By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor

Leading political and industry players from Kogi Central and West senatorial districts have teamed up to challenge the domination of the Igala speaking Kogi East senatorial district in the forthcoming governorship election in the state.

The stakeholders including serving and former members of the National Assembly, former ministers, among others, pledged that the two districts would present a single governorship candidate for the election.

They also vowed to disown anyone from the area who takes up the offer of a running mate to a candidate from the Igala area.

Noting that the two districts contributed more than 70% of the income to the state and with a combined population of 55% of the state, they noted the irony that they were only getting less than 20% of political appointments with Kogi East alone getting 80%.

Among the political gladiators present at the meeting co-chaired by former Minister of Health Professor Eyitayo Lambo, were Professor Yusuf Aliyu and Alhaji Idris Tawari, Senators Dino Melaye, Salihu Ohize, Rep. Kabir Ajanah, Dr. Tom Adaba, retired DIG of Police, among others.

A communiqué on the meeting noted thus:

“The meeting reviewed the current social, economic and political situation in the state since its creation 24 years ago and came to the painful conclusion that Kogi State has not lived up to the expectations of its founding fathers. 

“It has been starved of economic and political development as a result of unconscionable level of marginalization and oppression of the people of Central and Western senatorial districts.

“Available statistics clearly show that while Kogi Central and West senatorial districts account for 55 per cent of the population and about 85 per cent of the internally generated revenue, political and public service appointments and recruitment as well as resources allocation have been monopolized by the Eastern senatorial district to the extent of at least 80 per cent with Central and Western senatorial districts having to share less than 20 per cent.

  “The Forum noted that since its creation in 1991, Kogi State has been grossly and willfully mismanaged by successive governments with absolutely nothing to show for the trillions of naira that have accrued to the state from federal allocation and internally generated revenue.

“That any person from either Kogi Central or Kogi West who accepts a deputy governorship position from Kogi East is on his or her own and will be treated by the two districts as a traitor.