The National Director of Planning of Relax Tinubu Is Fixing Nigeria (RTIFN), Hajiya Aishat Oyiza Omade, has dismissed speculations that the replacement of Senator Abubakar Sadiku Ohere as Kogi State Coordinator of the organisation with former All Progressives Congress (APC) chairman, Alhaji Abdullahi Bello, was caused by political disagreements or crisis within the ruling party in the state.
Omade said the change was informed by the need to promote political inclusion, equitable representation and wider grassroots participation across the three senatorial districts of Kogi State.
In a statement explaining the circumstances surrounding the leadership change, she said there was no disagreement among Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo’s political associates or crisis within the APC that necessitated the replacement of Ohere.
She explained that the issue of geographical balance was raised during a meeting of Kogi stakeholders of RTIFN in Abuja, convened by the organisation’s National Coordinator and attended by prominent stakeholders, including former Deputy Governor Edward Onoja and Hajiya Baiwa Salamatu.
According to her, she observed that several coordinators of presidential support groups were concentrated in Okene Local Government Area, while other local government areas in Kogi Central had limited representation in comparable leadership positions.
Omade, however, said she acknowledged Senator Ohere’s leadership capacity and initially expressed support for his emergence, stressing that her intervention was motivated by the desire to ensure fairness and inclusiveness rather than personal interest or opposition to any individual.
She further explained that following the voluntary resignation of Hon. David Zaccaharia from the position to pursue his political ambition under the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), it was expected that his deputy, former Okehi Local Government Chairman, Hon. Amoka Eneji Monday, popularly known as Odu, would succeed him.
However, she argued that the position should not automatically return to Okehi, but should be considered for Adavi Local Government Area to give other parts of Kogi Central an opportunity to participate in the leadership of the organisation.
Citing the distribution of some presidential support group positions in the state, Omade listed Arewa for Asiwaju State Coordinator, Abdulkareem Asuku; PBAT Door-to-Door Coordinator for Kogi Central, Hon. Ahovi; and Arewa for Asiwaju Deputy Coordinator for Kogi Central, Hajiya Bilikisu Ahovi, as officials from Okene.
She also listed Renewed Hope Ambassador State Coordinator, Hon. Idris King, and Kogi City Boy Deputy Coordinator, Mamman Ovatuwa, as other officials from Okene, while noting that the Kogi State City Boy Coordinator, Ogah Tony, hails from Ibaji and PBAT Door-to-Door State Coordinator, Hon. David Mark, is from Olamaboro.
Others, she said, include the Kogi State TSG Coordinator, Chief David Dare Mayegun, from Kogi West, and Director of Entertainment, Hon. Juwon Olorunnipa, popularly known as Jumabee, from Kabba-Bunu Local Government Area.
She maintained that the distribution of these positions underscored the need to extend political opportunities to other local government areas in Kogi Central, particularly Adavi, Okehi, Ajaokuta and Ogori-Magongo.
According to her, effective political mobilisation requires a sense of belonging among stakeholders, adding that every local government has influential political leaders, grassroots networks and committed supporters capable of contributing to the Renewed Hope agenda.
Omade said the emergence of Bello, who hails from Adavi Local Government Area, offered an opportunity to broaden representation and strengthen the organisational structure of RTIFN across the state.
She noted that Bello’s previous experience as APC state chairman and his current position as Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs would provide an opportunity to draw on his political experience in expanding the organisation’s reach.
The RTIFN National Director of Planning, who also serves as Director-General of the Kogi State Social Investment Programme Agency (KOSSIPA) and Public Relations Officer of the National Social Investment Programme Agency (NSIPA), said fairness, deliberate planning and stakeholder inclusion remained essential to the success of political organisations.
She urged stakeholders to disregard speculations and divisive interpretations surrounding the development, insisting that the change should be viewed within the context of broader representation rather than as evidence of political crisis.
Omade appreciated Senator Ohere for his service and contributions to the organisation, while congratulating Bello on his emergence as the new Kogi State Coordinator of RTIFN.
