Dr. Mrs. Toba Ojo Monisola is right on one point. For 35 years, no Okun son or daughter has served as Governor of Kogi State while the Ebiras and Igalas have. That reality hurts. But saying 2027 is the time for an Okunman to serve without a clear political roadmap is to trade hope for deception.
Let us be honest with ourselves. The Okun Nation is in the minority in Kogi State. We do not have the numbers to win a governorship election alone. It took divine intervention for His Excellency, Alhaji Yahaya Adoza Bello to emerge from Kogi Central. For an Okunman to get to Lugard House, it will take more than passion. It will take bridges, lobbying and synergy with other regions of the state.
Politics is a game of numbers. We must ask ourselves hard questions. Is our voter register reflecting our true strength? During the last registration exercise, did we as Okun leaders mobilize aggressively to increase our numerical base? If we want to be taken seriously, we must first be recognized numerically. Proximity to the Presidency or loud press statements will not convert to votes on election day.
The most realistic path is partnership. Can Okun people tell me that wherever we are going politically, Lokoja and Kogi-Koton Karfe will automatically follow? No. Going through other routes will be counterproductive. But the synergy between the West and the Central has been tested and it can deliver results with ease.
The calculation is simple. Support Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for a second term and the door opens for an Okunman to be the next Governor. That is how political balance has worked and will continue to work. It is about patience, trust and keeping agreements. I am saying this as an Okun elder who genuinely desires to see an Okunman become Governor before I join my ancestors. But I also know that wishful thinking will not get us there. We need strategy.
My appeal is simple. Let us sustain and deepen the mutual relationship with our brothers in the Central Senatorial District. With them, we can get to Lugard House seamlessly and without burning bridges.
Enough of utterances that weaken our alliances. 2027 is close. Let us work with numbers, with unity and with the people we trust to stand with us when it is our turn. That is how the Okun Nation gets to the promised land.
CHIEF RICHARD ASAJE
Founder/Nat’l Coordinator,
Like Minds Alliance Pressure Group
4th Sept. 2026
