It was Nelson Mandela who once said, “It is not our diversity which divides us; it is not our ethnicity, or religion or culture that divides us. Since we have achieved our freedom, there can only be one division amongst us: between those who cherish democracy and those who do not.”
The significance of those great words of the sage freedom icon resonates down the political history of Nigeria. And lately, in Kogi State, a state that bears a striking resemblance to the wider Nigerian diversity, we are reminded of the import of those words as we embark on another exercise to choose a new governor for the state.
That division in society is a function of poor management of diversity is not in doubt, as has been starkly highlighted by happenings on the eve of the governorship election. What is in doubt, it seems, is whether those jostling to govern this ethnically and culturally diverse state have learned the appropriate strategies to manage diversity.
Unfortunately, the actions and statements of some of those aspiring to lead the state portray them as having learnt nothing on how to manage the issues that tend to divide us. The utterances of some of our political leaders have tended to promote destructive orientations and tendencies.
But in sharp contrast to the ways of many in the political arena, the governorship candidate of All Progressives Congress (APC) in Kogi State, Alh Ododo Ahmed Usman has demonstrated a desire to focus on the issues that bother the state.
Ododo will focuse on issue-based campaigns devoid of ethnic pigmentation. This is unlike many of his rivals, his messages will be devoid of ethnicity, pride, arrogance, and egotism.
“This current government of Alh Yahaya Bello has done much in establishing his foot path across the state and all that is needed is to build on what has been done so far.”
Among the contenders for the top job in Kogi State, *Ododo stands out.* A man with rare leadership qualities, his enviable antecedents are respected and celebrated across ethnic boundaries. He is a product of the times, the product of ideological and social reawakening among Kogites, a rebirth not tainted with the wiles of tribe and tongue.
Ododo is a dogged, experienced, and far-sighted leader with the capacity and willingness to advance the rich political and socio-economic history of Kogi State. He is a man with unquenchable commitment to due process and rule of law, who is determined to build strong institutions and ideals that will engender confidence among the people and promote patriotism.
He made unprecedented impact in the previous position he has been previledged to serve under this current Government as the Auditor General..
In an era when the country is facing an existential threat, men like Ododo are needed to pilot state affairs.
Unsurprisingly, politicians with parochial predispositions and propensity to promote divisive agendas perceive Ododo as a threat. He has come to the scene with a people-centred agenda that is exploding the parochial messages on which many of his opponents have anchored their campaigns.
Fortunately, however, the people are with Ododo. He carries their hopes and aspirations.
Effective leadership and management of resources is synonymous with good governance. And the prerequisite for the discovery and achievement of good governance is the discovery of self, and advancement of ideas and ideals capable of promoting and fostering wholeness and oneness of a people. It is a process and conscious desire activated through actions and constructive visions of leaders to censor their minds against all forms of negativism and dividing trends.
Leaders, who must pilot the affairs of kogi State and, by extension, Nigeria, are challenged to find paths that make sense and guarantee hope. This calls for selflessness and alignment of personal interest with the interest of the larger society. It entails an open heart and mind. It requires readiness and preparedness to harness our diversity for the common benefit of the people.
Instead of dissipating energy on destructive and unappealing ventures and ideas, Ododo’s opponents are invited to be more constructive in their messages and create political norms that will promote and encourage transparency, accountability, integrity, lawfulness, sound policy, participation, and corruption-free political space.
There is need to choose statesmen over mere politicians.
As James Freeman Clarke put it, “The difference between a politician and a statesman is that a politician thinks about the next election while the statesman thinks about the next generation.”
Ododo parades the antecedents of a statesman. Let the people of Kogi State support and vote for Ododo come November as the next governor.
A vote for Ododo is certainly a vote for today’s prosperity, and hope for the next generation.
**Tosin Tafu*
Better Kogi Initiative 4 Ododo
08036642595*