The just Concluded Kogi State Elections, Implications and the way Forward - Musa Omachoko Mathew

The Kogi State Nov. 16th Election has come and gone but it's effects and damages would not be easily forgotten as it was not free and fair even though the Governor Elect tagged the violence “A Pockets of Violence" which led to 9 people loosing their lives.

First I must say some of us got our predictions wrong using the indices of majority and the general will of the people in predicting the outcome of the just concluded elections.

Now, one of the reasons why The northern part of Nigeria has been the major decider of who rules Nigeria is because of their populations and Participation in politics and Election.

Kogi east Over the years has been the major decider of who rules Kogi state because they have larger population and fortunate to also have some of the local government that produces large numbers of votes but this narrative became the opposite in the just concluded Election as it was the Central who became the major decider with the Larger numbers of votes and while some sect allege that it was a hand Written number of Votes, others believes it was the unity of Kogi Central to Chanel all their votes to their son in a free and fair Environment devoid of violence unlike Kogi East and Kogi West.

One of the Implications of this turn around of event and natural forces of majority that was before is that; Kogi Central has now become the major decider of who rules the states with the kind of votes they produced that's if truly it was A vote by the people or a vote by INEC.

The Kogi Elections has further showed that the Nigerian State instead of improving in its conduct of a Peaceful, Free and Fair Elections has further degenerated to the ‘State of Nature' where life is Short, Brutish and nasty.

The way forward first, is to Embrace peace for without peace we cannot think right.

For a peaceful and fair election devoid of violence in Nigeria, the Federal government need not to compromise nor align with any candidates be it on the ground party, loyalty or interest But rather provide a leveled playing field for all contestants and the security operatives too need to be very professional in Their job But this can only work when the federal government provides a leveled playing field.

Let's be united as one for Kogi state belongs to all of us cos nobody is more ‘Kogi’ than the other Either you are a perceived Majority or Minority. What matters most is Kogi First and as such we must see our selves as Kogites first before becoming an Igala, Okun or An Egbira Man.

Let's us try to shun away from prophesying doom for our state but rather let's hope things get better in the next coming years.

One day Nigeria as a nation state would get it right For we would not get tired of demanding for Good Governance.

© 20/11/19

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