Solving the puzzle that has become Kogi

By Seun Lucas . . .

It has become imperative that I share my thoughts on the “Kogi Situation” beyond the plenty talks I do at the table of men. The way states in Nigeria gain prominence always alarms me, which shouldn’t be for someone who believes that any and everything can happen in Nigeria.

I do not need any rhetoric on this platform to talk about the events leading to the election; Audu’s death, his history with governance in the state and governance there in general. I also do not need to remind you all of the rumours that Jagaban must have poisoned Audu (or had a hand in his death) so as to pave way for the Yoruba originated Faleke to become governor. I personally think that is preposterous as I am certain the Jagaban is smarter than that.

Hon James Faleke first came to my knowledge in 2011 when he was elected as a House of Representative member representing Ikeja federal constituency. He also won re-election in March 2015. Before that he was the executive chairman of Ojodu Local government, which bordered my LG- Ifako Ijaiye LGA. I didn’t know much of him those years or maybe it was my almost lack of total negligence of what I called local politics.If it wasn’t at least about state politics, I didn’t seem to care.

Recently, and I mean as recent as the last election, I saw a school bus, offering children in our local government free rides to school in our neighbourhood and had also earlier noticed a well-designed and beautiful structured office in our LGA on College Road, Ifako. I was impressed at the thought put into showing yourself as a rep of the people at the federal level. How much he came to achieve for the people is beyond me, but somehow years later, he rose to be a running mate to a two-time previous governor of Kogi State, who was looking to make history to be governor the third time at the age of 68.

What really interests me though is the connection to the Asiwaju Bola Ahmed Tinubu. In my home, in Ogba, I was privileged to see a lot of the big boys of politics in Lagos, including the Jagaban, our amiable former governor, BRF and all the governorship candidates in the last 2 or 3 elections, who came to visit a certain Chief Akande. An elder statesman who has long been a godfather and political mentor of many political heads within Lagos state. I remember wishing I could just walk over to his compound when all these men were present and just sit there to listen to what they were saying.

Faleke, from the Yoruba speaking Kabba province of Kogi State, is regarded as Tinubu’s answer to increasing his power in “his regional politics” especially at a time when many believed he couldn’t translate his influence to the national level with General Buhari. The Kogites are mainly seen as two groups if I am correct- the Igalas (south western affiliation) and Ebira (northern affiliation because of their roots from Taraba state) and also Okun people.

Faleke was the perfect addition to Audu’s royal claim to the state, a combination to win sympathy and votes from most constituencies. It is believed that in Faleke, a man who grew all the clout he knows in politics as a Lagos politician under the watchful eyes of the Lion of Bourdillon, would one day rise to governor and join in the company of ‘Baba’s boys” who became governor. This all makes sense.

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It starts to lose sense though when a few group are now pointing fingers at Tinubu for killing Audu. Why kill him on the day of the election? Why not kill him when in office that the constitution clearly allows for Faleke to take over as governor? Why not do the most patient and intelligent thing of waiting for 4 years by which time Audu would have been 72 years of age and you get Faleke to run as governor and would likely emerge as governor?

I do think that the Jagaban is too smart for such immature move of meddling so low as ending Audu’s life for Faleke’s promotion or any other motivation. I will leave us all to think through this and make your own opinion or be patient till the truth comes out. It surely will one day.

It would be wrong of me not to talk about what I make of the decisions of INEC in Kogi and that of the APC in appointing a new candidate. I am of the opinion that INEC did the right thing in going ahead with the supplementary election. The decision by the APC to run a new primary though by the APC could play into the hands of Wada and PDP. It might have been better to pick the candidate who came second in the primaries. I am of the opinion though that whichever party loses would go to court to fight their loss and I look forward to how this logjam is solved. INEC perhaps should have gone to the Supreme Court for a better interpretation of the constitution instead of taking the words of the Attorney General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, who is an APC government appointed official.

Lastly, as at the time of writing, I hear that the APC has succumbed to the cry of many Kogites who believe Muhammed Audu should take over his father’s vacated seat. I do not know how much of a wise decision this is, if true- as I do not know his experience. Luckily famous social media “runz girl” @empresssugabelly didn’t name Muhammed amongst Prince Audu Abubakar’s sons – Mustapha, Kabir and Bashir and their friends who once took turns in sleeping with her. Whatever the truth, by this time next the paint on the drawing would have dried.

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