I followed Prince Audu to so many rallies. In Lokoja, at the mega rally, Prince promised to wipe the tears of civil servants with prompt salaries. As at that time Governor Wada was allegedly owing three to four months salaries. His excellency, Prince Audu of blessed memories looked at that as a government that was clueless and insensible to peoples sensibilities. How do we now call a government that is defending not owing 21 months but 15 or 16 or 17.
Oh death, you have blackmailed the good people of Kogi state! But as a believer I won’t deny any of Allah’s blessings. I know the time has come, a time has come to reply a government that instead of keeping a good memories of Audu, instead of respecting the social contract between Prince Audu and the people, instead of wiping the tears of the civil servants as Audu promised, instead of looking deep at the decay caused by regimes that arm twisted us for almost thirteen years, Gov. Yahaya Bello decided to create a name as a lion. How can we then get close to a lion let alone the white one that is rare?
While we were fighting as party men and women, Bello was allegedly supporting a governor who failed to deliver, if this is true, then Governor Bello had had his love for non performance before destiny won against our wish.
Except for those who do not care, many of us went into that election with hope that we were ushering in a government that will lead Kogi state aright. The massive support Audu enjoyed was for his antecedence as governor. He was a man who had his plane set out to perform in all sectors. May his soul rest in peace.
Long ago, I wrote a piece which was published by Kogi Reports. In that report, I pointed out that Audu’s social contract has been breached and insulted by the present government. One would think that write ups like that were eye openers to government to sit up and retrace their lost path.
When Bello became the accidental public servant, he ought to have followed the direction of Prince Audu whom we believed, supported and voted for. Instead, what we got in the end was a strange slogan of “New Direction” – a new direction that even those singing it knows not the meaning.
Recently, some of them even insulted Gov Audu and called him names. We are not annoyed over this because Audu’s record is good enough to reply them. But most importantly, his supporters will wait patiently to reply them on the election day.
Gov Bello should apologise to the good people of Kogi state, his kinsmen and tribe, the youths and all classes of men and women he represents. He has let all of us down.
Let me put the record straight. I have been fair to Gov Bello in all my write ups. I have commended him and criticised him deservingly. I think he can make amend even if he is to contest or not. He should see reasons why we are lamenting and apologise to those who give him the necessary trust and had hoped in his ability to deliver; not insulting and hunting anyone who does not seems to be on the same page with his ideals which are now very unpopular.
On the Igala agenda, those creating such notions should know that Igala have the numbers, they are qualified to contest for the highest office in the state, but we must not be blackmailed to supporting those who have failed in the past, or allow then bring their children to lead us; never again.
The Igala people, of which I am one, are literate in almost everything. Those who think will exploit us because of APC and Bello’s predicaments are in for a shock. When the time is ripe, we will decide with a loud voice like we are always known.
We must remember, that it was the same Igala people who came out massively to support Audu against another son of theirs, governor Wada who delivered below standard, so if we are saying Bello has not done well now, amidst glaring evidence of failure, what have we done wrong.
Those insulting the Igala nation should know that we are keeping tab on their records and we will speak to them at the right hours. The Igala nation and her people are known for their modesty, honour, character and fearlessness. We will exhibit same in the next elections.
The APC as a party has what it takes to be known and respected like the ANC and Kogi issue is an acid test for what will happen in the future. You can not build a party where demigods will create empire within it and unleash sufferings on the populace. If APC is ready to retain its members in Kogi state, their action and in-action in the few coming days will prove that.
As supporters of APC, we are tired of a government that has continue to self-evaluate itself for almost four years.
There is nothing on ground in Kogi state to be proud of; I stand to be corrected. While that can not be alluded to Gov Bello alone if we must be fair to him, his reign has been catastrophic and has created a scenario of adding salt to injury. This is a disaster we did not deserve as a people.
I am calling on all meaning Nigerians to ask Gov Bello to pay all salaries arrears and the remaining percentages of those paid in percentage to our people for labourers deserve their wages. It is heartless for anyone to leave workers without salaries and go to sleep because the multiplier effect is huge, many student have left schools, marriages have been broken, malnutrition and diseases have set in, not to talk of those that have died of pains and hypertension.
We believe the time is ripe, and the answer to all the above awaits those who perpetrated them.
– Salihu Adam Jiddah
University Lecturer and Founder, Kogi Liberation Movement
