It’s no use daring the argument against the fact that His Excellency, Alh Yahaya Adoza Bello became the occupant of the exalted Lugard house by divine providence. In fact, to deny that this is unusual in the annals of the history of Kogi politics is to flatten one’s understanding of, and perhaps try to rewrite, Kogi politics.
History has a away of making itself just as it has the capacity of repeating itself. In the case of Alh Yahaya Bello, history was created and the man in whom the load of history was placed is now setting a standard in a positive direction – creating “physical history” that children unborn will be proud of many years later.
The admittance of divinity in the emergence of Yahaya Bello must not be mistaken to mean that he got what he didn’t deserve. It suffices to say, he deservedly won the election because he genuinely wanted to serve the people. From everything that occurred in the build up to the election that later resulted to what we have today, one can say yes, Yahaya Bello won miraculously but as a prepared man for the job.
Evidently, his developmental stride is receiving massive commendation in less than a year that he assumed office. From system re-engineering to practical implementation of policies and programs, Governor Yahaya Bello has consistently rekindled the hopes of kogites that it’s possible to develop the Kogi of our dream.
In the words of Ray Kroc, “the quality of a leader is reflected in the standards they set for themselves”. This was how Alh. Yahaya Bello started and he has remained resolute in repositioning Kogi state on the highest developmental pedestal among comity of states.
The fight against corruption through a massive expunction of ‘ghost workers’ from the state civil service payroll has evidently mirrored the governor as a no nonsense leader. He could have, like his predecessors, appeased the ghosts for political popularity to the detriment of the genuine workers but that is not the standard Governor Yahaya Bello is building. Many unprintable remarks have been uttered while this exercise was on but today, even the most dishonest person in Kogi agrees with the fact that their is a shift; a shift from corruption to purposeful leadership.
One among many other areas that has also received massive attention under the amiable and genuine leadership of Governor Yahaya Bello is the on-going construction and rehabilitation of road networks across the state. The governor has severally reiterated his determination to link up every nooks and crannies of the state with good road network. This, we believe, is not just an empty boast because matching his words with actions is, indisputably, one of his strongest virtues. One can accurately predict the end results from his current trajectory so far.
Plans for potable water project across the state are also ongoing and it’s commendable that the government is giving the provision of water it’s deserved place of priority. Several foreign and local investment drives of the New Direction team are beginning to yield results, raising hopes of massive industrialization as well as development of the robust tourism potentials of the state. This will certainly boost the internally generated revenue while creating jobs for the teeming unemployed youths.
It is very pertinent to appreciate the efforts of some of the governor’s appointees but for want of space and time, it should be forgiveable to mention just two men. The works of the indefatigable Chief of Staff, Hon. Edward Onoja and the untiring efforts of the most admirable Engr Abubakar Ohere cannot be left without mention and commendation. Their unwavering support and total commitment to see that the New Direction dream comes to reality is well applauded.
Dave Chappelle once said, “If you don’t have the right people around you and you’re moving at a million miles an hour you can lose yourself”. The governor should please search and engage more hands of like minds to take his dream of better Kogi state to the grassroots. The New Direction standard must get to the target populace.
God bless the peoples’ governor, Alh. Yahaya Bello.
God bless Kogi State and all other states.
– Bello Muhammad Sadiq (BMS) writes from Eika-Ohizenyi in Okehi L.G.A, Kogi State.
