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Nigeria is one of the countries in Africa that loses billion of dollars yearly because of corruption, ranked to be the second most corrupt country in the world in 2014.
Corruption is still a serious problem in Nigeria today, the issue of corruption is a multifaceted phenomenon with multiple causes and effects. It involves the abuse of public office for self-aggrandizement or private benefit. However, it is important to note that corruption is not a Nigerian word but an English word laced with western ideas.
If you ask a ten years old baby which state is the worst in Nigeria and less developed the baby will rightly mention Kogi state.
The corruption in Kogi state is so alarming that one is constrained to ask: is there anything particular to the nature of leaders in Kogi state that makes them to be corrupt? Judging from the way this present government came into power in Kogi state on the plater of gold one would say that the government ought not to be corrupt at all but the empirical evidences has shown that this present administration stands as the worst in the history of Kogi state. Kogites has really passed through a lot of suffering, hardship and frustration must especially the civil servant in the state under this kind of leadership style led by Alhaji Yahaya Bello AKA the White Lion.
I choose to call it kakistocracy form of government led by individuals who don’t know that slogans and theories are no longer enough in finding solutions to today’s practical problems.
Many factors seem to have combined to make the situation sever or worse than the case in the previous administrations raging from the screening exercise embarked upon by the administration that took a year if not more than, months of non payment of salaries and arrears despite receiving bailout and Paris fund from federal government respectively, diversion of public resources to private ownership, different types of discrimination and ethnicity.
It is understood that in less than one year this government borrowed about 16billion still salaries are not paid, the problem with Kogi state is a failure of leadership, there is nothing basically wrong with Kogi as a state, it is just the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility which is the hallmarks of a true leadership. in Kogi state as at today, it is just a few families that can boast of three square meals a day, wear good clothes, or enjoy the basic necessities of life.
The phenomenon of corruption in Kogi State must be subjected to more intensive analysis as Kogites bye and large, are afraid of speaking the truth about this government because they might be attacked by some hoodlums who parade themselves as supporters of the government while others ask less of what is stolen but who stole and from where he comes without knowing that it’s by discovering the much that was stolen, squandered, mismanaged or siphoned that we would begin to appreciate the link between corruption and suffering or underdevelopment as those resources that were frittered away would have being used to pay salaries and arrears, engender socio-economic and political development in the state.
I urge all adults in Kogi state to register and get there permanent votes card PVC as to be able to vote during election as the only way to hold their leaders accountable. let us stop the idea of winner takes all in Kogi state and more importantly Kogi state needs a more viable legislature to be able to check the excessive corruption within the executive. Kogi State can be developed like every other states in the federation if we join hands together we can make a better Kogi state where salaries are payed there is security of life and prosperity, freedom of speech, a state where people would like to live.
– Achimugu Malachi Audu
House of Assembly Aspirant,
Igalamela-Odolu Constituency
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