RE: Yagba Group Kicks Against Alleged Call On TeeJay Yusuf To Contest 2019 Senate Election.

A Kogi West Constituent, Morgans Alepa has condemned a statement made by an unknown group kicking against the call by Okun Elders Forum on Hon. Teejay Yusuf to run for the 2019 Kogi West Senate election.

According to him, "the article is a flagrant departure from the reality. He said, how on earth can a group/person put that up?"

"What parameter did they use to arrive at this calculation that Kabba/Bunu cannot contest or do not deserve the Senate position of Kogi West Senatorial District?"

Morgans Alepa gave a deep insight into the political history of the office.

Excerpt:

If it is by Local Government, below is the duration each local government has occupied the office.

Ijumu - 12years
Kabba - 3months
Kotonkarfi - (Elected not sworn in)
Lokoja - 8years
Mopa/Amuro - 2+
Yagba East -
Yagba West - 4years.

This is just a tip of an iceberg.
I will outline three solid point why Kabba/Bunu has been cheated than any other local government in Kogi West.

Firstly, the zoning arrangement has never been adhered to religiously. For instance in 2007 elections, the Senate was zoned to Ijumu but TJ Faniyi and Yomi Awoniyi from Yagba contested and lost to Sen. Smart Adeyemi.

The duo from Yagba kicked against rotation, contested and lost.

In 2011 it was zoned to Yagba, the incumbent Sen. Smart Adeyemi from Ijumu LG contested against TJ Faniyi & co.

TJ Faniyi &co lost as well to the incumbent who is from Ijumu LG.

Secondly, you claimed that Hon. Teejay Yusuf is a product of rotation and I begged to debunk that.

In 2011 Sen. Dino contested against the rotational arrangement though he lost to Teejay Yusuf by share grace of God. Please, don't get this twisted.

Finally, the underlining motive of zoning/rotation is fairness to all but when you look at the other political offices enjoyed by our Yagba brothers, you will agree with me that all had not been justly treated.

Consider this:

  1. Ministerial Appointment

      Ijumu - 2
      Kabba/Bunu - Nil
      Mopa/Amuro - 1
      Yagba East - 1
      Yagba West -

  2. Deputy Governor

      Ijumu - Nil
      Kabba/Bunu - Nil
      Mopa/Amuro - 2
      Yagba East - Nil
      Yagba West - Nil

   3. Secretary To The State Government
     
       Ijumu  -  1
       Kabba/Bunu - Nil
       Mopa/Amuro - 1
       Yagba East - Nil
       Yagba West - 1

    4. Acting Governor

        Mopa/Amuro - 1

    5. Party Chairman
     
        Yagba East - 1

So my people what is/are the basis/bases of your claims?
As far as we talk of anything that we have together as a people, Kabba/Bunu has not been justly treated.
All we need now is equity that is seasoned in fairness.

The group calling in Hon. Teejay to contest for the Senate position believed that the party's best hands should be put forward (considering the fact that a party in opposition must bring its best forward if election must be won before other accruing offices can be gotten to the party's fold).

A realist example is the model of Rivers State during the last dispensation, where Wike a strong and popular political stalwart from Ikwerre was put forward to slug it out with the then sitting Governor, another strong man from the same Ikwerre. PDP was only able to win that election for this singular strategy not capitalizing on zoning/rotation. We sincerely need to be wise if we must win back our senatorial district.

However, I must acknowledge the doggedness of your approach. Together we are stronger.


Prince Morgans Alepa