It is said that, a man whose roof is on fire does not go merry. It is rather genealogical than pointing to specific circle the absence of leadership in the country and by extension, Africa. The deceit of old instigated by the British as basis for economic exploitation in Africa which led to immature amalgamation of the Northern and Southern protectorate continue to haunt us till tomorrow. Had it been consented, Nigeria would have thrived better than it is now. This is not indifferent from what is experienced in few African nations like Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger-Republic, and Guinea. The sahel region of Africa lagged behind in leadership which inadvertently informed several crisis ranging from Economy to insecurity. In short, before the military take over, countries like Guinea, Senegal, Gambia, Mauritania, Chad, Niger, Burkina Faso, Nigeria and some other vast arid expanse of the Sahara desert faces violence from Islamic extremists which totally turned the people against elected officials. It is unacceptable to be deprived in one’s fatherland.
However, the British and European’s extortion of Africa continues and, it influence the ongoing ECOWAS perceived reinstatement of Democracy in Niger— some Francophone nations are fueling ECOWAS resorts against her own people, and it tells of the ailing trajectory of our dear continent. All said and done, the fault-line is absence of good and foresighted leadership.
Series of government are in tow since Nigeria’s democratic rebirth in 1999, but not much has been done pertaining leadership. Instead, men of corrupt antecedents backed by deep pockets had continued to have their ways to the detriment of good will, patriotism and National spirit.
It is not farfetched to what is obtained in Nigeria’s most central state, Kogi state. The installation of Yahaya Bello, a young lad in his 40 plunged abyss quests for good leadership, governance and a deepened democracy. Apart from his nepotistic, religious and ethnic style, governance is practically lacking in want. The deceit witnessed under his leadership is unprecedented, and that denies him every locus standi now, and in future.
In saner world, ECOWAS contempt of Niger would have been better in Kogi state. Why? Where you have a leader who can’t pay workers and workers can’t protest is authoritative, not democracy. Where you have government that is neither transparent nor accountable, it is regime. Where you have government that is without structure and everything is at the whims and caprices of one man is dictatorship. I am yet to see where a simple protest had been held against Bello’s glaring misdemeanors since 2016.
So, ECOWAS should have installed democracy in Kogi state where people can freely express their minds, and where the media can freely exercise its duty without fear or favour. Where publicity is not perused by dictators but editors and where consent is not coerced and patriotism and loyalty is not bought. He who comes to equity must come with clean hands.
We are not in North Korea, and it irks that a man like Yahaya Bello is all out to force his stooge on the people. He is not concerned with the dilapidated economic state, he is not concerned with security, life and social welfare. He simply want a custodian of his corrupt empires and the man to do that barely align his thought to make coherence sense. Worst still, some folks from the East and Western senatorial districts nod heads like a well-fed lizard affirming his candidature.
For whoever cares, the ultimate is to Kick Bello out. take it or leave it. There are no basis for which he should have a say in Kogi’s affair any further. Not even in his own constituency, having undermined the sagacity of those folks and chosen his successor from his own polling unit. However, if the central are united behind his choice, it is okay. But the rest of us who are not considered in this process ought to have united against him as well. This is my STAND.
My PLIGHT however is, the East and West are not united. The West agitates for power shift, which is to some extent understood save for issues underpinning it. The East which should play motherly role are not united as well. Worst still, those parading themselves as actors and representatives are people with individual beefs from APC and can never dine on the same table till eternity. And by so doing, they indirectly lynches removing Bello from the Lugard house, Why? If you recall, opposition presented itself as viable means to get rid of this uncladded interest but the same people foisted it. Why are they the one parading our interest even when they can’t unite themselves. What is these APC ex-men not telling us?
Unfortunately, the gullibles are emotional and the intellectuals are greedy making attempts to forestall possible ill resentment among these candidates impossible by the day, Why? Why can’t we harness individual strengths to scale through in reclaiming our dear state? Why can’t Ilona Kingsley deploy his media machinery? Is it not better Jibrin Usman brings his security experience aboard, and what stops Muritala Ajaka from breaking his bank account and make funds available for this tasks? Haven’t Kogites suffered enough? This is not politicking, governance is at stake! And the hapless masses are at the receiving end. By November 12th, these men would have jetted out of the state to their places of residence. You will be shocked they will go back to APC leaving you and I at the beck and call of one man who can’t wait to sell off the state. Is this what we want?
Kogi is arguably the poorest state in Nigeria, yet, the most economically endowed state. Check the handouts these men sell as blueprint, they go no where! Still, they hold personal interests so dear. Are we not fooling ourselves hanging behind them individually?
Check my antecedents, I have supported just one man since my foray in Kogi affairs. And I put it to you, as at today, he stands out. You may say he has no voice, your sentiment only struggles between the glee line of pecuniarity, hatred or religious affinity. No one has the capacity he has to turn the fortune of the state around presently. You may say he is not contesting but when he contested, he left a word that manifested in no distant time. Kindly search for the video or request for it and I avail you.
History is for a guided future. Let’s applaud the salient words of our true leaders and embrace the reality that Kogi East can’t produce a governor with a divided house. Those parading Muri and Akpabana on social media should take note. unless we come together as one, it is practically impossible, those parading perceived possibilities are either greedy, emotional or economical with the truth. 2023 is a replay of 1999, and alignment was what saved us. Therefore, individual thrives will only avail Ododo the victory, we cannot go that way; this is my stand, and it informed my plight.
– John Paul writes from the Nigerian Institute of Journalism, Lagos.
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