Don’t drag monarchs into partisan politics, Kogi APC group tells Ododo

Critical stakeholders of the All Progressives Congress (APC) from seven local government areas in the Kogi West Senatorial District have urged Governor Usman Ododo to immediately cease politicizing traditional institutions in the district.

The stakeholders, operating under the Kogi West APC Leaders Forum (KWALF), made this statement in a press release issued by their Coordinator, Hon. Orebiyi Mathew, in Lokoja on Friday.

In the statement, Orebiyi emphasised that the coercion of traditional rulers for partisan purposes can destabilise communities, incite communal violence, and escalate political tensions within Kogi West.

The forum expressed concern over a scheduled meeting organised by Ododo, intended to persuade traditional rulers from Kogi West to issue misleading and erroneous statements against the APC candidate for the 2027 Kogi West Senatorial Election, Sen. Sunday Steve Karimi. The aim of this meeting appears to be to mislead President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, members of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the APC, and the general public.

The forum stated that traditional rulers are not meant to be political actors. They are regarded, across the country, as custodians of culture and symbols of unity, expected to serve as neutral father figures within their respective communities.

The involvement of traditional rulers in partisan politics, under any circumstances, is considered not only an aberration but also a desecration of the traditional institution in Kogi West, an issue that should not be taken lightly by anyone.

The forum advised Ododo to refrain from politicizing past misunderstandings among traditional chiefs in Yagba West, reiterating that Distinguished Senator Sunday Steve Karimi played no role in these traditional disputes, contrary to the malicious assertions being made.

The statement said, “For the avoidance of doubt, it is pertinent to state clearly that Sen. Sunday Steve Karimi maintains a very good and beneficial relationship with the traditional institution in Yagba west under the leadership of the Elegbe of Egbe Oba Ayodele Erukera which has long been a pillar of community governance, conflict resolution, and social order, maintaining law and order at the grassroots level.

“The consistent trajectory of bias against Sen. Sunday Steve Karimi, Senator representing Kogi West by the Governor of Kogi State, Alhaji Usman Ododo using the Kogi West Traditional Institutions is aimed at not only tarnishing his image before President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR and the good and amiable people of Kogi West, but to frustrate his re-election bid to the Senate by portraying a situation that seeks to suggest he is in conflict with the traditional institution of Kogi West.

“These narratives are erroneous and mischievous and will not see the light of the day as the people of Kogi West are solidly behind the re-election bid of the Senator who has performed outstanding well and enjoys the overwhelming grassroots support from the people of Kogi West who are happy with him, having represented them well at the Senate, in view of the numerous people oriented projects, programs, bills and initiatives undertaken by the Senator that has impacted positively on their lives, bringing smiles upon their faces.

“The forum further appealed to the traditional institutions in Kogi West not to allow themselves to be used as transactional figures, losing the trust of their subjects and compromising their sacred neutrality”.