A front line Okun leader and philanthropist, Alhaji Abdulrauf Dan-Usman better known as Senior Malaika says the 2023 gubernatorial election in Kogi state was won by the incumbent governor, Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo, because the Okun people decided to “wait for their time.”
In an interview with News Hub Mag! recently, Senior Malaika explained that, “last year election put to test the cordial relationship between Ebira and the Okun people. There was no hatred, no segregation, just pure cooperation and unity.”
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Advancing reasons why candidates from Kogi West extraction didn’t perform very well at the election, the community leader said it was because the people decided to go with the popular candidate.
“You will agree with me that politics is all about the majority. The majority of the people of Kogi, from the three tribes, were ready to qenue behind the APC and it was only wisdom on the part of the Okun people to follow suit.
“A single tribe cannot decide who governs the state, there must be cooperation between two tribes and the Okun people agreed to ensure the victory of Alhaji Ododo with the hope of such gesture in the future too.”
Speaking further, the political strategist and seer stressed the need for elders and leaders of the Okun people to go on a spiritual journey to find a common bond for the Okun people.
He urged the government of Alhaji Ahmed Usman Ododo to prioritize welfare and engagement of youth in positions of power as a way of preparing them for the future.
“This is a youthful governor and I urge him to remember his constituents, the youth, in positions of power and authority as a way of preparing them for the future.
“I also want him to be biased about developing the state capital. Successive administrations have largely ignored the state capital which is not good for our image. I urge him to drastically change the face of Lokoja town,” he said.
