- Dr Mariam Abuh
I have watched with keen interest the video in which the former Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Yahaya Bello, confidently declared that he would appear on the ballot as the APC senatorial candidate in Kogi Central while simultaneously determining who would emerge victorious in the Kogi East Senatorial election.
With due respect, politics is not a display of omnipresence. No human being can be in two places at the same time. That attribute belongs to God alone. Every serious politician understands that every election demands total commitment, strategic planning, grassroots engagement, and unwavering focus.
My humble advice to the former governor is simple: concentrate on your own ambition in Kogi Central if you do not intend to jeopardize both political objectives. Attempting to fight two major political battles simultaneously could weaken both efforts.
The Igala have a proverb about the Iyolo bird that tried to fetch water with both its mouth and its wings out of greed. As it attempted to fly, the water on its wings spilled. When it cried over that loss, the water in its mouth also dropped. In the end, it lost everything because it wanted to achieve too much at once.
That proverb carries a timeless lesson. Political ambition, like every worthwhile undertaking, requires concentration. Face your contest in Kogi Central and allow the people of Kogi East to freely determine their own political future without undue interference.
Kogi East is not without capable men and women who can make informed political choices. Democracy is strongest when the electorate is allowed to exercise its will independently, free from the overbearing influence of individuals who believe they can dictate outcomes across multiple political fronts.
However, while it may be convenient to criticize Yahaya Bello, I believe the greater responsibility lies with many Igala politicians themselves. Over the years, they have too often allowed personal ambitions, rivalries, and selfish interests to overshadow the collective interest of the Igala nation.
Ironically, some who proudly align themselves with the former governor have become instruments of a political system rather than masters of it. Instead of shaping political events, they allow themselves to be shaped and controlled by others. On the other hand, those who claim to be in opposition remain fragmented, divided by personal interests, individual calculations, and an inability to build a common front.
No society can make meaningful political progress when its leaders pull in different directions while outsiders remain united around a common objective.
The 2027 elections should serve as a moment of sober reflection for the people of Kogi East. It is time to rise above personality politics, abandon needless divisions, and embrace unity of purpose. Political relevance is earned through strategic cooperation, not endless internal conflicts.
The future of Kogi East cannot and should not be determined by the ambitions of politicians from outside the district. That responsibility belongs first and foremost to the people of Kogi East themselves.
History will always remember those who stood for the collective interest above personal gain. The choice before us is clear: continue on the path of division or unite to shape our own political destiny.
May wisdom, unity, and genuine leadership prevail.
