* To remedy sustained marginalisation .
As the race to political offices in 2027 general elections hot up, a group under the aegis of Progressive Minds have appealed to Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo, ex Gov’Bello, and leaders of thoughts in APC in kogi state to zone the forth coming House of Representatives election in Ankpa, Federal Constituency to Omala LGA to correct age long imbalances.
The Progressive Minds in a statement signed by the Coordinator, Hon. Atanu Okpanachi Mugabe and made available to Treasure times on Thursday in lokoja .
The statement noted that the call for the zoning of the forthcoming House of Representatives slot to Omala has become imperative to correct the deliberate political manoeuver to sideline Omala LGA in the election of her indigenes into House of Representatives for Ankpa , Olamaboro and Omala Federal Constituency of kogi state.
The Coordinator stated that, ahead of the different permutations ,the group is specifically urging Gov’ Ododo, former Governor Bello who is the leader of APC to assuage the APC leadership in Kogi East to reserve the 2027 House of Representatives slot to Omala LGA to calm political Frayed nerves as a result of sustained denial of rotational arrangement against Omala.
He added that the Progressive Minds, an indigenous political group within the APC in Ankpa Federal Constituency is committed to the promotion of good leadership,fairness , equity and peaceful coexistence, hence, it would not hold it’s arm and watch the systematic marginalisation meted to Omala since the return to Democracy in 1999.
Mugabe explained that the agitation of the people of Omala LGA to produce the next member of House of Representatives under the platform of APC was not out of place, but a clarion call to foster Unity , Peace and development of the Constituency.
He added that the Omala struggle to have their son or daughter elected in the next election cannot be overemphasized as Ankpa and Olamaboro LGAs have collectively occupied the office for almost two decades since 1999, leaving Omala with paltry one term.
For hindsight, he said, Ankpa LGA has produced Hon. Muazu Abimaje 1999- 2003, Hassan Omale 2015- 2019 and Ibrahim Abdullahi Halims 2013 to date spanning 16 years when Halims would have completed his tenure in two years time, while Senator Attai. Aidoko from Olamaboro spent two terms between 2003-2011,only for Omala Representatives, Alhaji Mohammed Ibrahim Idris to manage a single term in 2011- 2015.
The statement added that the lopsidedness of the slot to Ankpa and Olamaboro against Omala does not augur well for the growth of APC and Democracy which is about equity , fairness and Justice as all Local Councils in the country is assumed by the country to be equal despite differences in numerical strength and other endowments
He asserted that the situation in Ankpa Federal Constituency is “likened to three siblings dwelling in a room with one bed. They decided to sleep on the bed in turn , day after day. It will be unjust and improper for two brothers to sleep on the bed for five days consecutively while the third watches from the floor. The need for Omala to produce the next House of Representatives member, Ankpa Federal Constituency can not be said to be out of place by men and women of good conscience “
He said, an Omala member in the House of Representatives would foster Unity, Equity and fairness, all inclusive democracy: true sense of belongingness, equitable distribution of Constituency projects, engender brotherhood, harmony and love , which is the essence of plural Democracy.
While appealing to Gov’Ododo, leader of APC Ex. Gov Yahaya Bello, and other well meaning stakeholders’ of APC to wade into this age long imbalance, and correct it accordingly, will write their names in gold, saying all previous sentiments adduced by the promoters of this marginalisation, was to keep Omala perpetually out of the race to the Green chamber of the National Assembly.
