On 26 October 2026, Rock Yusuf published a video alleging that the elders of Kogi East were supporting QS Aminu Abubakar Suleiman, FNIQS, because he had bribed them with millions of naira. While I have no intention of dignifying the character of such an allegation with a direct response to its author, I consider it necessary to commend the elders for standing by QS, even though their support has not yet translated into an official endorsement. My concern is not to speak on behalf of the elders or prematurely attribute a collective political position to them, but to defend their right to exercise independent judgment without having their motives casually reduced to financial inducement.
There is an African proverb that says, “What an elder sees while seated, a young person may not see even from the top of a tree.” This proverb captures a fundamental truth about the relationship between age, experience and judgment. The ability to see is not always the ability to understand, just as the energy to pursue an ambition does not necessarily translate into the wisdom required to make informed choices. Experience offers lessons that youthful enthusiasm must learn to appreciate.
As the political conversation surrounding the 2027 Kogi East senatorial election continues to unfold, one question deserves thoughtful consideration: why should the political judgment of elders be reduced to an allegation of bribery simply because some people disagree with their perceived preferences?
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Let us establish the facts. There has been no official endorsement of QS Aminu Abubakar Suleiman by the elders of Kogi East. It would therefore be premature to announce or celebrate an endorsement that has not formally taken place. Nevertheless, the reported informal support of elders within his political circle raises a legitimate question about the experiences, observations and considerations that may inform their disposition towards his candidacy.
If these elders eventually decide to endorse QS, would it be unreasonable to consider that their decision might be informed by their assessment of his character, professional background, experience and approach to public engagement? Must every expression of political support be interpreted as a transaction? And should people who have spent decades observing the evolution of their communities be presumed incapable of making independent political judgments?
These questions are particularly important in a political environment where social media has increasingly become a battleground for competing narratives. The loudest voice is not necessarily the wisest, the most visible individual is not automatically the most experienced, and the person who commands the greatest online attention does not necessarily possess the deepest understanding of public responsibility.
The elders of Kogi East, like every other group of citizens, have the right to examine candidates, weigh their records and determine whom they consider worthy of their confidence. Their age does not make them infallible, but neither does it make their judgment irrelevant. They deserve the same freedom of political choice enjoyed by younger people, without having their motives questioned merely because their preferences may differ from those of their critics.
Another African proverb offers a useful perspective on the relationship between generations: a child may know how to climb a tree, but experience teaches the elder which branches can bear the weight. The lesson is not that the young are incapable or that the old are always correct. Rather, it is that different stages of life offer different kinds of knowledge, and a society that dismisses the wisdom of its elders risks losing valuable perspectives.
In the context of the Kogi East senatorial contest, the relevant conversation should therefore move beyond speculation about who supports whom and why. It should examine what the candidates bring to the table, what they understand about the responsibilities of a senator and how their respective backgrounds relate to the expectations of the people.
In the case of QS Aminu Abubakar Suleiman, his professional background in quantity surveying and construction management forms part of the record through which his public profile can be examined. His supporters may also point to his humanitarian interventions and engagement with communities across Kogi East as evidence of his concern for the welfare of the people. These claims should be assessed on the strength of verifiable records and specific examples, rather than merely repeated as campaign slogans.
It is equally important to understand that philanthropy and legislative representation are not the same thing. Helping people in moments of need may demonstrate compassion, but representing a senatorial district requires an understanding of lawmaking, legislative oversight, budget scrutiny, policy development and the constitutional relationship between the National Assembly and the executive arm of government. A serious assessment of any candidate must consider these responsibilities alongside character, professional experience and public service.
This is precisely why the opinions of experienced community members deserve to be heard rather than casually dismissed. Elders who have witnessed different administrations, political alignments, electoral promises and development outcomes may bring historical perspectives to the present contest. They may recognise patterns that younger observers have not yet encountered. Their conclusions may be challenged, but such challenges should engage the substance of their reasoning rather than rest on allegations for which no evidence has been presented.
Equally, the younger generation must understand that respect for elders does not require blind obedience. Democratic participation demands independent thought, critical examination and the freedom to disagree. However, disagreement becomes more constructive when it is accompanied by humility, evidence and a willingness to listen. The responsibility of the younger generation is not to surrender its judgment, but to enrich it with the wisdom and experience available within the community.
If the elders of Kogi East eventually make an official declaration in support of QS Aminu Abubakar Suleiman, the appropriate response should be to examine the reasons they provide for their decision. What qualities do they see in him? What experiences have informed their assessment? What expectations do they have of his proposed representation? These are questions that can deepen public understanding and improve the quality of political discourse.
Until such an endorsement is formally announced, no one should speak on behalf of the elders or attribute a collective position to them without proper confirmation. But neither should the possibility of their support become an excuse for insinuations that their judgment must have been purchased.
Ultimately, the credibility of any political position rests on the reasons and evidence that sustain it. The elders must be free to make their choices, the younger generation must be free to question those choices, and every candidate must be prepared to have their record and proposals examined.
Kogi East does not need a generational contest in which the young dismiss the old or the old belittle the young. It needs a political culture in which experience informs ambition, knowledge guides enthusiasm and public interest takes precedence over personal rivalry.
For, in the final analysis, the wisdom of an elder is not established merely by the number of years lived, just as the judgment of a young person is not validated merely by the volume of noise made. Both must be measured by the quality of their reasoning, their willingness to confront the facts and their commitment to the common good.
And perhaps that is the most important lesson for Kogi East as the 2027 senatorial election approaches: before questioning the judgment of the elders, let us first listen to their reasons. Their conclusions may be debated, but their right to reach them must be respected.
