No Rhetoric: Abejide Is the Future Yagba Deserves

Politics is often filled with promises about the future. But for Yagba, the conversation about the future should also consider the experience, political capital and institutional knowledge already available within its ranks.

This is where Rt. Hon. Leke Joseph Abejide becomes relevant.

Abejide is not an unknown quantity in Yagba politics. Having represented Yagba East, Yagba West and Mopamuro in the House of Representatives since 2019 and secured a second term in 2023, he has spent years navigating the realities of federal representation. His experience has moved beyond campaigning and electioneering into the more demanding work of understanding how the National Assembly operates and how constituency interests can be pursued within the federal system.

His current position as Chairman of the House Committee on Customs and Excise further places him in an area of national importance. Customs, trade, revenue and border administration are matters with direct implications for Nigeria’s economy. The responsibility provides Abejide with exposure to national policy and institutions that can be valuable to any constituency represented at the federal level.

But the argument for Abejide’s future should not be based on titles alone.

The more important question is what Yagba can gain from having an experienced representative who has already established relationships and understands the legislative environment. Political capital takes time to build. Institutional familiarity takes time. Influence within a complex political system is rarely created overnight.

Replacing an experienced representative is therefore not simply a matter of changing one name for another. It can also mean beginning again: learning the system, building relationships, establishing credibility and understanding the channels through which issues are addressed.

That does not make new leadership undesirable. Democracy must always accommodate fresh ideas and credible alternatives. Abejide himself should be judged by the same standards expected of every public office holder: performance, accountability, accessibility and the ability to justify the confidence placed in him.

But Yagba’s political future should not be determined by sentiment alone. It should be approached from the standpoint of what best serves the constituency.

The future also requires a representative who can look beyond the immediate political cycle. Yagba needs stronger participation in national conversations, strategic engagement with federal institutions and a representative capable of understanding how local interests fit into broader national policies.

Abejide’s two terms have given him a foundation from which such responsibilities can be pursued. The question for 2027 is whether Yagba believes that foundation should be strengthened and taken further.

There is no need for exaggerated claims. Abejide is not perfect, and no politician is. But political leadership should be assessed on capacity, experience, relevance and potential for continued service.

That is the case for Abejide: not rhetoric, not sentiment, but the argument that Yagba’s future may be better served by building on political experience already acquired rather than discarding it and beginning again.

If Yagba’s future requires a representative who understands where the constituency has been, knows where it stands today and has the experience to navigate where it wants to go, then Abejide has a legitimate claim to being part of that future.