There is in Kogi State today a great yearning for a new political direction and this yearning, which grows more urgently by the day, is both legitimate and understandable.
After almost seven and half years of hopes raised and hopes dashed of the Peoples Democratic Party-led administration of Alhaji Ibrahim Idris, the people have now seen the difference.
This writer is of the view that Kogi State has been faced with the problem of a truly courageous and patriotic leadership that can provide the proper direction for the creative management of the immense resources of the state for equitable development since Prince Abubakar was rigged out of office in 2003.
As a result of this, the people of Kogi State have continued to yearn for the emergence of Prince Abubakar Audu’s leadership which is sincerely committed to a planned and sustainable programme of development that will provide the basic requirement for accelerated economic growth, social cohesion, unity, peace, security and political stability. There is no doubt, therefore, that genuine development witnessed in the state during Audu’s tenure as governor of the state between 1999 and 2003 during which he demonstrated great courage, vision, determination and commitment to the rapid transformation of the state prompted the clarion call by the people for his return to govern the state in 2011.
Governance is a very serious business that requires honesty, commitment, experience, maturity, integrity, accountability and fairness. There can never be a stable polity without fairness and the fear of God in the leader. Kogi State at this moment, needs the proverbial man on a white horse, a responsible person like Prince Abubakar Audu who can unite the state’s fractious tribes and return the people to greatness where everybody will feel a sense of belonging. It is his desire to effectively address the myriad of problems, heal the wounds inflicted on the state, rediscover the path to economic and human growth and development and rejuvenate Kogi State to a point where tolerance and understanding, based on dialogue and consensus shall hold sway. Even his political opponents will largely attest that by any standard, Prince Abubakar Audu is a great politician who has the political wherewithal to create an enabling environment where everyone will be liberated from material want, in order to have freedom to pursue, unhindered, and unfettered the quest for human development.
At this point in our history, this writer is of the opinion that there is a growing anxiety about political future of the state, not merely in respect of the capacity of the state in obeying or practicing democratic political norms and facilitating an effective handling of the day to day problems, but also in rebuilding the democratic culture and bringing about a free, stable and prosperous polity.
Our basic difficulties are of a political nature, including the poor political headship on the part of ruling party, which has failed to be imaginative and inspiring. It follows that one has to look carefully at the political procedure and methods of the society, and at the institution in which these are embodied. The issues that will shape the gubernatorial election in Kogi State will include integrity, accountability, confidence, responsiveness, consultation and participation. These qualities are lacking in the present rules in the state under the failed Alhaji Ibrahim Idris-led administration. The emergence of this visionary, God fearing and well focused man on the political scene of Kogi State once again where he is contesting the governorship seat on the platform of the All Nigerian Peoples Party (ANPP) was as a result of the daily clamouring and pressure on him by the people in order to make a difference in their collective lives. This is so because Prince Abubakar Audu places a very high premium on the genuine wishes of the people of the state.
His ultimate goal in politics is dictated by his firm belief that the present ruling party have been unable to satisfy the yearnings and aspirations of the people because expectations were high and possibility for greatness were limitless.
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Abubakar Audu and the Kogi guber race