The President of the Okun Development Association (ODA), Femi Mokikan, has issued a statement to clear the air on the recent visit of some Okun leaders to President Bola Tinubu in Abuja. ODA is the umbrella socio-cultural group of the Yoruba people in Kogi State.

In the statement issued over the weekend, Mokikan confirmed that he was fully involved in the visit to President Tinubu on Thursday. He emphasized that the visit was not aimed at promoting any specific governorship candidate but was focused on protecting the collective interests of the Okun people.

Mokikan applauded the role played by Hon. Leke Abejide and other influential persons in ensuring the success of the meeting. The President of ODA made it clear that the visit was not intended to undermine any existing protocol and that the presence of elected officials from Okun in the National Assembly was an added advantage.

He stated: “Let me add that none of the lists compiled by the various groups and given to me contained the names of any governorship candidate or elected official. I have always admitted that I am a poor student of protocols. With the benefit of hindsight, I should have mentioned it to all our elected officials. The presence of our elected officials in the National Assembly should have been an added advantage. Lessons for the future.”

Mokikan further clarified that the purpose of the visit was to present a compelling case on behalf of the people of Kogi West, highlighting the importance of rotating power to the West in the 2023/2024 election cycle, as agreed upon in 2019 with the current Executive Governor.

He also emphasized that the visit was not a show of support for any specific candidate and reiterated ODA’s commitment to working with like-minded groups across the state to achieve the goal of rotating power to the West.

The ODA president assured the Okun people both at home and in the diaspora that he remains fully involved in the Okun for Governor agenda, advocating for their collective interests and ensuring that the region’s voice is heard in the political landscape.

The visit to President Tinubu, according to Mokikan, was part of a broader effort by various stakeholder groups to engage with national leaders and promote the interests of the Okun people. He urged everyone to see the positive aspect of the visit and remain united in their quest for democratic representation and development in Kogi State.

As the political landscape in Kogi State continues to evolve, the Okun people and their leaders are determined to ensure their voices are heard and their aspirations are represented in the broader political discourse.