By Sam Abutu.
Governor Yahaya Bello has often assured the good people of Kogi State of access to Quality Education as contained in the five thematic areas of his New Direction Agenda. He matches words with action, as some projects are being carried out all over the state. Among the projects are ongoing / completed of Blocks of 2 and 3 Classrooms, Constructions of Computer and Laboratory Buildings, Renovation of Blocks of Classrooms, Drilling of Boreholes in the School Premises, Construction of VIP Toilets amongst other projects to enhance quality education in Kogi State.
Meanwhile, Hoodlums have burned down and vandalized schools set for commissioning by Senator Dinno Melaye in the night of July 18, 2018 at Government Girls Secondary School Sarkin Noma and Lokongoma Secondary School in Lokoja LGA. The projects were due for inauguration that day.
The schools were razed down and vandalized by yet to be identified hoodlums over the night by fire.
The projects are among sixty nine the Senator had arranged for inauguration as part of his three year stewardship.
A day before the incidence, some thugs had issued a statement threatening to stop the inauguration and asking the senator not to come home, even as the local government administrator of Lokoja LGC boasted at a naming ceremony attended by Edward Onoja at Lokoja, July 17, 2018, that Senator Dino would not commission any project in his constituency.
It could be recalled that Senator Melaye has had a running battle with the state governor, a Crisis that led to his planned but failed recall process.
Politics of bitterness has been taken too far here. It is not Dino’s property that has been destroyed; it is the people’s property that has been destroyed by someone who had done nothing for the community.
The children of the poor cannot afford to attend school in costly private schools, and the one built for them is being destroyed by sons of the poor, for a stipend.
Hon. Alfa Tijani from Ajaka, Igalamela Odolu Local Government Area of Kogi State has written something on this issue before. He said, “The major negative factors that have prevented development and stability in our Political dispensation in Kogi State is politics of bitterness. Often times I see politicians killing each other, betraying one another because of political positions or appointments.
Does politics teach us to destroy one another? Is polities meant to eradicate integrity and love for one another?
Politicians who destroy and betray each other do so because they lack ethics of politics and true meaning of politics. The fact that you lost your presidential, Governorship or Senatorial position should not make you to develop hatred and bitterness towards your opponents. A true politician should constantly allow ethics in politics to guide his words and actions.
A case study of politics played in the western world, like America, Britain, Japan, Italy and Spain and so on, should be emulated by our politicians in Kogi State. Recently, I watched the politics of Ghana to see if it would be characterized by violence that is often being associated with Kogi State, Nigeria and other Africa nations. To my amazement, I discovered that Ghana politics was devoid of violence and rigging of election. This is not to say that there were no negative flaws in Ghana politics. But it produces platform for other politicians to learn from.
The fact that you are in a different political party with your opponent should not make you nurse the ambition on how to destroy your opponent’s ambition or career.
The essence of Politics is to promote one another, enhance development in our society, promote peace and unity and motivate one another to higher heights generally.
We fail in our political ambitions and positions because of wrong motives in politics. We should constantly emulate God who makes the rain to fall on the just and on the unjust. We should always learn from his faithfulness, love, mercy, and kindness towards his creatures.
Politicians who succeed in any Position should wish others well, overlook the mistakes and short-comings of others, see beyond the now and allow ethics in politics to guide their words and actions.
I will urge politicians both in Kogi State and those in the Western world to constantly allow their words and actions are devoid of hatred for their opponents live in unity and have a common goal that will always enhance positive development in their states and countries. These will help to enhance your longevity on earth and favor with God and man.
– Sam Abutu is a farmer in Alloma town, Ofu LGA of Kogi State
