A crisis of confidence is rocking the plot by the Kogi West Elders Forum (KWEF) to name one of the candidates in the November 11, 2023 governorship election from the Okun extraction as its consensus candidate.

Already, allegations are rife that the leadership of the KWEF as well as a few members have collected the sum of N20m in two tranches of
N10m each from a particular candidate.

According to informed members of KWEF, who have expressed their displeasure over the N20m bribe, the candidate, which the Forum collected the sum from, is yet to receive any prime rating of any groups from his Okun extraction.

The Liason Officer of the Okun Development Association (ODA) in Lokoja, Kogi State, Tunde Ibrahim, recently opened up on how the umbrella body of all Okun people arrived at the choice of a consensus candidate.

“The ODA Executive met and evaluate the three candidates on 1/7/2023. The result is still with the leadership of ODA to announce it to Okun Nation.

“We are asked to (give) time for possible step down amongst the candidates. Time is running out and not on our side.

“The massive crowds of yesterday (Tuesday) across Yagba is enough indication of where OKUN NATION is going,” Ibrahim stated on an opinion he expressed on Okun Patriots, a WhatsApp-based platform of Okun people.

Senator Dino Melaye had on Tuesday stormed Yagbaland where he was received by crowds of people in the three local government areas.

Ibrahim further revealed that “KWEF group met a few days ago. That their final report is about to be released.

“This is sequel to the recent happenings within Okun political scape. The (Hon Abiodun) Faleke decision that suppose to be a personal one is viewed as having a serious negative impact in certain quarter.

“There's a desperate need to safe or prop up the political camp of their benefactor. Hence, they met and decided to make their biased result known. We are watching and waiting. Nobody is going to throw more span to natural selection taking place now within Okun Nation.

“All discerning people know where Okun Nation put their trust. All these political consultants must not be allowed to get away with their attempts at manipulation of our decision,” Ibrahim further asserted.

Many members of the KWEF have distanced themselves from the proposed meeting scheduled to hold anytime soon saying they “will not allow those who have put themselves together to work against Kogi West interest to tarnish their image.”

Meanwhile, groups like Okun Think Thank as well as Kogi West&Central
which had earlier endorsed Senator Dino Melaye for the November 11, 2023 governorship election.

Suspicion is rife that the leadership of KWEF, which endorsed Yahaya Bello for a second term, are believed to be in covert understanding to use the procured endorsement as a tool to break the votes in the West to the advantage of Yahaya Bello's puppet, Ododo Ahmed Usman.

According to insiders, the decision on whom to support would have been finalised long ago, but the KWEF, who are dominated by retired military officers, kept shifting the goal post to preserve their hidden agenda.

Kogi State is like the former Abia State. Always suffering and having to choose between which of the two bad leaders should govern them