Marginalization: Rector, Ogbo advocates for rotation of power in Kogi

By, Mark Akudu, Kogi

The Rector of Kogi state Polytechnic, Salisu Usman Ogbo has advocated for a consensus power rotation among the three senatorial zones of the state to avert political marginalization.

Ogbo who made the call in a lecture titled ”Sustaining Kogi ‘s unbroken Unity , prospects and possibilities, this House must not fall” organized by the Nigeria Post newspapers to commemorate Kogi at 33, said there is perceived ethnic politics in the three senatorial zones of the state.

He noted that there is urgent need for the convocation of the political Summit to address some perceived grey areas among the people of the state.

The Rector, Ogbo noted that the principles of power rotation is not explicitly enshrined in the Constitution, adding that, it has however, become politically expedient for mutual trust and harmony among the political class in Kogi state.

He noted that the continued dominance of political space by a particular zone of the state breeds disunity, jealousy and insecurity as the marginalized zones would likely adopt unauthorized methods to wrestle power.

Ogbo stressed that for even development of all parts of Kogi state, there is a need for the political class to chart a course of action for a seamless rotation of power among the three senatorial zones.

He called for immediate convening of a political and economic summit to ignite conversation on how to achieve mutual agreement to begin the process of rotation not only in the state but to twinkle down local Government Areas and even within ward levels .

He posited that if the rotation is achieved it will fast tract unity, reduce tensions, agitations and bring about rapid transformation of all the sections of the state.

The rector charged for a concerted effort to restore the mutual trust that existed among the people who have coexisted from the era of Kabba Province in the old Northern Nigeria.

Ogbo disclosed that God in his infinite mercy has to bring back the people of Kabba Province together to form Kogi state after a section, now Kogi East was excised from Kwara state to form Benue state.

He advised the political actors not to overheat the ethnic card when they lost out of power equation, but rather, to use their vantage positions to promote those ideals that bind the people together.

“Yes the issue of power rotation among three zones of the state is not expressly written in the constitution, but most states in the country have advanced the principle of power rotation in their body polity, which has galvanized growth and development of their States.

“We have many things to gain, if every zone knows when it will be its turn to rule Kogi state. This principle will engender competition as each zone will throw up her best “he added.

Ogbo, however, commended the organizer of the Lecture and award ceremony, Mike Abu , publisher of Nigeria Post for his consistency in reminding the people of the need for kogi’s unbroken unity.