Today, as more Kogites across the three senatorial districts openly call for leadership that is people-driven, inclusive and shaped by the administrative experience and developmental model he has witnessed in Lagos, the most honorable response from those who repeatedly benefited from his goodwill is clear: reciprocate loyalty with loyalty.
Politics, after all, is sustained by trust, gratitude, and mutual respect.
Instead, what we are witnessing is an atmosphere of panic, veiled threats, and a determination to silence dissenting voices. Such reactions often betray not confidence, but apprehension. No individual or group owns Kogi State and no political family has an exclusive franchise over the future of its people.
It bears repeating that the leader of the All Progressives Congress is President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. Every member of the party, regardless of office or influence, remains accountable to the party’s constitution, democratic processes, and constituted leadership.
What is most telling is that Hon. Faleke is only just lacing his boots, yet some quarters are already visibly unsettled. If the mere prospect of his participation inspires this level of anxiety, one can only imagine what will happen when he eventually steps onto the field.
Politics ultimately rests on one priceless asset: trust. Once trust is exhausted, power may be retained for a while, but legitimacy steadily weakens. Across Kogi, many citizens now question whether promises made have consistently become promises kept. They also speak of perceived double standards in the treatment of Kogi West and Kogi East, while many believe Kogi Central has borne an even heavier burden of political intolerance. Whether these perceptions are accepted or disputed, they shape public opinion and cannot be dismissed.
The emergence of the state’s only non APC Senator from Kogi Central should invite reflection, not denial. It is a political signal that thoughtful leaders ignore at their own peril. Those advising the highest levels of government, including the Presidency, would do well to study such developments carefully instead of relying on comforting narratives.
As Bob Marley aptly reminded us: “You can fool some people sometimes, but you cannot fool all the people all the time.” The electorate eventually separates perception from reality.
Perhaps this explains why many now describe the once-celebrated New Direction as having drifted into “No Direction”, a government increasingly perceived as serving a narrow circle rather than the broader public interest. Whether fair or not, such sentiments are becoming harder to ignore.
History teaches a simple lesson: when the foundation of any political structure is weakened by declining public trust, no amount of intimidation can permanently preserve it. Governments rise on the confidence of the people and they endure only by continually earning it. The winds of political change may not announce themselves loudly, but when they gather momentum, they reshape the landscape in ways few anticipate.
The signs are becoming difficult to ignore. What once appeared politically unshakeable now seems uncertain. If public confidence is not restored, today’s complacency could become tomorrow’s regret.
In politics, no dynasty is permanent, no structure is invincible, and no government can indefinitely substitute fear for trust. The people always have the final word.
Umar Isah,
Head of Media
Audu/Faleke Political Family
Writes
 MUST NOW BE REPAID IN KOGI){kind=link}
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