at site.

 

Smart Adeyemi has spoken and argued on Principles and I cannot but identify and empathize with his argument.  Governor Idris of PDP is an Igala from the East and the deputy once again is EBIRA. Do not forget that  Mr. Patrick Adaba, who was the deputy to Audu under ANPP is also an Ebira! So who has been picking the short straw all along? 

 

It is therefore not surprising that Mr. Smart Adeyemi is really smarting under! He argues thus:  “Don’t forget that before now, there have been quite a number of appointments made that I never said a word. I swallowed the bitter pills of keeping quiet. What are those appointments? The Ambassadorial posting came and it went to the East.  The Federal Character Commissioner came and it went to the East. Revenue Mobilization and Fiscal Commission director came and it went to the East. INEC came and it went to the East. One of the directors for Security and Exchange Commission that was zoned to North Central; the North Central zone met and in their wisdom, they gave it to Kogi State. The Kogi State government nominated somebody from the East. So, that is five serious appointments under this dispensation going to one Senatorial district and I kept quiet. I felt maybe the government would see reason as to why the next ministerial appointment will come to us”

 

Where is the place and role of the ordinary citizens of KOGI in this evolving saga? Where does their interest lie and what have they gained from  this union called KOGI?  Who should really be speaking for them?  Should it REALLY be the youth groups, whom they have not elected?  Whom do the members of the Kogi House of REPRESENTATIVE really REPRESENT?One would have expected that they would be bringing order to the system especially when the governor has had an oversight and has conveniently not been counting the tally!

 

Is it all about posts? This state is still as backward as when we used to take Ferries from Lokoja to Shintaku. Some would argue that we had Ferries then!

 

Are we simply dealing with a situation and a system where political posts allows one to rise above the pathetic social structure? If it is the case, is it not natural to put on blinkers when a situation arises that would scupper the only easy route to gain influence, status and privilege? This is looking less and  less about service to me. In such a scenario, people will continue to agitate for smaller and smaller entities until such a time that the individual politicians become the proverbial large fish in a small pond. 

 

At this rate, the end of Kogi is desperately near despite the historical Provincial ties that bound the people in the past, unless Alhaji Idris rapidly rises above tribal sentiments, correct the oversights and stop being glaringly biased to one compass side of the state! The OKUN especially have to be assuaged!