Opinion: The New Face of Kogi State

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“I am not born to be rich, but I am bound to be true, I am bound to live by the light that I have and I must learn to stand by who is right, and stand with him while he is right and part with him when he goes wrong”

Kogi state has had its fair share of political retardations, occasioned by misconception, sycophancy and propagandized political candidature.
Nearly twelves years after the administration of Late prince Abubakar Audu, the state is yet to witness what it called dividend of democracy. As The people had been subjected to constant hardship, hatched from wrong policy and corruption.
Hardly, if you are driving around the city, you will see any tangible infrastructure such as, good road, good water system etc.
In fact, politics in Kogi state is believed to be an avenue for self exoneration. As politicians goes to the helm of affairs only to enrich themselves, Leaving the masses in abject poverty.
On this bane, it becomes a sine qua non to make hay while the sun still shines, to position the heart of the people against erring their voice wrongly/imposition, when it comes to the choice of who should represent them at the helm of affairs. Thus, the new face of Kogi state must be impeccable, untainted, unbiased and politically guided towards a collective structures and perspective through;
1. INDEPENDENT CANDIDACY
Nigeria’s political system is ravaged by “a do or die” affairs. And as such, when an avenue draws nigh, people tends to lobby their ways through the entire process. This is not far fetched from why different faces are been allamoded and showcased on the social medias and other platforms. Some of these faces I know very well, are owing their domestic staff backlog of salaries. Some could not even put their homes together, let alone, handling a population of over two million people. Yet they are been polished and paraded as saints and messiah to come, by those leveraging on crumbs of compassion.
Therefore, it becomes imperative, that we must allow the much dreamed Kogi state to emerge. Hence, candidates that must assume the mantle of leadership must do so independently. Without lobbying for votes. Perhaps luring the poor masses with stipends in order to get voted. We must avoid perceived saints or branding of individuals for an office. Financial capacity and capability must be far from the criterion. Ethnicity, sentimentalism and favoritism must be abhored. But quality and qualitative living, evidenced by good conscience and concerned patriotism should be duly considered. People should be weighed within the yardstick of societal or communal influences based on structured performances in his/her individual capacity – how has he or she been able to affect lives on his or her own?.
2.         PARTY POLITICS  
As far as I am concerned, antidotes for the rotten state of affairs in kogi state is not within the ambit of any political party. Without mincing words, the two prominent parties (APC and PDP) are a colossal errors to the state. Infact, APC and PDP are like two sides of the same coins, one is decisively worse than the other, but both are fantastically corrupt and pathetic.
Yahaya Bello and his predecessors have no clue of the people’s plight as outlined in the present government.  This is often occasioned by wrong socio-conomic and political strategies, staged in various sphere of governance.
From the inception of his (GYB) administration, the government embarked on screening and verification of employment status (whether legal or illegal) of civil servants in the state. A politically intrigued exercise that had rendered a lot of workers helpless. Due to inability to apprehend responsibilities over months unpaid salaries, civil servants and responsible husbands were opting for suicide mission. Some resorted into begging on the broad day light, while others saw stealing as a mean of survival – we heard cases of pot of soup been declared missing while still been prepared on fire, as well as food Items.
Education and health sectors are in total clamp down. Virtually all the institution of learning in Kogi were shut down for months, our hospitals are either locked up or lack facilities. I can go on and on.
I repeat, take a drive around the city of Kogi state, and you will find out that the famous confluence city has no single kilometre of road constructed or tarred by the present administration. Rather, our dividend of democracy had been loan  to buy cars for government officials, Multi million Naira mansion in Okene GRA, Lexus X70 bullet proof SUV worth 115 million Naira as official car. Scholarship to about 12 medical students instead of putting in place, the needed equipment and structures to have medical courses accredited in our dynamic and excellently defined Kogi state University Anyigba. Etc.
Frank speaking, what do you expect of someone who got to the helm of affairs overnight. GYB  never worked for the votes he enjoyed. Rather, after loosing the primaries, he went back home. Against the peace deal he signed in Transcorp Hilton Abuja, along side other aspirants to support whoever emerged winner of the primaries.
But when fate took the late Prince Abubakar Audu away, APC saw him as an alternative to non. And without a genuine mantra, he took over the affairs of Kogi state. Without apology, what kogi state Is enduring today – untold hardship from high cost of living and insecurity of lives and properties, are the products of incompetency, myopism and self centredness.
While I was growing up as a child in Okura Zaria, Dekina local government area of the state, I knew penciled down that politicians come to our village once in every four years to seek voters. Painfully, on that day, nobody will be allowed to go to the farm or market as everybody goes to the village square to wait for the arrival of propagandist and politicos, who will come and promise heaven and earth and then seal their deceits with ten thousand Naira (10,000) for the whole community.
Sad as this may be, years before I was born till this very minute, my community never had a polling station/unit of their own. Instead, the community is always evacuated as both men and women, young and old, will treck about six to seven kilometres, sometimes under the scorching sun to where there is polling unit to vote. Once election is over we will never hear from them again till the next four years.
For the rebirth of a sound Kogi state, we must look beyond party supremacy and hunt for technocrats of noble professions, who have untainted histories in the course of duty both in private and public sectors. We must see beyond propaganda and access the real mantra if it tallies with WILLS AND CONSCIENCE.
3.       GRASS ROOT PRIORITY
Does the candidate has a standing and justifiable relationship with the people at the grass root. How has he or she engaged in core community issues? Perhaps help profer solution. Has he or she in a real sense, displayed or believed in the principle of judgement which he preaches.
What is the voice of the generality as regard his moral conduct and ethics?
Does he possess an inalienable attitudes toward a collective perceptions or he is the type that “fullfils all righteousness” over core values and presentiment.
Why Nigeria government will continue to be a failure till eternity is the attitudes of levity over the grass root level. Let me sound this loud and clear, we will have a better Nigeria if only, I repeat, if only power can be concentrated in the hands of the state and local government. As a matter of priority, this should be taken into cognisance if we must restructure the country.
4.         ECONOMIC VIABILITY
Kogi state is among the states in Nigeria endowed with natural resources, such as minerals like coal, tine, iron, limestone, petroleum, etc. The state is also favored with fertile land and suitable weather for farming. Its also the only confluence state in Nigeria where the two prominent river Niger and Benue met.
Recoursively, anyone overseeing the affairs of our dear state should outline a distinct definition of economic development, in lined with what is available and at a different strata.
He should be ready to take the formidable tasks of working actively and prudently, In diversifying the economy as well as investing in the revenue base.
The greatest lie any government will tell its citizen is CREATION OF EMPLOYMENT. The last administration of president Goodluck Jonathan boasted to have created over one million employment through its finance minister, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo Iweala. Similarly, the present administration of president Muhammadu Buhari, through its minister of information, Alhaji Lai Mohammed boasted often times of thousands of job created. Yet Unemployment rate keeps increasing.
Impeccably, government can only put in place the needed infrastructures, such as electricity, good roads, security etc. That will attract investors thereby creating an atmosphere of employment.
Therefore,  the new face of Kogi state must entail a cycle of economic master planners who will act as driving force to the state’s economic peaks. We must use what we have to get what we want.
5.  SECURITY AND SOCIAL WELFARE
One of the basis for accessing leadership performance is the security of life and properties as well as the social welfare of the people.
Kogi state is far behind in these criterion, as it has dispensably become an epicentre for crimes and anti social activities, such as kidnapping, robbery, Boko haram, fulani herdsmen/farmers clash and so on.
In February 2017, police arrested 56 suspected Boko haram members who saw the state as a safe hub from been nabbed of their atrocious activities in Okene. The state was also prominent for kidnapping as many cases of abduction were heard in the same year.
Worst still, despite its denting status, The government seems to be doing little or nothing about it. Thereby leaving the citizen en massed vulnerable to this vices. The most disgusting of all, is the recent cattle colony deliberately accepted to be established in the state as well as Incorporating the leadership of Meyatti Allah cattle breeders association into the government.
To me, this is the worst Kogites will get from the government. As it depicts a very grievous gravity of violence among the present and next generations.
Series of bloodletting violence had erupted from virtually every communities they (fulani herders) co exist.
In Lagos, precisely September 2016, there was a blood bath between the fulani and their hausawa counterparts over flimsy reasons. The famous mile 12 clash among others. More so In Ogun state, River state and Cross River where the fulanis, out of defeat, profusely Begged the state government for piece land to rear their cattles. It will be mockery if i include Benue state. This migrants are been preferrably treated in the country’s court of law. Its very rear of a farmer getting the right justice over his destroyed farms. Even while they (fulani) do so reluctantly.
I received a capture of trailers fully loaded with fulani, family and cows migrating to Kabba Bunu local government area in Kogi west senatorial district recently. Some were entering without the prescribed license. Though some traditional chief countered the reports but, a reliable source residing in the area confirmed that.
The impact of this primitive policy on our security and socio economic scenario is that; The state’s food sufficiency and food production will be sabotaged and strangulated.
Moreover, there will be rampered cases of violence erupting every where. Infact, I percive a bloody battle for domination soon. I just pray that governor Yahaya Bello and his handlers wake up from this slumbers.
Similarly, the Welfare of the people were not taking into cognisance. For the very first time in history, Nigerian senators, with senator Dino Melaye’s political propagations to dwindle his one time friend but now an arch enemy, instigated his colleagues in the Senate to donate relief materials to the civil servants and victims of the much 23 months non payment of salaries.
People were suffering, pains and despairs. As a matter of fact, the social life of the people were put to a halt.
Let me pulse here and ask those polishing candidates to please put collective interest at the front line. By accesing and evaluating critically, any politically ambitious individuals who may be nurturing something contrary to what is said above. A call to service is sacred and must be given its due priority.
Its time we unite against scammers and gamblers who saw politics are a game of avariciousness, self acrobatic.
We detest jingoism, we detest gigantic political mantras. But we concur with the true spirit of Democracy which is centered on selflessnes and equal representation.
The confluence city, the city with uncommon philosophy of treasures. Often baked in peace, unity and tolerant among the people.
God Bless Kogi state.
NB: Hardball is not in the writer’s opinion.
– Dr John Paul writes from Lagos
07064258752
p_john97@yahoo.com

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