By Abdullahi Yunusa ProfWills.
In life, not everyone envoys the privilege of having a second chance to prove his or herself. Only a negligible few gets the opportunity to take a second shot at something, including public office. This is simply why it is advisable that we make good use of any opportunity that drops on our laps, because no one is ever assured of a second chance. Most times, first impression ends up as the only impression. So, be wise when destiny favours you with an opportunity to prove yourself.
Undoubtedly, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state is perhaps one of the few lucky people favoured by a trinity which comprised of God, destiny and man. It is usually a rare occurrence to be that lucky to have divinity and nature congregating or aligning in your favour. You truly have less to worry about when God and nature decide to be on your side. Indeed, Yahaya Bello should remain eternally grateful to God and man for such rare privilege.
Dear Governor Yahaya Bello, I congratulate and felicitate with you on your second coming. May you have the will, wisdom, courage and vision to right the wrongs of the past four years. I wish and pray that you succeed in all the programmes you reeled out in your inauguration speech yesterday, because your success will be a plus for Kogi state and her citizens.
Governor Bello, truth is, your first tenure in office isn’t so far the worst since Nigeria’s return to civil rule in 1999, but the calibre of characters, aides and backroom staff that you assigned key responsibilities made everyone to think in that direction. Their body language, style of engagement, modus operandi and utterances gave everyone the impression that you presided over a completely clueless, visionless and directionless government that never gave a hoot about people’s perception, forgetting that perception is everything in politics.
Governments are assessed and rated by the people based on perception. Politics or public office is always about perception. It’s one thing that gets people elected and governments defeated. There is no more powerful agent of change than perception. We weren’t expecting you to pick completely flawless individuals as aides, but aides with the right human temperament, mental acuity, saleable relational skills and above all a forward-thinking people who are passionate about service to the people.
You inadvertently recruited fighters, troubleshooters, jobbers, smart alecs, manipulators and patently seedy characters to man positions meant for sane and rational human beings. We had and saw aides who serially acted outside their official briefs and also arrogated powers to themselves without some consequences. It wasn’t a totally hopeless situation because we had a few good people who did their best which earned the administration appreciable mileage.
I am indeed happy that you’ve come to terms with the fact that the buck stops on your table, and the success or otherwise of your administration depends largely on your actions and inactions. It is equally heartwarming to see that you have started the process of removing the malignant tumours that held your government by the jugular in the last four years. Your recent appointments say it all.
Most of the enemies you had in the last four years were not people you personally offended, but those made for you by some of your overzealous aides who insult and attack people at will. I rarely give up on people or situation. I can see some semblance of civility, atom of strategic thinking and flashes of political sophistry in the activities of your Chief of Staff, Pharmacist Jamiu Asuku. As exemplified by Pharmacist Asuku, more than anything else, you require the support, cooperation, understanding, buy-in and contributions of all citizens of Kogi state to succeed. Pharmacist Asuku’s resolve to on your behalf reach out to opinion and political leaders across party lines in the state after the last election is a political masterstroke.
Dear Governor Bello, like I did counsel you in 2016, beware of political hawks whose sole aim of getting into political office is to promote parochial interests. A number of them have regrouped and are seriously plotting to find their way into your government again. Beware of hailing hailers and other political turncoats who are scheming hard to get your attention. Do well to align with altruistic hailers, but keep selfish hailers at arm’s length.
Above all, as always, we shall continue to advocate for good, responsible and responsive governance and hold government accountable to the people. This is your last and final shot at the Lugard House as governor, do well to write your name in gold. May you succeed in all your endeavours. Cheers.
– Yunusa writes from CRD, FHA Lugbe, Abuja.
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