When Sentiment Overrides Political Judgment: Pastor Ajileye Should Leave Olumoko Alone and Face His Own Political Choice

By Ayodele Gideon 

With due respect to Pastor Stanley Ajileye, his recent article on the political position of Hon. Funsho Olumoko raises more questions than it answers. While every citizen has the constitutional right to express an opinion and support a preferred political candidate, such opinions must be subjected to the same standards of logic, fairness and political objectivity that we demand from others.

Pastor Ajileye is undoubtedly entitled to support Hon. James Abiodun Faleke. He is equally entitled to campaign for him, defend his political credentials and mobilise support for his ambition. But what he does not have the right to do is to delegitimise Hon. Funsho Olumoko's political judgement simply because it does not align with his own preference.

Let us be very clear: nobody can be more Catholic than the Pope.

Hon. James Abiodun Faleke is a highly reputable, respected and accomplished politician. His political credentials are not in doubt. His contributions to national politics and his remarkable political accomplishments are there for all to see. He does not need anyone to manufacture arguments on his behalf or invoke the revered name of Ekinrin-Adde as a political shield whenever his ambition is questioned.

The attempt to portray Hon. Funsho Olumoko's position as an attack on Hon. Faleke or as a departure from the values of Ekinrin-Adde is, with profound respect, a politically sentimental interpretation of a fundamentally strategic argument.

Hon. Olumoko's position, as publicly understood, is centred on the need for strategic political alignment between Okun and the Central Senatorial District of Kogi State as a possible pathway to achieving the long-awaited dream of an Okun governor.

What exactly is wrong with that?

Is it now a crime to think strategically?

Is it now an offence for an Okun political actor to examine the electoral arithmetic of Kogi State and ask how our people can finally break the cycle of repeated failure?

A serious student of political history will understand that power is never secured by sentiment alone. It is negotiated, consolidated and won through strategic alliances.

The uncomfortable truth is that no single senatorial district in Kogi State has the capacity to produce a governor without forging a workable political alliance with another district. This is not an insult to any district. It is simply the reality of electoral mathematics.

For decades, Okun people have entered the governorship race with highly qualified, competent and credible sons. Indeed, since the creation of Kogi State, there has hardly been a governorship election in which fewer than five Okun sons have shown interest in the race.

And what has been the result?

Nothing but repeated disappointment and failure to produce an Okun governor.

We cannot continue doing the same thing repeatedly and expect a different result.

If five, six or even more Okun aspirants continue to divide the same political base, while other political blocs consolidate their votes through strategic alliances, what exactly do we expect to happen?

Victory?

No. We should be honest with ourselves.

The problem is not that Okun people lack capable candidates. The problem is the absence of a unified and strategically coordinated political approach. Our political strength has repeatedly been diluted by fragmentation, personal ambition and an unwillingness to make strategic compromises.

Therefore, when Hon. Funsho Olumoko speaks about exploring an alliance with the Central Senatorial District, he is not committing political treason against Okunland. He is simply opening a conversation that every politically serious person should be willing to have.

The real question should not be "Why is Olumoko supporting this strategy?"

The real question should be:

"Can this strategy help Okun achieve the governorship of Kogi State?"

If the answer is yes, then it deserves consideration.

If the answer is no, then let those who disagree come forward with a better strategy.

But please, spare us the emotional blackmail.

Pastor Ajileye's argument that Hon. Olumoko's position is somehow inconsistent with the character of Ekinrin-Adde is particularly weak. Communities do not have one permanent political strategy written in stone. Political circumstances change. Alliances change. Interests change. And responsible political actors must adapt to changing realities.

The example of Hon. Victor Ade Omofaiye cited in the article may be commendable, but it does not constitute a constitutional or political rule that every politician must surrender his ambition simply because another person has a different aspiration.

Political sacrifice is admirable. Political surrender is not compulsory.

Hon. Omofaiye's decision at that time was his choice, and it should be respected. But it is intellectually dishonest to turn one individual's political decision into a universal template for judging the political choices of others.

Pastor Ajileye's assertion concerning Hon. James Abiodun Faleke's political history also requires correction.

He stated that Hon. Faleke "entered the race in Kogi as a first-time deputy governorship candidate."

With respect, this is not an accurate description of how the political process works. A deputy governorship candidate does not independently contest an election in the same manner as a governorship candidate. The deputy is selected as a running mate by the governorship candidate.

We all remember the 2015 political episode very clearly. Many of us supported Hon. James Abiodun Faleke and genuinely wanted him to become the Governor of Kogi State. We believed in that possibility and supported the political project.

But fate had other plans.

That ambition did not materialise.

Hon. Faleke subsequently returned to and strengthened his political alignment with his Lagos political family, where he has continued to make significant contributions and achieve considerable political success. We wish him well and pray for greater accomplishments in the years ahead.

But let us not rewrite political history simply to strengthen an argument.

Respecting Hon. Faleke does not mean worshipping his ambition.

Supporting him does not require every Okun person to support him.

And disagreeing with his political ambition does not make anyone an enemy of Ekinrin-Adde.

This is where Pastor Ajileye must exercise caution.

He cannot demand that everyone respect Hon. Faleke's right to aspire while simultaneously questioning Hon. Olumoko's right to express an alternative political opinion.

What is good for the goose is good for the gander.

If Hon. Faleke has the constitutional right to contest, Hon. Olumoko has the democratic right to support a different candidate or political strategy.

If Pastor Ajileye can openly advocate for his preferred candidate, Hon. Olumoko can equally advocate for his preferred political arrangement.

Democracy cannot be selective.

One of the most glaring weaknesses in Pastor Ajileye's argument is the apparent attempt to turn the discussion into a moral battle between "good" and "bad" Okun sons. That approach is unnecessary and counterproductive.

Hon. Funsho Olumoko is not required to apologise for thinking differently.

He is not required to surrender his political judgement simply because his elder brother disagrees with him.

And he certainly does not need permission to support a political strategy that he genuinely believes can produce an outcome beneficial to Okunland.

Pastor Ajileye should therefore leave Hon. Funsho Olumoko alone.

If he believes strongly in Hon. James Abiodun Faleke, let him mobilise support for him.

If he believes Faleke has the capacity to win, let him build the political coalition necessary to deliver victory.

If he believes Faleke can secure the support of the Central Senatorial District, let him demonstrate how that alliance can be achieved.

But he should not attack another Okun son simply because that person has reached a different political conclusion.

The truth is that politics is not a family inheritance. It is not determined by who is the elder brother, who is the younger brother, who is from the same community or who has the loudest voice.

Politics is about numbers, structures, alliances, negotiations and strategy.

And if Pastor Ajileye truly wants an Okun governor, then he must be prepared to confront the uncomfortable realities that have kept Okun away from the Government House.

We cannot continue to parade five or more Okun aspirants in every governorship election and then blame everyone else when we lose.

We cannot continue to fragment our votes and expect political miracles.

We cannot continue to reject strategic alliances while demanding electoral victory.

That is not politics. That is wishful thinking.

Furthermore, if the principle of continuity is considered legitimate at the National Assembly, where the President can encourage the return of first-term lawmakers and where recent APC primary elections have demonstrated the political acceptability of continuity, then it is difficult to understand why the same principle should suddenly become controversial when applied to the governorship.

If continuity is acceptable in one political circumstance, it cannot be condemned outright in another simply because it does not favour our preferred candidate.

Again, what is good for the goose is good for the gander.

This is not about being a fan of Hon. James Abiodun Faleke. I am not his fan.

It is about fairness.

It is about justice.

It is about consistency.

It is about allowing every political actor to exercise his or her democratic rights without being subjected to emotional intimidation or sentimental blackmail.

Pastor Ajileye should, therefore, focus his energy on building the political capital of his preferred candidate rather than attempting to delegitimise Hon. Funsho Olumoko's position.

You cannot win an election by attacking the right of another person to think differently.

The 2027 governorship election should not be reduced to a contest of personalities or a battle of family loyalties. It should be about strategy, capacity, competence, equity, inclusiveness and the possibility of building the broadest coalition capable of delivering victory.

For Okun, the time has come to stop romanticising failed strategies.

The time has come to stop confusing emotional loyalty with political wisdom.

The time has come to stop treating every alternative opinion as betrayal.

And the time has come to ask ourselves the hard but necessary question:

After decades of producing multiple aspirants and dividing our votes, are we prepared to try a different strategy?

Hon. Funsho Olumoko has offered one possible answer: strategic alignment.

It may not be the only answer.

It may not be the perfect answer.

But it is certainly a legitimate political proposition.

Instead of attacking the messenger, let us interrogate the strategy.

Instead of weaponising Ekinrin-Adde's revered name, let us examine the political arithmetic.

Instead of allowing sentiment to override judgement, let us engage in sober political reasoning.

And instead of attempting to silence Hon. Funsho Olumoko, Pastor Ajileye should allow him to exercise his democratic rights while he concentrates on supporting the candidate of his choice.

At the end of the day, history will not remember who wrote the most emotional article. History will remember who understood the moment, built the right alliances and delivered victory.

The Okun governorship will not be won by sentiment.

It will not be won by emotional blackmail.

It will not be won by attacking fellow Okun sons.

It will be won through strategic alliances, political maturity, unity of purpose, disciplined negotiation and the courage to embrace a new political direction.

So, with all due respect to Pastor Stanley Ajileye:

Support your preferred candidate. Defend his credentials. Mobilise for him. Build your coalition. But leave Hon. Funsho Olumoko alone.

He has every right to think differently.

He has every right to speak.

He has every right to support the political strategy he believes can deliver an Okun governor.

And nobody—not even a respected elder brother—should attempt to silence that right in the name of sentiment.

The future of Okun politics demands less emotionalism and more strategy. Less personalisation and more coalition-building. Less political sentiment and more political mathematics.

Because at the end of the day, the ultimate question is not who we love the most, but who can build the alliance that finally takes Okun to Lugard Beach.

God bless Okun Nation, God bless Kogi State!