In the year of our lord 2019, precisely 18 of June, Governor Yahaya Bello clocks 44 years, which is a prophetic number spiritually, as he seeks his re-election into office on completion of his 4 year first tenure, seeking for another 4 years, making it 4+4. For pundits, there is hullabaloo around his second term ambition in a state driven by high rate of political industry negotiations.
What has he done for the 4 years which comes to an end on January 27th, 2020?
44 Achievements of Governor Yahaya Bello at 44.
- Construction of the biggest Rice Mill in Northern Nigeria which is of 50 tons per day at Omi in Ejiba community, Yagba East Lcoal Government Area of kogi state. This rice mill has introduced the “Confluence Rice”, making Kogi one of the state that producers rice in Nigeria.
- Construction of 10.7km, Agasa-Ukpogoro Road in Kogi Central Senatorial District.
- Construction of 8.5km, Ogaminana/Ebogogo/ Total junction through Eika Itakpe Road, located in Kogi Central.
- Construction of 12.8km, Ebiya Kpatesi/Ogigiri Road.
- Construction of 21km, Obeira Okengwe/ Obangede Road.
- Rehabilitation of Idah/Ajaka/Umomi/ Ejule Road, Kogi East, Kogi State.
- Construction of Oguma/Sheria Road/Bridge at Bassa Local Government Area of Kogi East.
- Constructions of Ganaja/Otokiti dual carriageway by-pass, at Lokoja, the state capital.
- Construction of embankment along Kpata/Marine/Kabawa Lokoja, State capital.
- Rehabilitation of Ankpa Township Road along with drainages
- Rehabilitation of Kabba township Road, Kogi West, Kogi State
- Construction of two (2) blocks of hostel at Govt. Girls Unity Secondary School, Oboroke Okehi Local Government Area of Kogi State.
- Construction of Okpo- Ibana, Ikeje- Ogugu Ette Road, Kogi East, Kogi State.
- Rehabilitation of Idah waterworks
- Rehabilitation of Kabba waterworks and reticulation
- Rehabilitation of Ankpa-Abejukolo Road, Kogi East, Kogi State.
- Rehabilitation of Shintaku-Dekina Road, Kogi East, Kogi State.
- Abejukolo Rural Electrification project
- Construction of Kogi State SDG’s office complex Lokoja.
- Rehabilitation of Iyamoye/Ife Olukotun Ponyo, Jege, Ejuku Ijowa road which is 77km in distance.
- Installation of street lights in Lokoja township, state Capital, Kogi State.
- Construction of Hostel blocks, at Kogi State College of Nursing and Midwifery, Obangede.
- Renovation of Kogi State House Assembly Complex.
- Renovation of Kogi stat Government House, Lokoja, Kogi State.
- Construction of Kogi State Revenue House.
- Construction of Military Operational Base, at Okene Kogi State.
- Provision of over 200 Operational Vehicles to the security agencies in kogi state.
- Employment of 6000 men and women of the Kogi State vigilante Services for community Policing across the 21 Local Government Areas of Kogi State.
- Contraction of Cleaning and Landscaping of Lokoja Metropolis to Geemoney Global Kliners which have provided employment to about 2000 Kogi youths at the state capital.
- Employment of over 600 Kogi youths into the restructured Kogi State Revenue Services
- Constitution of the Youngest Cabinet since the inception of Nigeria
- Construction of the Kogi State Social Investment Office, (SIP), anchors of Federal Government social investment programs.
- Procurement of over 300 Fergus Tractors with complete implements, three quantities each for Mini Harvesters, Planters, Broom Sprayers, Rice Reapers and other similar equipment to enhance agricultural activities and boost production.
- Upgrading of the traditional council stools: 17 First Class stools, 23 Second Class and 60 Third Class Kings.
Personal Contributions to Kogi State:
Governor Yahaya Bello’s personal attributes as a leader has placed him above waters in handling the complexity of Kogi State, from his interpersonal relationship to his emotional intelligence which has created a bridge to bind socio-economic deliverables in the state.
As a detribalized leader, he picked his Chief of Staff from another ethnic group and religion, which has never happened in the state before. This singular act have collapsed the walls of ethnic rivalries and hate, characterized with Kogi politics in the past. His rare tolerance for all religious and ethnic groups in Kogi State led him to do the following:
- 63 years embargo lifted on Igala Cultural festival, with funding for the Igala Movie filmed by the Senior Special Adviser on Culture and Tourism, Hon. Mercy Johnson Okojie
- Tremendously contribution to the building of the Igala Unity House, at Anyigba, Kogi East, Kogi State
- Project Power Kogi East (PPKE) which is the injection of funds in excess of N1.5B to power over 100 communities in Kogi East which until now is 90% in perpetual darkness even after producing all the Governors that have ruled the state, from that region.
- 10 Seater Buses to the Christian Community in Kogi State and Personal Sponsorship of Kogi Arise in Praise Concert which is a yearly event that brings Christians of different denominations in the state under one roof of praise and worship.
- Rebuilding of the Olamaboro Central Mosque, Kogi East
- Rebuilding and remodeling of Ankpa Central Mosque, Kogi East
- Rebuilding of Okene Central Mosque
Saving Lives:
- Over 500 personal and Government intervention in Health related challenges, notable cases is that of Hon. Y.Y from Kogi East, Ahmed Abubakar with a spinal cord injury from Kogi Central and Ibitomi Babatunde from Kogi West with a chronic Kidney disease, all got personal intervention from His Excellency aside the Indigent Funds for other citizens in the state.
Youths Empowerment:
- The youthful involvement, empowerment and inclusion of the highest population of Kogi State, which are the youths in the political architecture of the state is a sign of generational revolution. In topping this, HE. Gov Bello signed the Youth Commission and Enterprise Bill into Law in 2019 which is the first in Northern Nigeria.
- Kogi State is dubbed as the second most peaceful state in Nigeria by the National Bureau of Statistics for the year 2018 and current with a total of 0.62 crime cases reported overall in 2018.
- Completion of the Kogi State Diagnostics Center, CAMDIC, Lokoja, Kogi State.
- Award for construction, Kogi State Government House Chapel, Lugard House, Lokoja.
In conclusion, as an icing on the cake, the detribalized nature of His Excellency, Governor Yahaya Adoza Eleojo Bello is the reason God has given him the mantle of consolidation in Kogi State, thriving him in the midst of many attacks, propaganda, hate and pedestrian wars by political-herdsmen.
Adoza, Ele A du Gwo Ojo elè elè!
– Promise Emmanuel (Kogi Rebel)
