The world is in a constant state of flux and life is a journey of encounters, opportunities, difficulties and sacrifices. In some instances, we meet people that can change our perception of things, make us better, draw us closer to see the brighter picture of things that cannot be seen from afar.
My path with Alhaji Murtala Yakubu Ajaka is one such example of fate and the flexibility of change.
I initially didn’t know about Alh. Murtala Ajaka that much, until my path crossed with his during the senatorial campaign under the National Rescue Movement (NRM).
During one of our outings, a convoy passed us somewhere and upon inquisition, I was told the motorcade is that of Ajaka.
That was the time I started asking about him and picking interest in him.
Prior to the general election, I was told of all the empowerment he did, the street lights he provided down to my very own village in Bagana, donations in millions to flood victims across the state and other philanthropic endeavors.
Like every other kogite, I was amazed and wondered how he is spending such a huge amount on the people while not holding any elective position.
I got to know of his full profile during the Kogi State APC primary election that turned selection.
Having gone through all the primaries and the drama’s there in, I thought that since the ticket is not going to be given to a Kogi Easterner, why is this man jumping from one party to another unknown to me that being an APC caucus member he has seen very detailed that Yahaya Bello is not ready to return power to Kogi East and he’s not also ready to give power to a competent hand or somebody from Kogi West.
Based on the above facts, all my criticism of the gentleman was anchored on hearsay and dearth of information.
I realized this after he called me and we spoke for over an hour dissecting the variables and I was questioning him about his roles in the primaries and his role in the APC in 2019.
He cleared me that he was a party man in the APC and was doing everything for the interest of his party and all allegations against him regarding what transpired in 2019 are false because he was not in charge of any affair of the party then.
He said, ” look Ijele let’s work together, if it is not me I can guarantee you that there is nobody in this race that can stand up to the brutality of GYB like me and I am doing it for the sake of our future because our state is in a serious mess, it is not that I’m not comfortable but look at the situations of others in the state”.
I.D are you comfortable with the percentage salaries paid to workers or the total non payment and the bad leadership Yahaya Bello engineered?
I said no, he said this is exactly why I am standing up against this brute.
Every “month I dolled out millions to kogites suffering this menace of non-payment of salaries, I wear the shoe so I know where it pinches the most”.
I cannot talk or ask Bello to do the right thing because I’m not anything to him.
Ijele we must work together for the sake of kogites suffering and for the sake of the development of our state.
From that moment I made up my mind that I will start researching on all the governorship candidates, at the end of the day I discovered that truly he is the only one that is capable enough to correct the mess of GYB.
Rt Colonel Babanawa made me understand that paper qualification is not the yardstick of identifying a leader that can perform or deliver the people from tyrannical rule.
According to Babanawa, if it is about paper qualification, let’s go for Professor Gabriel of Almighty Formula, but it is not about qualification so let’s choose a person that is capable of delivering us victory and ready to serve the masses.
Immediately I keyed into the restoration movement with Muri raising high the banner of the SDP.
I didn’t meet with Ajaka before keying into this movement, we only talked on phone.
In Fact it was Rt Colonel Babanawa that I first met face to face before meeting Ajaka and he advised me like a son.
He said “anything that happened hold me responsible and if you follow Muri and you see any disappointment regarding all that is promised to kogites hold me responsible, Muri is the best person to work with if you truly have the interest of kogites at heart”.
I went to architect Adukwu and he told me the same thing, reached out to other key decision makers from Kogi East and same thing was reechoed.
If everyone is saying it’s Murtala Yakubu Ajaka, who am I to stand against the interest of the people? When the majority of the people want to follow Muri it is only rational I also follow them if I want their progress.
This will give us the collective right to hold him accountable.
This is how I find myself in the Social Democratic Party (SDP).
So it is not for money or any form of inducement and position but the greater good of kogites.
Ajaka saw my talent of how I have been using the media to sell myself and decided to give me the position I am holding in his campaign today.
I want to end this story with a quote from Guy Gavriel Kay that says,”There are no wrong turns. Only paths we had not known we were meant to walk”. Murtala Yakubu Ajaka is a path that all Kogites are meant to walk through.
I.D Ijele
Director New Media MuriSam Campaign Council.
