As Kogi November 11th gubernatorial election draws close, alot of political analysts are making their predictions either on the basis of fact, emotion or party affiliation.
It is against this background that Sani Michael OmakojiĀ ( SMO ), a Public Affairs Analyst schools one Engr Ira Habib who made his analysis on the basis of emotion to favour Ahmed Usman Ododo of All Progressieve Congress (APC )
SMO writes thus:
” On Wednesday, October 11, 2023, I, Sani Michael Omakoji ( SMo) came across a political analysis regarding the Kogi gubernatorial election scheduled for November 11, 2023.
The analysis was attributed to Engineer Ira Habib
In his presentation, he drew comparisons between the leading candidate, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka of the Social Democratic Party (SDP), and His Excellency Peter Gregory Obi of the Labour Party (LP).
On the other hand, he likened Usman Ahmed Ododo of the All Progressive Congress (APC) to President Ahmed Bola Asiwaju Tinubu, also of the APC.
Engineer Ira Habib suggested that these comparisons could be made based on their political strategy, capacity, intellect, and attitudes.
As the author of this response, SMO, I find this analysis to be lacking in depth and objectivity.
In my view, comparing Ahmed Usman Ododo to President Ahmed Bola Asiwaju Tinubu only because they are both members of the APC is an oversimplification.
It’s akin to comparing a football superstar like Cristiano Ronaldo to Harry Maguire, who is not known for asymal performance always.
While it’s true that Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka and His Excellency Peter Gregory Obi share the experience of leaving their respective parties to join SDP and LP, respectively, it’s important to consider the nuances of their decisions.
It’s worth noting that Kogi can be seen as a microcosm of Nigeria, with diverse regions and demographics.
For instance, Kogi East represents the northern and eastern parts of Nigeria along with some features of the southern part, comprising 9 local government areas.
Kogi West represents the western part with 7 local government areas, and Kogi Central symbolizes the North Central region with 5 local government areas.
In the context of the upcoming gubernatorial election, it’s crucial to consider three significant factors: the candidate’s catchment area, competency, and overall acceptability.
Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, hailing from Kogi East, which is the most densely populated region, stands out as a strong candidate.
He also demonstrates high competency and enjoys widespread acceptability among the people of Kogi State.
In conclusion, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka is poised to be a strong contender for the governorship, given his broad-based appeal and the demographic advantages of Kogi East.
Perhaps, If His Excellency Peter Gregory Obi had come from the North, similar to Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka’s position in Kogi East, his competence and popularity could have led to a resounding victory in the previous presidential election.
In summary, Alhaji Muritala Yakubu Ajaka, often described as the “Multipurpose Candidate” by Comrade Usman Austin Okai, is well-positioned to become the next Governor of Kogi State, given his general acceptability and the demographic dynamics in the state
