By Ochiaka Ugwu
The third term bid of the Senator representing Kogi East in the senate, Sen. Jibrin Isa Echocho has got a boost with a coalition of concerned civil society organizations drawn from Kogi East Senatorial District endorsing him for the coveted position.
The coalition under the auspices of Kogi East Political and Economic Summit Group (KEPESG) endorsed Echocho at a world press conference in Abuja Tuesday.
Speaking during the event, KEPESG convener, Comrade Jacob Okpananchi said the endorsement came as a result of extensive consultations and a careful assessment of political realities of Kogi East district.
Continuing, Okpananchi revealed that their assessment of the incumbent senator’s activities made it possible for the group to formally endorse him for third term in office.
The Kogi born activist, said the decision was not arbitrary, but a product of deep reflection on the historical and present political dynamics affecting their people.
He said that Kogi East had, until 2015, consistently produced the Governor of the State, noting that upon powershift to Kogi Central, their zone had experienced a significant decline in political influence in Kogi.
He said the prevailing reality highlighted the urgent need to consolidate and strengthen their representation at the national level as a strategic alternative which informed the endorsement of Echocho.
He expressed hope that reelecting Echocho would increase chances of securing principal leadership positions in the National Assembly, to horn the voice and bargaining power of Kogi East constituents.
He assured the move would bridge the power gap occasioned by the zone’s prolonged absence from the governorship seat since 2015.
He said it would also strengthen the zone’s foothold at the federal level which will in turn cushion the political and developmental gap experienced by the people.
“This endorsement also serves as a clarion call to our people to resist the entrenched politics of surrogacy that has relegated our district to a secondary role since 2015. “We must reject any attempt to impose candidates who do not reflect the collective aspirations and political value of our people” he concluded.
Never miss a moment! Get the stories shaping Nigeria, delivered straight to your phone. Follow Peoplesdaily Newspaper on WhatsApp for breaking news, exclusive reports, and the headlines everyone will be talking about, before anyone else.
