2011 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS: IMPERATIVE FOR THE UNITY OF EBIRA PEOPLE

This brilliant piece on the need for unity, equity and fair play in the Governance of Kogi State was contributed by Mr. Omoiza Balogun, an Igarra man and consummate media practitioner who lives in Abuja and is passionate about the good of this country.

2011 GUBERNATORIAL ELECTIONS: IMPERATIVE FOR THE UNITY OF EBIRA PEOPLE

Query: are the Igalas preventing other tribes from clinching the number one seat in the State? This will be the central focus of this write up with a pointer at the Ebira people.


Created on the 27th of August 1991, Kogi State is undoubtedly one of the most heterogeneous states in the country. The State is mostly dominated by the Okuns (Yorubas) of the Western Senatorial District, the Ebiras of the Central Senatorial District and the Igalas of the Eastern Senatorial District. The State is also home to other tribes like the Bassa Komos, Bassa Nges, Kakandas, Kupas, Ogori-Magongos, Nupes, Oworos, Gwaris etc. Added to these differences, the State is blessed with a large deposit of human and natural resources; that if well harnessed the over dependence on oil will be a thing of the past as internally generated revenue is sure to rise to hitherto unimaginable levels.

At the national level people from the state have also distinguished themselves as a force worth reckoning with. The State has produced top politicians, academicians, businessmen/women, captains of industry, armed services top brass who have contributed in no small measure to the development of the present democratic dispensation in the country. However in recent times the State has witnessed a lot of distrust in its polity that was further projected by the recent visit to the state of President Goodluck Ebele Azikiwe Jonathan to commission some projects executed under the present administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. Prior to the visit, those in opposition (both within and outside the ruling party) rose to condemn the State Governor for not carrying them along in the running of the State affairs. They complained of deep and chronic marginalization by the Igalas (note that the Governor and his predecessor in office are both of Igala extraction) who always seem to be in charge of running the affairs of the state since the State was created in 1991.

This complaint may not be unconnected with the alleged Igala boast that in the event no one is left in Igalaland to lead the state, they (the Igalas) will make their dog Governor; rather than allow any other tribe especially the Ebiras to control the sharing formula of the states goodie-goodie. Thus, as the sound of the drums of political participation begin to emit again from all angles, those conversant with power-play fear that the Igalas might again be plotting to continue their hold on the ticket, thus the widespread call that they (the Igalas) should fictionalize the alleged boast by allowing other tribes to occupy the number one seat in the state.

The Ebira people are undoubtedly one of the dominant tribes in the state, thus if number alone is the determining factor in winning elections, then the Ebiras have nothing to worry about. What the Ebiras need right now is unity which will either make or mar any candidate from Ebiraland that is interested in occupying the number one position in the state. The Ebiras should first put their house in order before they slug it out with any other contestant from the other districts. It is no longer a secret that the disunity among the Ebira people has cost them this precious opportunity in the past. Now the march is on again, observers like me anticipate that the Ebiras will unite as one and support a candidate who has the interest of the Ebiras at heart. Ordinarily it should be a thing of joy that a fellow tribesman is seating at the helm of affairs especially the exulted position of a Sate Governor, but the bad blood politics amongst the Ebira people will not allow this and it is very disheartening to say the least.

The disunity among the Ebira people is an age long thing and it has not in any way brought about any development; rather violent clashes has characterized almost every socio-political gathering of the Ebira people. This disunity is usually fuelled by works of local artists and musicians who are supposed to use their music to point out social decadence and call for measures that will attract development to Ebiraland. They have in time past used the power of their music to further fuel the disunity among the Ebira people.

However, recent trends show that the younger artists have found a new voice and instead of being subjective in their works; they have chosen to use the power of their lyrics to reach out to the Ebira people. So the Igalas are not in any way preventing anybody, especially the Ebiras from producing the state Governor rather it is the Ebiras who are the architect of their own problems.

The dog-eat-dog politics of the Ebira people is a sad story to tell. During the 2007 gubernatorial elections for instance, the whole Ebiraland was turned into an orgy of senseless violence as a result of the two prominent contestants who also happen to be brothers, Prince Abubakar Audu of the ANPP and Alhaji Ibrahim Idris of the PDP who are both Igalas. Lives and properties worth millions of naira were lost in Okeneland the capital of Ebiraland. While in places like Idah the story was different, there they witnessed relative peace with little or no clash in the whole Igalaland. So tell me what manner of brother will rather fight/kill his own brother for the interest of an outsider?

Just as the clamour for zoning or power shift at the national level has been vehemently introduced into the nation’s political vocabulary, so also is the trend fast creeping into other levels of Government as well as political representation. But the question will remain thus: is zoning the issue or is good, tested and trusted leadership the ‘koko’? This should be the central focus of the Ebira people. Since the Ebiras have also joined in clamouring for zoning, well-meaning Ebiras should as a matter of urgency rise up to the task of unifying the hitherto different factions in Ebiraland as well as the PDP in the State. Thus, using the opportunity to reach out to other stakeholders from other tribes, so as to gather support for an Ebira candidate to emerge as the next Governor of Kogi State come 2011. For now the support seems to be favouring the PDP especially with the recent developmental efforts of the State Governor.

The sitting deputy Governor, Mr. Philip Salawu, an Ebira man has indicated interest to run and in most quarters he has been fingered as a favorite to win the PDP’s ticket. That he is the sitting deputy is no reason why he seems to be commanding so much favour, Mr. Salawu has displayed loyalty and good leadership potentials and he has being a good follower; he stood by the governor through thick and thin. Therefore it is only reasonable for the Governor to in-turn give his deputy this much needed support especially for power to shift to other parts of the State for the first time since its creation. The Governor is known to be an advocate of peace, a man who believes in dialogue in resolving issues; he has stated in many fora that every Kogite has equal stake in the affairs of the State. But will Salawu’s kinsmen allow him? Or would they rather give their support to another tribe just to satisfy their ego that they have hurt a man who they would see as coming from the other divide of the tribe. Only time will tell and trust that history as usual will be a keen recorder of events as they unfold.


Balogun Omoiza is a senior staff in WarHouse Communications Limited a media outfit with headquarters in Abuja. He can be reached on 08034522903.
djomeiza01@yahoo.com

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