By Amuda Dan Sulaiman Fab
Former Senator representing Kogi West, Dino Melaye, has declared his support for a shift of political power to Kogi West, saying he would back any credible governorship candidate from the senatorial district, irrespective of political affiliation.
Melaye made the declaration at the just-concluded gathering of the Okun Development Initiative in Abuja, where stakeholders from across Okun land converged to discuss the development, security and political future of the region.
The former lawmaker said political power must move to Kogi West if the state is to address the security challenges confronting Okun land.
According to Melaye, Kogi Central, which currently holds the governorship of the state, has occupied the position for 16 years, making it necessary, in his view, for power to rotate to Kogi West in the interest of equity and fairness.
“To put an end to the security challenges in Okun land, power must shift to Kogi West,” Melaye said.
He went further to declare that his support would not be determined by political party, stressing that he would support any candidate from Kogi West who emerges to contest the governorship.
Melaye’s position effectively places the interest of Kogi West above partisan considerations in the emerging debate over who should succeed the current administration.
He said the people of Okun land need political power to effectively influence policies and decisions capable of addressing insecurity, infrastructure deficits and other developmental challenges confronting the region.
The declaration is likely to fuel discussions around zoning and power rotation in Kogi State, where the three senatorial districts have historically competed for political influence.
The Okun Development Initiative gathering brought together stakeholders who deliberated on issues affecting Okun land and the need for greater political unity and collective action.
With the next governorship contest gradually becoming a subject of political discussion, Melaye’s pledge to support a Kogi West candidate regardless of party could have significant implications for the political calculations ahead of the election.
The former senator’s declaration also underscores growing calls among Okun stakeholders for the governorship to be ceded to Kogi West as part of what they describe as an equitable rotation of political power in Kogi State.
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