When a prayer is answered, the person who prayed would be overwhelmed. Prayers work and answers may be so complete and overwhelming. This expression may aptly describe the situation with Governor Yahaya Bello who became the 4th Executive governor of Kogi State in the most unlikely circumstance. I have no doubt of course that he prayed so hard to be able to get to that position but it appears that the position has overwhelmed him.
When his administration came on board, the catch phrase that was introduced was “New Direction ” which became the basis for the New Direction Blue Print; a guide to the developmental strides and governance that was to be adopted by his administration. His youthfulness and a few other factors made Kogites both home and abroad hopeful. It was expected that he will bring some radical changes that will help alleviate the suffering of his people but before long, things began to fall apart.
To start with, there was the staff screening exercise that was incredibly woeful. Let me be clear that I am not against a staff audit that will help reposition the civil service for optimal service, but the process introduced by the Yahaya Bello’s administration was not only poor but diabolical. He got a lot of negative flacks for the screening exercise that seemed unending. After 2 years of engaging in the screening, salaries still remained unpaid, pensioners were still owed several months, there was a major downsizing and things just did not improve. The social media was agog with news of Kogites who lost their lives as a result of being unable to pay medical bills due to unpaid salaries by the state government. Yet in all of these, Yahaya Bello had a penchant for purchasing luxurious cars and building mansions while his people wallowed in abject poverty. Political appointees were living large in their SUV’s and marrying new wives while civil servants who are the engine room of governance suffered in silence.
Despite the administration’s claim to have improved the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR), the administration has not shown much in terms of infrastructure. A drive through Kogi State will make you wonder if at all there is any purposeful leadership. I am not talking about the few meters of roads that some of the political appointees in the state who want to catch the attention of the Chief of Staff, Edward Onoja ask young social media users to post online as developed infrastructure, rather, I am talking about the terrible road network across the state whereas even the Governor himself cannot boast of enjoying decent roads leading to his hometown in Okene or within the town of Okene itself.
Compared to the days of late Prince Abubakar Audu who literarily turned Kogi state to a construction site with even lesser funds than this present administration, it will be safe to say that Yahaya Bello has failed in the last few years in terms of delivering the dividends of democracy to the good people of Kogi state.
In the words of Calgacus who was a chieftain of the Caledonian Confederacy who fought the Roman army of Gnaeus Jukius Agricola at the Battle of Mons Graupius in northern Scotland in AD83, “Auferre, trucidare, rapere, falsis nominibus imperium; atque, ubi solitudinem faciunt, pacem appellant” – To plunder, to slaughter, to steal, these things they misname empire: they make a desolation and they call it peace. Gov Yahaya Bello has succeeded in plundering the fortunes of APC in Kogi State, he has slaughtered the integrity of the party he has forcefully taken and given positions to undeserving individuals within the party and in government appointments and has gone ahead to misname this as popularity as well as claim that the state is enjoying peace. The people who laboured so hard to build the APC were ousted by Bello for his own selfish gain and to ensure that only his stooges are in key positions. This has obviously affected his performance because you cannot expect excellence from mediocre. It may be safe to say that Gov. Yahaya Bello gave himself up for failure.
Furthermore, the impasse between the Executive and Judiciary in the state is palpable. There has been a battle of wit between the Governor and the Judiciary. Bello has refused all entreaties by well meaning Nigerian to subdue his ego for the rule of law to prevail. While it is a known fact that the judiciary is expected to be an independent arm of government capable of running its own affairs under the chief Judge of the state, Bello wishes to run it as he has done with the legislature where he also holds sway through his boys there.
Let it be known to the world and anyone who cares to listen that the victory of the APC in Kogi state in the last election was simply as a result of the popularity of President Muhammed Buhari and his running mate Prof Yemi Osinbajo and not because Yahaya Bello is on ground. It is evident from how the State House of Assembly election became a do or die affair for Bello and his appointees. It is on record that Bello threatened immediate sack for any appointee who is unable to win his polling unit/ward/LGA. He gave them the go ahead to achieve this feat by any means necessary. I make bold to say that the 25/25 win bandied around as victory is total robbery of the people.
The people will be at the mercy of legislatures and representative who are answerable to the Governor and not the people. When it comes to the governorship election, there is no doubt that the people will resist the violence of Yahaya Bello and his cronies. I believe that to subdue the will of the people Bello will not slaughter all dissenting voices in Kogi to achieve the peace or empire he wants.
A dancer who dances moderately is the one who dances for long; the one who does not dance moderately courts shame. Yahaya Bello has refused to dance moderately, he has decided to fight too many battles on too many fronts, if APC allows Yahaya Bello to be its standard flagbearer without either easing him out or allowing for a free and fair primary, the party should be ready to lose Kogi State.
The leadership of the party should be sensitive enough to see from the outcome of recent elections that governors who under-perform were shown the way out by the people. There is no amount of photo ops with the President by Bello that will sway the will of the people. He is just simply unpopular and has become a liability to the party in Kogi State. The weakest candidate from the major opposition; PDP will defeat Yahaya Bello if an election is held today.
If the party must improve its fortune after losing out in key states where we had incumbent governors like Oyo, Bauchi and Imo, then Yahaya Bello must not be forced on the ticket or be allowed to force himself in as it is his usual style.
If Kogi must be a part of Next Level engagements to the fullest, then Bello cannot be seen as the leader of the state. If need be, I urge the leadership of the party under Comrade Adams Oshiomole to evaluate opinions and ascertain if indeed, Gov Bello is a liability to the party.
Kogi will be the focal point in the next couple of months and it will be really sad if APC loses the state. Let us not be deceived to think all is well. This is my kobo advise.
God bless Kogi State.
God bless the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
– Adewale Victor
Concerned Kogite.
