Marginalization: Kogi State is sitting on a time Bomb

By Shaibu Stephen Ojate

God had reasons for creating human being different. God in his wisdom not only created human being to differ in terms of facial outlook, appearance, body,  he made their differences more pronounced by their colours and today we have blacks and light complexion human being. He also went further to give more distinctions to us by creating people of different tribes and race.

It is not by mistake that we are people of different of origins. Despite that the world comprises of people of different tribes and races, they still come together to form a nation and state of their own. The people have no choice again than to live at peace, relate with one another despite their social differences.

My readers should therefore know that it is love that facilitates harmonious relationship in any society. Where love is lacking, there will be war and crisis.  Kogi state is one good example i will use to illustrate my saying in this article. Recall that the creation of Kogi State was for the good of all and not primarily created for ethnic divides.

I need to say this because there is no way one tribe can just get up to form a State without smaller once being merged to it. Kogi State is not an exemption in this regard as joining other tribes to form a state is a familiar trend in Nigeria. The State which was created in good faith is becoming a source of worry to the inhabitants of the area who care to monitor the trend of things.

Apart from low development observed in the state due to inefficient leadership, the state is riddled with hate orchestrated by the State Governor.  This is a State where the Governor treats other ethnic groups with disdain through his action and thought. He did this by reserving certain political appointment and project execution only to the senatorial district where he hailed from.

This is not just starting now, as it has been the practice since the creation of the state where the Eastern Senatorial District has had the opportunity of producing all the Governors in every election. Since the democratic regime in the State, no person from other tribes had been nominated as Accountant General of the State, head of Service, Commissioner for Justice and Attorney General of the State, Chief of Staff other than Igalla people. This is not to say other tribes did not have qualified professional in these areas, but ethnic card being played out by the successive Governors never allow this to happen.

Research has shown that if qualified person happened to be non-Igalla person, such individual is either transferred or redeployed to another area to pave way for Igalla person on the same rank with him to ascend into the position. This ugly development is about rearing it heads again in the choice of House Clerk at Kogi State House of Assembly.

An ebira man on grade level 17, the next person in rank to the retiring house clerk was redeployed to another area while an Igallaman of his rank was hurriedly transferred from another ministry to Kogi State house of Assembly to enable him takeover from the present House Clerk (Igalla Man) billed to retire soon.

This practise is condemnable and if continues, it will potent a great danger to the state in future time to come. The Igallas have been doing this just to perpetuate themselves and dominate Civil service work force in Kogi State. The State Governor supported it and this was why Igalla people always have their ways.

An insight into this issue by this writer indicated people are showing discontentment on this unholy practise by Igalla cabal on the level of marginalization in Kogi State. There is danger ahead as ethnic War is looming in the state over marginalization.

The Governor should know that when ethnic crisis erupted as a result of marginalization, the devastating effect will be more dangerous to the effect of Boko Haram insurgency in the North- East. I am saying this because there is a limit at which people will tolerate and accommodate things. If the Governor continues with this unhealthy practise, it will get to a level where the discontented individuals will fight back since diplomatic steps offered in the time past to address issue of marginalization in the State went to deaf ears.

The Governor should understand that he is Governor for all ethnic groups that constitute the state and not Igalla people alone. As a leader he should allow wisdom to be his guiding principles. He should show fairness in the activities of the state and avoid depriving others. He should as a matter of fact give what is due every ethnic group at the right time and avoid unfair treatment.

He should as a matter of concerned look into the purported transferred of Ebira person next to the retiring House Clerk at Kogi State house which today is generating serious ripples in the State capital. He needs to do for the sake of peace and development of the State.

Shaibu Stephen Ojate is a public commentator and Managing Editor of EAGLE REPORTERS writes from Abuja.