The question – any hope for Kogi state under the new administration? can also be interpreted to mean whether there will be light at the end of the tunnel under the administration of Ahmed Usman Ododo, the governor, or if there will be any new heights; prospects in the new dispensation.
On the question, there is no unanimity yet: opinions are divided among pundits as to whether a lot could be achieved or not. The question has become important, given the uncomfortable stories we have heard or read in the traditional and social media regarding the action(s) allegedly perpetrated by the governor and his deputy respectively during the swearing in ceremony in Lokoja, the capital of Kogi State on the 27th January, 2024.
Before we enumerate some instances of the opprobrious acts that have put Kogi State on the spotlight, it is important that we refresh our memories on the great dawn that was birthed in Kogi State on the 27th January, 2024. It was a day that Ahmed Usman Ododo was sworn in as the 5th democratic governor of Kogi State following the usual performance of rituals of taking Oaths of Office and Oaths of Allegiance in accordance with the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999, (as amended), resulting in the successful take-over of executive power from the immediate-past governor (Yahaya Adoza Bello). This development no doubt signposted Ahmed Usman Ododo as the numero uno of Kogi State. Having officially assumed duty as the governor, it is our belief that he (governor) would settle down as quickly as possible to the nitty-gritty of the demands of office with a view to accelerating the pace of development of Kogi State for the benefit of us all.
It is important to note that swearing-in ceremonies of this nature are usually a spectacle intended ostensibly to achieve some objectives: First, is to use the occasion to make some promises to the people, particularly to consolidate the achievements of the immediate-past administration. Second, to review the past policies where and when necessary and thirdly, to reel out new policies and programmes that would signpost the new path or roadmap the new administration intends to take, all in a bid to reflect the changing environments with a view to furthering the advancement of polities.
But reports reaching us have it that what took place at the said swearing-in ceremony in Kogi State was embarrassing and this was of concern to lovers of protocols and decency. Not a few social commentators, analysts, pundits, described the event as total hogwash, unbelievable and unpardonable. It was their views that rather than focus attention on the adumbration of new policies and programmes that would lead to the transformation of the state, they regretted that the whole business of the day was devoted to hero-worshipping of the immediate-past governor whose administration, according to them achieved little or nothing towards raising the living standards of the citizens of the state. They further stated that as a result of the lackluster performance of the immediate-past administration, the state has been pushed twenty (20) years backwards, unfortunately.
Having said that, it should be recalled that an earlier allusion was made to the effect that the event of the day was characterized with infamy. And a few of the instances are enumerated as follows: First, it was reported that the governor failed, refused and neglected to accord recognition to the Chairman of the State Traditional Council, the Ata of Igala, a development which has made many to cast doubt as to whether the governor will have the independence in handling state affairs without primordial consideration and/or kowtowing to external influences. The breach of protocol should be condemned in its entirety.
Second, it was also reported that the governor and his wife (the supposedly First Lady of the State), both knelt down for the immediate-past governor (See New Telegraph, February 12, 2024). Furthermore, the Deputy Governor was not left out in the demonstration of a shameful act of indignity.
Third, another ludicrous act was that the governor was quoted to have said which went viral that he had created an office in the Lord Lugard House (Government House), Lokoja, for the immediate-past governor of the state. What this, however, means is that there would be two governors and two separate bureaucracies – one for the governor and the other for the ex-governor, with the possible implication of each competing for the soul of the state at the detriment of the citizens and state.
Fourth, the governor was also quoted to have said that where both of them (governor and Yahaya Adoza Bello) issue out policies or instructions simultaneously and where such policies clash, the citizens were obliged to implement that of the immediate-past governor without let or hindrance.
Fifth, there are equally reports that Yahaya Adoza Bello has become the godfather of Kogi politics and with Ahmed Usman Ododo as the obvious godson. With this development, the ex-governor has been given an added impetus, as well as an opportunity to rule the state by proxy through his godson. As a right, Yahaya Adoza Bello can be godfather, but he should bear in mind that no decent human being would associate himself/herself with the word godfather either in form or substance because the name has ‘criminal roots.’ It also has some semblance with the ‘Mafia’ of Italy. Because godfathers are known for everything criminal such as ‘brute, arrogant, self-centered, murderous, destructive, powerful,’ and more importantly they are ardent at playing God, it is my conviction that the immediate- past governor would not want to be associated with the name godfather because of its criminal tendencies.
Sixth, as at today, Ahmed Usman Ododo is undoubtedly the leader of Kogi State, but surprisingly, it was alleged that the governor has been nicknamed ‘Figurehead,’ which means that though he is the leader of the state, he lacks the real power to administer the state in accordance with the Supreme Document (Constitution, 1999) of the land. In other words, the governor has been pushed to the periphery, thus denying him membership of the inner circle of movers and shakers of power in the state. The unfortunate implication of this is that Ahmed Usman Ododo, though the undisputed numero uno of the state, he has been removed far away from continually playing critical roles in the administration of the state. It is against this background that not a few stakeholders, concerned citizens, etc, are asking a pertinent question as to who is actually holding ‘the knife and the yam’ in the state – Ahmed Usman Ododo or Yahaya Adoza Bello? Not a few people believe that the real power resides in Yahaya Adoza Bello, with Ahmed Usman Ododo, the governor allegedly confined to running errands for the powers that be in the state and perhaps beyond.
Another uncomfortable report has it that the ex-governor has been allegedly attending meetings at different fora, particularly at the Aso Villa. Given this, it is therefore confounding that after eight years in office as the governor of Kogi State which of course expired on January 27, 2024, Yahaya Adoza Bello has found it extremely difficult to extricate himself from meddlesomeness in state affairs or matters. In other words, he has continued to play a critical role in the affairs of the state such that his actions, inactions are becoming an embarrassment to the state.
In giving a vent to this embarrassment, some X (formerly Twitter) users have commented on the meddlesomeness of Yahaya Adoza Bello in the affairs of the state. A post on X featured a photo purportedly showing Bello alongside governors and Tinubu at the Presidential Villa. Another post has it thus: ‘Yahaya Bello is still attending FEC as the governor of Kogi State after handing over to someone else.’ Similarly, other X users have this to say: ‘Bello continues to participate in meetings with the President and incumbent governors despite relinquishing power in January.’
Drawing from all these, one is tempted to be on the side of X users because as we write this piece, Yahaya A. Bello and his minders have not found it necessary to offer rebuttal to all that had been said about his meddlesomeness in state matters in spite of the fact that he has officially relinquished power and handed over to Ahmed Usman Ododo in January 2024. In the absence of any rebuttal, it would be taken that truly Yahaya A. Bello has been meddling in state affairs, a development which not only amount to being power drunk, but also an act bothering on ‘diabolic politics’, unprecedented and undemocratic.
As a common practice, nomination of appointees (ministers, commissioner, and others) that would assist elected officials – president, governor, etc, in the formulation and implementation of policies and programmes for the advancement of humanity, is usually a collective affairs of party members, ostensibly to ensure inclusivity as well as promote stabilization of the party and the government in power. Furthermore, leadership recruitment for the party at the local government levels, is also a collective effort so as to promote esprit de corps among party faithful.
Extending this principle to Kogi State one would say without fear or favour that it is extremely disappointing to note that the selection process did not align with the tested political ethos in the sense that the selection of commissioners and other political appointees, including leadership recruitment for the party at local government level (twenty-one LGAs), was reportedly single-handedly handled or masterminded by the immediate-past governor (Yahaya Adoza Bello) without the inputs of the incumbent governor – Ahmed Usman Ododo, who if had been consulted perhaps he would have made some suggestions to guide in the selection process in terms of requisite needs assessment, number of appointees, knowledge/capacity, assignment of portfolios, spread of political spoils, merit, competence, etc. Without mincing words, the whole business of selection of appointees could be described as whimsical, thus suggestive of lack of respect for the number one citizen of Kogi State, and also a blight on Yahaya Adoza Bello’s claimed democratic credentials.
What this development means is that both at the governmental and party levels the governor would certainly be demobilized, diminished and castrated in the exercise of his constitutional powers towards uplifting the standards of living of the people of the state. For Yahaya Adoza Bello to have single-handedly nominated, compiled and ratified all the appointees, and only demanding of the incumbent governor to acquiesce smacks of dictatorship and totalitarianism. It also demonstrated disrespect for the incumbent governor by assuming wrongly that he could think and decide for him (governor) the developmental trajectory he would follow in the administration of the state. What an arrogance and illegal exercise of power!
It is the totality of these shenanigans, though some self-made while others are externally imposed or induced which have so far dotted the new administration of Ahmed Usman Ododo that should be our utmost concern here. In all this, the majority of the people of the state are beginning to doubt the mental capacity of the governor as to whether he could sail the ship of the state to a safe anchorage without collateral damage. Without mincing words, the missteps of our leaders have certainly projected them in bad light as unserious bunch of people whose main focus is not directed towards the development of Kogi State but to selfishly create confusion and distractions so that the citizens’ attention will be diverted away from demanding development, accountability and transparency, key issues which leaders, including ours dread a lot.
It is important to state further that Providence has made Ahmed Usman Ododo the governor of Kogi State by only using the people of the state as agents of transmutation of God’s dream for Ahmed Usman Ododo. Bearing this in mind, it is important to add that the worth of the governor will be measured by the extent to which he is able to change the face of Kogi State from its current inertia to a more prosperous one that would promote the citizens’ aspirations and self-esteem, in addition to becoming a strong voice in the comity of states of Nigeria. The irreducible minimum the electorates would want from the governor is nothing short of progress, unity, harmony, good life, happiness, etc, and certainly not mere excuses whether self-made or externally imposed.
It will be recalled that Kogi State was created on the 27th August 1991 by the administration of General Ibrahim Badamosi Babangida. Other states that were also created at the same time included Abia, Enugu, Delta, Jigawa, Kebbi, Osun, Taraba and Yobe. When compared to other states as afore-mentioned, it may be safe to say that the Kogi State is yet to take its rightful position in Nigeria partly due to leadership inertia and partly due to obsession for criminal aggressive accumulation of wealth at the detriment of the people and state. In summary, our leaders are not willing to galvanize resources (human and materials) to engineer meaningful development of Kogi State in terms of rejuvenation of basic and secondary education, health care services, infrastructure development, tackling insecurity, increase of social and political consciousness, human capital development, improvement in the administration of compensation (salary) for pensioners and serving civil servants as opposed to the higgledy-piggledy that characterized the salary system of the immediate-past administration, agricultural development, information technology, among others. It is for the lack of development between 2016 and 2024 that Kogi State has been derisively described as the ‘poverty capital’ of Nigeria. This embarrassing image that has been associated with Kogi State should be reversed for the good of us all.
It is clear even to the blind that Yahaya Adoza Bello and other spirited individuals through the will of God took Ahmed Usman Ododo to the zenith he occupies today, and as expected, I am sure he must have shown profound/immense gratitude for the elevation. Having said that it my considered opinion that the next stage should be how to collaborate with the governor in putting in place sound policies and programmes with which to achieve lasting legacies for the state. This to me should be the priority as opposed to the pursuit of selfish and parochial interest and unnecessary embellishment of personal ego at the detriment of development of the state and humanity.
It must be emphasized that if the governor fail to achieve any meaningful developmental strides between 2024 and 2028 the expected backlash would certainly be heaped on Yahaya Adoza Bello, the principal agent in the installation of Ahmed Usman Ododo, in particular and others in general for bringing on board a personality who lacks the necessary ‘mental magnitude’ to determine ‘the direction of the state’,mobilize resources in ensuring that the people of the state ‘live a full and happy life.’
For Ahmed Usman Ododo to achieve a full and happy life for the people I would appeal to the powers that be that encumbrances, unnecessary distractions should not be placed on the pathways of the governor as a deliberate strategy ostensibly to derail him from achieving the best for the state.
The determination of the question under reference has given rise to two schools of thought, that is, the optimistic and pessimistic schools. This has further confirmed my earlier position that opinions are divided on the question. The position of the pessimistic school is that nothing good can come out of the administration of Ahmed Usman Ododo, hinging their pessimism as follows:
First, that Ahmed Usman Ododo would seem not to have adequately prepared for the job of governor as exemplified during the gubernatorial electioneering campaigns where he was expected to have adumbrated his policies and programmes that would have served as a beacon of hope to the people of the state, thus making them to believe in the project that at the end of the day there will be light at the tunnel. But according to the school, this was not the case, unfortunately.
Second, the alleged actions and statements made during the swearing-in ceremony have cast doubt as to whether the governor would handle state affairs with courage and audacity.
Third, the alleged imposition of commissioners and other political appointees on the governor could hamper his mobility and independence in taking critical decisions that affect the state, in addition to possible encountering challenges of trust, loyalty and support from those allegedly imposed on him.
The optimistic school on the other hand, while acknowledging and appreciating the concerns of the pessimistic school, it, however, called for caution arguing that it is too early in the day to pass a judgment on the governor, after all, he has barely spent three months on the saddle, adding that he should be given more time and space so that he could gather himself, in addition to devoting his energy, mind and resources for the betterment of the people of Kogi State.
Regarding the opinions of both schools, I would want to stand by the side of hope, as canvassed by the optimistic school, believing strongly in the proverbial saying that ‘the black pot will always bring forth white pap.’ Given this, I believe strongly that at the end of the day the governor’s black pot will surely bring forth white pap. How I wish I would not be disappointed at the end.
Having said that, it is important that the governor should bear in mind that the buck stops at his table or desk, adding that the people of the state who freely elected the governor would not be at home with him in passing the buck nor accept blame game as reason(s) for non-performance. In other words, the electorates expect a lot from the governor and anything to the contrary will be taken as a huge disappointment. I concede that in changing the face of Kogi State towards the path of progressivism is gargantuan in nature but it is important to bear in mind that the governor cannot do it alone; he needs the support and collaboration of all citizens so that he could put in place sound policies and programmes with which to transform Kogi State into El Dorado. It is on this basis that I would appeal to the citizens to do all within their power by supporting and collaborating with the governor so that he could enhance the quality of the people of the state.
Before ending this piece, it is my wish to congratulate Ahmed Usman Ododo on his election as governor of Kogi State, and to pray to God to grant him strength, good health, wisdom and grace to pilot the affairs of the state creditably for the benefit of us all.
– Isiaku Abdul Raji Ahutu writes from Lagos.
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