By Adegboyega Segun
When the people of Kogi State gathered at the Muhammadu Buhari Square in Lokoja, they witnessed more than just a political ceremony. The 2025 decamping event that welcomed former Governor Capt. Idris Wada, members of the State House of Assembly, and other political actors into the All Progressives Congress (APC) became a symbolic moment for unity, continuity, and renewed trust in Nigeria’s democratic future.
Even though the President, Bola Ahmed Tinubu was absent, his voice echoed through his representative, Vice President Kashim Shettima, who delivered a clear message: Nigeria is on a path of renewal, and Kogi State remains central to this journey. For President Tinubu, the promise of a renewed Nigeria is not a slogan but a commitment. Shettima emphasized that the President’s leadership style has inspired faith and restored confidence among Nigerians both at home and in the diaspora. Many, he noted, are gravitating toward the administration because they see sincerity, inclusion, competence, and a deep-rooted commitment to national unity.
The event also shone a spotlight on Kogi’s political stability, which the Vice President described as an example for the entire nation. He praised Governor Ahmed Usman Ododo for his strength and dedication to continuity, noting that the Governor’s leadership had provided tranquility where political storms were once expected. He equally commended former Governor Yahaya Bello for ensuring a smooth and cooperative transition a rare but powerful model of democratic maturity. Their relationship, Shettima said, demonstrated that leadership is measured not only by how one governs but also by how one hands over, and Kogi has set a standard worthy of emulation.
As the ceremony progressed, a major highlight unfolded: the formal reception of Capt. Idris Wada and several opposition lawmakers into the APC. The party’s National Chairman, Prof. Nentawe Goshwe Yilwatda, presented the new entrants to the Vice President, describing the development as a significant political alignment with President Tinubu’s national vision. To Shettima, their decision to join the ruling party was a testament to the strength of the administration’s agenda and the growing belief in its direction.
Governor Ododo, in his remarks, expressed deep gratitude to President Tinubu and Vice President Shettima for their support and commitment to peace, unity, and progress in Kogi State. He welcomed Capt. Wada and the other decampees with warmth, applauding the APC’s expanding ideology, which continues to draw diverse political actors under one political party
Speaking on behalf of the decampees, Capt. Wada thanked the President, the Vice President, and the APC leadership for the warm reception. He commended President Tinubu for the difficult but timely economic decisions that, in his view, helped rescue Nigeria from the brink of bankruptcy. For him and many others, joining the APC was not just a political shift but a renewed commitment to supporting a vision they believe is working for the nation.
