In a forthright address, cleric warns against political patience, urges unity behind Faleke’s 2027 bid.
In the fourth of his series of open letters, Pastor Stanley Ajileye has issued a passionate and blunt address to the Okun people of Kogi West, warning that the governorship opportunity in 2027 must not be traded for what he calls the “political deception” of 2031.
Addressing what he describes as “true sons and daughters of Okunland,” Ajileye dismissed recent suggestions from some quarters that Kogi West should patiently wait until 2031 to pursue the governorship as “not just annoying, but nauseating.”
“A patient dog in Kogi politics often ends up with no bone at all, not even the smell of soup,” he stated.
Reflecting on the political history of Kogi State since its creation in 1991, Ajileye noted that Okun people have largely remained “spectators” in the governance of the state. He identified three key pillars that have historically determined access to Lugard House: demographic advantage, federal influence, and the power of incumbency—including election manipulation.
Demographically, Kogi West remains at a disadvantage, but Ajileye argued that the only viable pathway for an Okun governorship under the current political equation is federal influence—a factor he says has consistently eluded the region.
He pointed to the 2015 transition, where Hon. James Abiodun Faleke was substituted with Yahaya Bello, as a clear example of federal might overriding constitutional succession.
“What changed that script was not divine intervention but federal power,” he wrote.
Ajileye contended that the present federal administration under President Bola Tinubu offers a rare, narrow window of opportunity for Kogi West—particularly if Faleke is the candidate.
“This opportunity is precious. And let me be blunt, it is not transferable to 2031,” he stressed. “By 2031, President Tinubu will no longer be in office. The federal advantage we now have will evaporate like morning dew.”
He described advocates of a 2031 bid as “enemies of Kogi West” and humorously suggested that supporting such a delay “is a stronger proof of questionable paternity than a DNA test.”
The cleric ended with a sobering call to action: “This is our moment. Miss it, and history will not forgive us. Opportunities in politics do not knock twice.”
The letter is expected to intensify debate within Kogi West ahead of the 2027 gubernatorial race.
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