Power Shift: Okun Leaders Must Move Beyond Rhetoric and Build the Numbers — Dr. Klinsman Femi Owolowo

– Okun son urges Kogi West stakeholders to pursue strategic alliances, voter mobilisation and political unity ahead of future elections

An illustrious Okun son, Dr. Femi Owolowo, has called on political leaders, stakeholders and citizens of Kogi West to move beyond passionate rhetoric on the agitation for power shift and embrace a more strategic, data-driven and inclusive political mobilisation capable of translating the demand into electoral reality.

Owolowo, in a personal opinion on the political future of Kogi West, acknowledged that advocating power shift remains a legitimate aspiration of the people, but cautioned that impressive speeches and political declarations alone cannot secure power in a democratic contest.

According to him, “the reality of every election is determined by numbers”—particularly the number of registered voters and citizens who ultimately turn out to cast their ballots.

He therefore challenged Kogi West political actors to obtain and critically analyse the actual figures from the most recent voter registration exercise, arguing that credible data must form the foundation of conversations around the region’s political strength.

‘Where Are the Numbers?’

The Okun political commentator raised questions about the level of investment made by political leaders and influential stakeholders in expanding the electoral strength of Kogi West.

He asked how many politicians in Okunland had committed personal resources towards voter registration and political mobilisation aimed at ensuring that the senatorial district’s voter population grows in comparison with other senatorial districts in the state.

For Owolowo, the power-shift campaign must therefore evolve from political rhetoric to measurable grassroots mobilisation, with stakeholders taking responsibility for building the numerical strength required to compete effectively at the ballot box.

‘Kogi West Is More Than Okunland’

He also urged Okun political stakeholders to recognise the strategic importance of Lokoja and Koton Karfe, which are part of Kogi West Senatorial District.

According to him, the quest for power cannot be pursued effectively without deliberate engagement with the people of the two local government areas.

He consequently challenged political actors to examine what level of political negotiation, orientation, consultation and relationship-building has been established with Lokoja and Koton Karfe in pursuit of the broader Kogi West agenda.

The appeal, he suggested, is for a political strategy that transcends ethnic sentiment and builds a broad-based electoral coalition capable of winning support across the entire senatorial district.

‘Unity Must Be the Foundation’

Owolowo stressed that the power-shift project requires more than speeches and declarations, insisting that it demands strategic planning, unity, sacrifice, negotiation and collective action.

He warned that internal divisions, personality conflicts and political rivalry could undermine the collective aspiration of Kogi West.

“We must be on the same page if we truly want to achieve our goal,” he argued, emphasising that a divided political bloc cannot successfully prosecute a common electoral agenda.

Building Bridges, Not Political Enemies

In what could be interpreted as a call for political maturity and strategic alliance-building, Owolowo urged advocates of power shift to deliberately make more friends than enemies in the course of pursuing the demand.

He also called for restraint and respect for the current political administration, urging stakeholders to allow the incumbent administration to complete its tenure while simultaneously using the period to strengthen the intellectual, numerical and political arguments for power rotation to Kogi West.

For him, the objective should not be driven by antagonism, but by strategic preparation, political negotiation and coalition-building.

A Call for a New Political Strategy

The position articulated by Owolowo provides a broader perspective on the ongoing conversation about political power rotation in Kogi State, particularly the aspiration of Kogi West to produce the state’s next governor.

Rather than relying solely on emotional appeals or historical arguments, he advocates a strategy anchored on electoral mathematics, voter mobilisation, grassroots engagement, political inclusion and strategic alliances.

His intervention ultimately challenges Okun and Kogi West political leaders to answer a fundamental question: Are they merely demanding power, or are they building the political structure, numbers and alliances required to win it?

For Owolowo, the road to power must begin with a realistic assessment of the present, followed by deliberate preparation for the future.

“This is my humble opinion,” he concluded.