Thursday, the 27th of January 2022 was quite memorable for the people of Kogi East senatorial district, the People’s Democratic party, PDP and its ward/Zonal stalwarts. Dr Victor Adoji has declared intent to represent Igala/Bassa in the forthcoming 10th assembly- the Senate.
The supposed exercise between prospective candidate and the party executives turned mega-rally as constituents came out en-masse in solidarity with the mandate. Social media was awash, news outlets made headlines and Kogi East was thrown in seamless celebratory backslappings. The global economic expert, unionist, and banker has rejigged a revolutionary struggle. It was unusual. Even pundits could not establish it to a foray considering the mammoth crowd. But events that transpired underpinned a fact that for umpteenth time, the narrative in Kogi East and the state at large have been superlatively captured on falsehood. And, that citizens are in tune with the extant crop of leaders is the irony.
Recalled that, at the Zonal intent declaration in Anyigba, an aged woman gifted Dr Victor Adoji a hundred Naira (in fifty Naira denominations) as her contributions to the success of his senatorial ambition. According to her, the gift offer was made out of cheer optimism that DVAA in the saddle would be a pro poor leadership.
Although, it was the least of all that transpired, yet, it is louder and inherent about the domineering effects of bad leadership— Behind headlines is the ordeal of a people misled, a land underdeveloped and a society thriving in oppression. It depicts the trajectory of a people wearied of extant processes and desirous of change.
Frankly, there is insurmountable injustices occasioned by greed and incompetence. Civil servant dies of minor illness due to perpetual denial of salary/pension, health sector is dead and buried, Education is in disarray, infrastructure is a mocking reference and overall welfare is in shambles. Unfortunately, the voice of redemption resides within the tiniest of the minority! And, while the media looks the other way, citizens are programmed at the beck and call of the ruling class.
Perhaps, a right policy in place will alter the narrative, Adoji is seen as a voice of liberation and hope which currently looks like a distant illusion.
Since democratic rebirth, legislative prowess is yet to be explored to the brims in Kogi East. Exhaustive analysis of the challenge that would have berthed the right policy is lacking in wants. Absurdly, things had been reneged to ‘empowerment’ motivated by political permutations.
To a sane observer, the hundred Naira gift is a clarion call to set the record aright. It is a peaceful demonstration against injustice, poverty, maladministration, insecurity, looting and corruption. It connotes the strength of womenfolk in emerging society. Her voice is on hill top louder and could be equated to the Belarusian Olga Kovalkova.
By default, it’s difficult to establish something distinct among Nigeria’s political class. Due to weak policy, every transition era is regarded as business as usual with citizens programmed to a certain notion. The relationship between the leader and the led is once in every four years. Democratic dividends on the other hands is often misconstrued for scenarios where corrupt and amoral persons buy their ways to power.
DVAA is a concise defiance of these trends. His ambition is deified by his humanitarian antecedents. As it stands, he is the only aspirant firmly rooted in grassroots as a result of constant communion with the people. Unlike other contestants in the 2019 general elections, Adoji was the only candidate who returned on a thank you tour across Kogi East; a demonstration that has since conferred potentialities on the citizenry in leadership process. As a true Democrat, Adoji stood with the winner of his party’s ticket for the governorship race and played a major role.
His post election achievements is also an attestation of fact; a team of talented footballers were harvested across the district under the umbrella of Igala United Football Club and provided Avenue with which some of the players currently seek their ways to international scene— an unmatched instance in our chequered history. We also have community secondary school Agala Ate, Anyigba where he singlehandedly built a six block of classrooms, library, offices etc. Cashew farmers also got processing machines. Thousands of underprivileged children were added to his scholarship lists and many more. No doubt, these humane coupled with professionalism has endeared him to the people.
Dr Victor Alewo Adoji is a trailblazer who in the course of his political advent has continually set standards typical of a Democrat.
A swift peruse at his social contract Mantra and emerging proclivity, it is apt to establish that leadership is a collective process that recognizes the citizens as the major stakeholders in democratic settings. No wonder he often posits; “if we forced ourselves on the electorates, we are of all men the most vile relishing ephemeral Glory. To further compound this, the recent declaration never stopped at the ward/zonal headquarters as it is accustomed, he has taken his intentions to every nooks and crannies of Kogi East in less than a week.
As more candidates troop in from their various hideouts, it is important to leverage such antecedents typical of DVAA in consonance with character, competence and capacity to choose our next senator.
It is quite a plus that Kogi Easterners have identified with their own and the fact on ground is an indication that Dr Victor Alewo Adoji ‘s senatorial bid represents a new dawn. The one hundred Naira widow’s mite was a voice against hunger, unemployment, killings, nepotism as well as a clarion call on DVAA’s candidacy to chat a new course.
JOHN PAUL – writes via pauljohnk5@gmail.com