Very recently, a faceless group with no proper identity though called itself by the nomenclature: Kogi Leadership Initiative Forum (KLIF) has come -up with an unsubstantial and incorrect claim, disinformation and misinformation by alleging that Rt. Hon. James Abiodun Faleke has been pursuing a sectional agenda as far as appointments of Kogites into federal offices are concerned. To me personally, this accusation is rather naive, crude, unfounded,absurd, wicked and unacceptable.
The question is, when has Faleke become an employer of labour under the federal government of Nigeria that would have earned him the opportunity to be issuing appointment letters to people around him uncontrollably? Faleke is a mere legislator elected to make laws along with other colleagues in the national assembly period.
The best he can do is to lobby for support for some individuals across Kogi State who are loyal to his political party and to him personally. And this is a common practice all over the world.
Truly speaking, all the three senatorial areas of Kogi state have benefited greatly from his largesse and kindness all these past years. Let me shock you, some of his trusted aides are from Igalaland because Faleke still strongly believes in the political bond that existed between him and late Prince Abubakar Audu.
And if it’s true that Faleke is doing a lot for the people of Kogi West or Ijumu Local Government Area, which I know is not true. One thing I know about Faleke is that he is pained to see his people being neglected by the past successive federal and state governments especially in the last sixteen years in terms of appointments and physical development of the area. The opportunities had existed in the past and even now for the Igala and Ebira ethnic nationalities that had one time or the other ruled the state which has given rise to some developments and appointments in these two areas in the past, while Kogi West has been placed perpetually at the back seat. To shock further, the central part of the state enjoys over 50 percent of all the top appointments in the state presently, ditto to the Igala when they held sway for nineteen years in power. Now that God has raised someone from Kogi West to rescue the area, some kind of ill-feelings are brewing up against a man God has sent to wipe away our tears, but unfortunately a handful individuals with the evil intention which I will call unscrupulous and “bad belle” Kogites came out with the devilish intention to tarnish the good and well guided name of Hon. Abiodun Faleke. Today, Faleke is working hard to lift up the heads of his people from Kogi West like the way and manner Moses did in Egypt several thousands of years ago, but these shameless and faceless individuals are terribly bitter about Faleke’s courage to right the wrong of the past against the long neglected people of Kogi West who they have denied their rightful place in the state.Their evil mission has failed.
The fourth term legislator from Lagos State has for a long time be in the forefront of given helping hand to various communities in Kogi West, many communities have something to show from Hon. Faleke in the area of financial support and project execution. I remember that about two years ago Faleke inaugurated an agricultural committee to supervise and monitor the distribution of farm inputs, farm accessories, motor-cycles and provision of financial grants, totalling about one billion Naira to all the seven local government areas in the west. Dr. Arosanyin from Ejiba, Yagba West was appointed to head the committee.
Let us remember that Faleke represents the good people of Ikeja Federal Constituency of Lagos State, so his hundred percent attention and loyalty would not be directed to Kogi State alone, he is constitutional bound to work for Ikeja people and not Kogi West. Yet, he still creates time and finance to support virtually all parts of Kogi state.
Let’s stop this evil idea of pull-him-down syndrome which our people are used to. Faleke does not deserve all these blackmails, backlashes, condemnations and criticisms but rather he deserves praises, prayers, encouragement and commendations for being too proactive to the urgent needs of his people. To me, he is one of the strong pillars the people of Kogi West can heavily lean on in this current government. The area has never produced an elected governor and the last minister from the area left office in 2007.
Whatever assistance Hon. Faleke is currently rendering is voluntary which is done purely on compassion to our long abandoned people of Kogi West jettisoned by the past state and federal governments. Kogi West should wise-up and acknowledge the progressive approach of Tinubu’s leadership in the country through his inclusivity in governance. Am sure, it is our time to go ahead of our present predicament.
Finally, I urge everyone of us to shun ethnic bigotry, human hatred and work collectively for our socio-economic emancipation and development.
Dele Olonilebi writes from Lokoja, Kogi State./08138018894