Hearty congratulations to Governor Yahaya Bello on his re-election as Governor of Kogi State. His winning is a confirmation that the people of Kogi State love him and are willing to give the baton for a second run. It is also a very strong indicator that there are successes that need to be consolidated upon and more gains to win.
I also congratulate the good people of Kogi State, who stood the tide and waded through the stormy weather to see GYB’s return to power. Despite obvious vindictive kickbacks and rancorous campaigns, Kogites stood firm and unshaken keeping our eyes on the prize, knowing fully well that an election is a moral horror, as bad as a battle except for the blood; a mud bath for every soul concerned in it, reason we didn’t fall for their lies and deceit.
We are grateful to God that we were adequately rewarded by victory in the end.
The vintage of tribal politics and ethnic sentiments in the selection of our leaders has been buried forever, and its grotesque head never to rise again.
We are proud of our achievement as a people with one voice and one call, working together for the greater good of our dear state.
The election has been fought and won but it will do us good to look back and see the challenges faced by this government which they have tried to surmount, during which process wounds were inflicted and faces creased with frowns.
Salaries
The salaries issues and the screening exercise that was almost unending raised eyebrows because it came with lots of unhappy episodes as an aftermath. However, we thank God that these issues have been laid to rest and we pray that efforts will be consolidated to tie loose ends in the incoming term.
Administrative Cabinet
Appointees are usually appointed to give results and not excuses/reasons, the results from the performance of their duties may either make or mar the image of their bosses. Although there were outstanding appointees who took their jobs to heart and delivered on the mandate given, receiving accolades from Kogites, but then some other foot soldiers of GYB marred his personality by engaging in ventures not related to their offices and churning out undesirable results which further sank the image of government.
The Media
The image of Kogi State in the Media wasn’t given the needed attention hence allowing the opposition to bank on this lukewarmness to the detriment of the State government in the eyes of her citizens and denizens alike.
The state’s lofty achievements weren’t showcased as needed, there was some kind of tottering when it came to image blazing of the trails created by government, this created a sense of revulsion among citizens who felt the government have been tepid in matters of governance.
These were salient features that characterized the 1st tenure of GYB, but put on the scale amongst past governors of the state we should be bold to say GYB have tried to keep Kogi state’s head above water.
Having said that, the achievements of GYB’s first tenure can’t go unnoticed to discerning minds and truth seekers.
Security
GYB’s winning action on insecurity have raised Kogi State from the worst state to one of the best States of the Federation in terms of provision of adequate security for Kogites.
Service Reform
Sanity returned to our civil service as we all know that in the not too distant past, Kogi State civil service was filled with owners of false results and carriers of dead relatives certificates, not forgetting the large numbers of ghost workers milking the state and her resources dry.
GYB sought out ways that have cleaned up the system and purged it of those undesirable elements.
Youths Engagement
With GYB, our youths are no longer leaders of tomorrow that may never come, they are now archons of today. Creation of employment for our teeming youths and giving the youths due recognition for their pivotal role in the society, have endeared GYB to the young and upcoming ones to the chargrin of the old timers.
Infrastructure
Construction and rehabilitation of roads across the states, provision of healthcare services and facilities, huge involvement in quality education and finally the bold and big steps in agriculture are recorded achievements that have given GYB an edge above his predecessors.
Way Forward
Despite obvious mistakes and glaring milestones the next tenure of GYB should be one with the torch to burn off past mistakes and light up new heights.
Workers welfare should be of paramount importance through the payment of salaries and pensions. The necessary reforms needed to grow the civil service must be put in place and tighter measures applied to stop the siphoning of public funds by greedy workers.
The past four years have shown some appointees with outstanding performance and others with lackluster exploits, as a matter of urgency the government should look at where her appointees have displayed their strength or weaknesses and look towards where some of them can function properly.
In other words, there should be a cabinet reshuffle and also appointment of capable and skillful hands to help drive the wheel of administration in Kogi State.
Provision of basic social and infrastructural facilities should be on the top burner, our healthcare system should be given increased attention, our educational standards should be further upgraded (let’s borrow a leaf from Kaduna state), efforts on the Agricultural revolution carried out by the state should be consolidated upon and we shouldn’t rest on our oars with respect to security.
The government has started a new phase in the system of governance where tribal politics and sentiments are no longer determinant of governance.
The government should continue on this thread and incorporate an all inclusive government where every Kogite irrespective of tribe, status or gender has a stake in the our system of governance.
In conclusion, the Kogi Election came with some regrettable hitches which we all condemn. My heartfelt condolences and sympathy to those who lost their loved ones or properties. I also commend the state government and security agencies for their efforts to contain the menace and to avoid further escalation of wanton crisis.
Finally, the 1st tenure-ship of GYB is about to port and the 2nd term is about to set sail, I wish him skillful sailing that assures a prosperous voyage.He is in my prayers and good wishes.
– Salami Anne Amina is a writer, a mathematician, an IT expert, sickle cell patients rights advocate, a wife and a mother based in Abuja.
She can be reached via inyasalami@gmail.com.
