By Aliyu Ibrahim.
In the ever-shifting landscape of Kogi State politics, one name is steadily resonating among grassroots voices: Hon. Bala Justice. For months now, murmurs from community groups, youth forums, and civil society advocates have grown into a clear call—many believe it is time for Bala Justice to bring his brand of leadership to the Kogi State House of Assembly.
At the heart of this yearning lies a simple truth: people crave representation that listens. Politics, especially at the state level, often feels distant to the very people it is meant to serve. But for those who speak of Bala Justice, the narrative is different. They describe a man who has walked with his people, stood with them in their struggles, and demonstrated empathy when it mattered most.
The group pushing for his candidacy argues that Kogi State needs more lawmakers who combine vision with accessibility. “We do not want leaders who remember us only during campaigns,” one supporter explained during a recent community dialogue. “We want someone who has always been with us—before politics, during politics, and after politics. Bala Justice represents that consistency.”
In a time where governance is heavily scrutinized, trust becomes the most valuable currency. Hon. Bala Justice, according to his advocates, has earned that trust not through lofty promises but through visible, everyday acts—supporting local farmers, mentoring young people, and lending his voice to issues often ignored by mainstream politics.
Yet, yearning is not enough in the game of politics. The question is whether such grassroots momentum can translate into actual political capital. Can the enthusiasm of his supporters be organized into a formidable campaign machinery? Will the political establishment embrace him, or will he have to fight through the entrenched structures that often decide candidacies long before ballots are printed?
What cannot be ignored, however, is the energy behind this growing call. When ordinary citizens mobilize for a candidate—without the usual fanfare of patronage or inducements—it signals something deeper. It signals that people are not just waiting for change; they are actively seeking it.
Kogi’s House of Assembly, like many state legislatures across Nigeria, stands at a crossroads. It can remain a chamber overshadowed by executive influence, or it can rise as a true people’s parliament. Leaders like Bala Justice, if given the chance, may well tilt the balance towards the latter.
For now, the drums are beating, softly but steadily. A group yearns for Hon. Bala Justice. The months ahead will reveal whether that yearning becomes a movement—or fades into yet another unfulfilled hope in Nigeria’s restless democracy.
