LAST MAN STANDING RELICS OF KOGI STATE HISTORY; 1991 AUGUST 27TH IN RETROSPECT
*Kogi State At 29; Kudos To Jonathan Tunde Abu Ogbeha; KOGI STATE QUINTESSENTIAL LEADER OF LEADERS*
THERE have been claims & counter claims on how Kogi state was created. In the book titled, “A NOBLE PATH”, an authorised biography of JONATHAN TUNDE ABU OGBEHA, by Mr. Innocent Nzeke Waniko, revealed how Kogi state was created.
*“The movement for the creation of Kogi State commenced as far back as 1981, when many Elders of the old Kabba province such as Prof Albert Ozigi, Joseph Abu Ogbeha, Abubakar Liman Umar, Walter Bako and Timothy Elukpo, amongst others, had mobilised themselves & set up a committee, headed by Sen Ahmadu Ali, to lobby various successive governments. The group had submitted a memorandum to the National Assembly, in the Second Republic, Shagari administration, for the creation of Kogi State separately from Kwara and Benue States.*
That effort died with Shagari’s government that was eventually ousted from power a few years later. The agitation was resurrected when the Buhari military administration came into office. But it gained real and serious momentum when General Ibrahim Babangida assumed office.
*On the 27th August 1991, General Ibrahim Babangida announced the creation of Kogi state alongside Edo & others. The creation of Kogi State was a significant development for its indigenes. It was a reunion of many individuals on a new platform who had shared historical roots and co-existed peacefully within the former Kabba Province, in the defunct Northern Region that spanned over eighty years. The state which is structured into twenty-one Local Government Areas comprise three major ethnic groups i.e. Igala, Ebira and Okun (associated with Yoruba). Other groups include; Bassa Komo, Bassa Nge, Kakanda, Nupe, Oworo and Ebira Koto.*
*The announcement made by General Ibrahim Babangida on 27 August, 1991 was straight forward. But as with the initiation of any state, the intrigues, intense lobby & negotiations that characterised d activities that went behind scenes were not as effortless as D announcement seemed. Though, often quick to down play the commendable roles he played in the creation of Kogi State, Sen Brigadier General Tunde Ogbeha’s effort from a cursory assessment went a long way in serving as the clincher that actualised the dream.*
*After creating Akwa-Ibom and Kastina States in 1987, the government had warned that it ‘would no longer entertain request for state creation from self-seeking politicians and champions of ethnic groups. Brigadier General Tunde Ogbeha, who was hoping for a miracle had approached Babangida & in a veiled conversation presented the agenda of the creation of Kogi State. General Babangida gave him the same response; “no more states creation”. Some elders from old Kabba-Province, who were led by Timothy Walter Bako, paid a solidarity visit to Brig General Tunde Ogbeha at Jaji in mid-1980s as part of the ‘lobby’ to actualise Kogi State. The solidarity team got the same message from Brigadier General Tunde Ogbeha.*
He had encouraged his townsmen to make do with what was available in Kwara State and take advantage of the opportunities it presented. He also told them there was nothing to suggest their aspirations were going to be actualised as at that time.
*But in politics, they say even 24 hours is a very long time. For Brigadier General Tunde Ogbeha, who was in the corridors of power, he shortly was privy to information that General Babangida was having a change of heart. Brigadier General Ogbeha therefore decided to present the request of the elders who had visited him to General Babangida.*
*Brig Gen Ogbeha revived d request in early 1990, while stationed at Jaji in Kaduna State. Again he went to Abuja to consult with the Head of State, General Babangida, having earlier scheduled a visit.*
*This time, a more resolute Brigadier General Tunde Ogbeha modified his strategy by going with his late wife, JACINTA to serve as good measure. Babangida had received the Ogbehas warmly. With pleasantries & initial welcome banters over, Brigadier General Ogbeha went into his real but carefully concealed reason for the visit to the Head of State. It started as a subtle suggestion, but turned into a DIRECT REQUEST. In clear terms, BRIG GENERAL TUNDE OGBEHA REQUESTED THAT ADMINISTRATION OF GEN. BABANGIDA SHOULD CONSIDER THE CREATION OF KOGI STATE & LOKOJA AS IT’S STATE CAPITAL*.
Some of its indigenes had earlier wanted Ajaokuta, to be the capital of the proposed Kogi State, but those in favour of Lokoja argued that it had been the headquarters of Kabba Province and should be maintained as such.
*General Babangida, after listening to Brig General Ogbeha made lot of enquiries from Ogbeha, on the feasibility, cultural setting and landscape of what was then proposed as Kogi State.*
Satisfied with the responses from his protege, GEN Babangida had promised to create Kogi State.
*A happy Brigadier General Tunde Ogbeha had driven back to Jaji with his wife, & arrived at about 2.am. Not done however, Ogbeha also subsequently solicited the support of the late Mrs. Maryam Babangida for good measure.*
Just a few days after the visit to Gen Babangida, Ogbeha travelled out of Nigeria for a few weeks on vacation, as has been his practice over the years. In the months that followed the critical decision making, Babangida himself came under intense pressure from various interest groups and top military officers on similar requests.
*With Brigadier General Ogbeha out of Nigeria & no physical presence to sustain his own request for the creation of Kogi State, the initial promise made to him by General Babangida appeared threatened. He (from his base abroad) reached out to his friend and brother, General David Mark and General Abdulsalam Abubakar to keep the pressure on General Ibrahim Babangida and sustain the lobby. Both men were members of the Armed Forces Ruling Council. At personal sacrifices amongst which were huge telephone bills & other discomforts, he continued the lobby to key members of the Babangida administration to keep the consideration of the creation of Kogi State afloat.*
He made it a particular strategy to call David Mark and Abdusalam Abubakar when the Armed Forces Council meetings were about to begin to remind them and when it ended to monitor its outcome. True to his word, Babangida created Kogi State. In spite of his sacrifices, Brigadier Gen Ogbeha summarised his efforts as thus:
*“I ONLY ACTED AS A GO -BETWEEN.”*
However, many of the elders and indigenes of Kogi State, who were privy to his underground effort hold him in high esteem in helping to actualise the dream and aspirations of hundreds of thousands, if not millions of individuals who belong to different ethnicities.
In spite of his own efforts, Brigadier General Tunde Ogbeha is mostly seen giving gratitude to Gen Ibrahim Babangida who made the ultimate decision to create Kogi State. According to him,
*“THERE WERE MANY REQUESTS AT THE TIME, MAYBE MORE REQUEST FOR STATES CREATION THAN COULD BE REASONABLY ACCOMMODATED, BUT GEN BABANGIDA OBLIGED US AMIDST MANY OTHERS.”*
Similarly, SEN OGBEHA is appreciative of efforts of Gen Abdulsalami Abubakar & Sen David Mark who helped push the agenda even while he was absent at the critical moment of decision. In a chat with a journalist in 2016, he paid glowing tributes to Abdulsalam Abubakar and Senator David Mark in particular for their huge efforts in the actualisation of Kogi State. In his words;
*“it WAS A SHARED EFFORT. THEY STOOD BY US & I COULD NOT HAVE DONE IT WITHOUT THEM.”*
At the creation of Kogi State in August 1991, Col Danladi Mohammed Zakari, was appointed first military Governor. On Zakari’s resumption, the new Governor was accommodated in House No 8 Tunde Ogbeha Street GRA Lokoja & that is Brigadier General Tunde Ogbeha’s palatial residence, which also temporarily served as the 1st Governor’s office.*
*Brigadier GEN Ogbeha’s mother (Mrs. Priscillia Rakiya Ogbeha) made catering arrangements at her own expense. This arrangement lasted for over three months”.*
*TO HANG THE RANK OF A GENERAL IS NOT A TABLE PROMOTION;*
*BRIGADIER GENERAL TUNDE OGBEHA; ON BEHALF OF ALL WELL MEANING NIGERIANS & KOGITES AT HOME; KOGITES IN DIASPORA I SAY THANK YOU SIR; 28-YEARS DOWN THE MEMORY LANE: U STILL REMAIN KOGI STATE QUINTESSENTIAL LEADER OF LEADERS*
*Your Excellency Sir. I Bow & Equally Tremble Sir*