The forthcoming gubernatorial election in Kogi State is a test; a test not only for the people of Kogi State but a test for the entire people of Nigeria. It is an opportunity to know whether Nigerians, particularly indigenes of Kogi State, will allow what killed our fathers to kill them, too. It is an opportunity to prove their wisdom, to prove that they are not stupid and that they will not be taken for granted a second time. Having seen the leading frog fall into a pit, the rest have learnt their lessons and shall device ways of either leaping over the pit or find their way around it. But one thing they can assure those who want to test their wisdom, their resolve and commitment to make sound decisions this time round and not fall for deceits and empty bamboozlements packaged in sweet-looking but bleached promises that lead to nowhere but backwardness, hollowness, disenchantments and regrets, is the fact that they would vote right this time round.
With benefit of hindsight, Nigerians all over the country, irrespective of party affiliation, religious affinity or ethnic origin, have come to see the All Progressives Congress (APC) as a party of plenty promises with no single plan of fulfilment. In fact, they have demonstrated an uncommon lack of capacity to deliver on promises made during campaigns. At a point, they even denied some of the programmes and policies they promised Nigerians with a lame claim that such did not emanate from them even when Nigerians know the truth.
If the APC can embark on policy somersaults, demonstration of lack of capacity to perform, flagrant abuse of the rights of citizens, blatant disregard for court judgements, humiliation of judicial officers, nepotism, favouritism and tribalism in the appointment of key federal officers at the federal level, what will they not do at the state level especially in a state like Kogi, where the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) has already set in motion the process of power rotation among the senatorial zones in Kogi State? APC would surely come and turn back the hand of the clock!
If they promised to stabilise the naira against the dollar and make our currency at par with the dollar, yet, six months into their government at the federal level, the naira has experienced a free fall as it has never been known in the recent history of our country; if they promised to make fuel abundantly available for us and even make it sell for N45 per litre and today, not only are Nigerians buying fuel at filling stations for as high as N400 with the price still climbing in some parts of the country, the fact remains that fuel scarcity is biting even harder by the day; if they promised our unemployed graduates a monthly stipend of N5,000 and they have failed to pay same; if they promised a meal per day to our children in school and they have failed to do it among many of their unfulfilled promises, is it not enough signs to Kogites that APC is not the party they need in their state?
We agree that we made a mistake by voting in APC at the federal level thinking they were an alternative, but looking back now, voting them in was a very huge mistake which if most Nigerians had the opportunity, they would not make such a mistake again. Such opportunity has availed itself to Kogites now and they must demonstrate the rare courage of not only voting for Capt Idris Wada of the PDP, but also ensuring that their votes count. Just like APC told their supporters during the presidential election, Kogites must wait behind and monitor movement of ballot boxes to ensure they are not short changed. They must not allow themselves to be rigged out. This election is about their future and the future of their children and as responsible people, they must ensure that it is the will of the people that prevails.
It will be an anathema to allow a party which easily mouths fight against corruption as one of its cardinal programmes, yet, is fielding a man who has a case of corruption hanging around its neck as its governorship candidate to come to power. If this was the case only in Kogi then we could forgive the party and accept it as a mistake, but when the same scenario is playing out in Bayelsa State where APC’s governorship candidate there also has a corruption case hanging around its neck, then we have no choice but to conclude that this is a party that not only shields corrupt people from the law but also reward them with exalted positions and juicy offices thereby promoting corruption with impunity. The very scarce resources available to Kogi State are too precious to be allowed to be frittered away by anyone with sticky fingers.
Another reason Kogites must reject Audu and APC on November 21 is the insensitivity of the APC-led federal government to the plight of people of Kogi State as regards the bailout fund. Despite Kogi State being among the very first states to have completed needed processes to access the fund and its name announced among those qualified by the CBN, the fund is yet to be released by the APC-led federal government, thereby playing wicked politics with the lives of the people. If they do not love Kogi people to the extent that they withhold their bailout fund that would have been used to defray salaries of workers and make life meaningful for them, then they do not deserve the votes of the people of the state.
Kogi State made a mistake by voting for APC at the presidential election thinking that APC was a credible alternative, having seen that APC is only a shadow of what it paints itself to be, it would amount to political suicide and avoidable self-destruct that would leave an indelible mark of regrets and sadness in the lives of the people if they make the same mistake a second time. It is always better to prevent the flood with the umbrella than waste resources, time and energy trying to sweep it away with forlorn-looking brooms. The forthcoming election is the proper time for Kogi people to prove to the world that they cannot allow themselves to be taken for granted for a second time by overwhelmingly voting for Capt Idris Wada of PDP. The mistake Nigeria made on March 28 will not be repeated in Kogi on November 21!
Jude Ndukwe, jrndukwe@yahoo.co.uk, Twitter: @stjudendukwe
