Dr. Tom Ohikere is the former Commissioner for Information in Alhaji Ibrahim Idris administration who’s administration lasted for nine years. He was part and parcel of the PDP administration and was part of the policy formulation having been a member of the State Executive Council (SEC). Today, he has turned arch enemy of the party that magnanimously picked him from the gutter and made him what he is today known as “Former Commissioner.”
He is brazenly churning out falsehood which is the best-bet of the ruling All Progressives Congress in Kogi State for morsel of bread.
When he was driven out of the State by thugs loyal to Yahaya Bello in the last three years, he was not abreast with the reality of the State, hence, he completely lacked the information needed to defend the governor, he has become his Man Friday in the last hour.
Ohikere, a man notorious for mischief, meets a man who is a desperado, Alhaji Yahaya Bello. Both are on the same page now because of November 16 gubernatorial election.
Whereas, Governor Yahaya Bello has his eyes on the second tenure despite his colossal failure in the first tenure, Dr. Tom Ohikere who is now damn broke has a business interest in solid minerals he would want the governor to quickly assist.
The tantrums thrown against the PDP governorship candidate, Engr. Musa Wada by Dr. Tom Ohikere after he featured on a popular National Television (AIT) showed that the APC, albeit, Yahaya Bello is jittery.
Wada spoke eloquently and intelligently with grasp of the happenings across the Senatorial flanks of Kogi State. A critical look at Tom Ohikere’s reaction revealed poorly researched presentation of facts. He dwelt more on propaganda rather than confronting Engr. Wada with facts and figures, even as an academician.
One was taken aback at his lack of understanding of Kogi East’s voting strength which Tom Ohikere said was 40%. He didn’t know that Kogi East has about 65% of the entire population. He didn’t know that Dekina local government in Kogi East equals four local government Areas in the central. Does Ohikere still embark on research?
He failed to tell the world Yahaya Bello’s achievements in four years. For instance, Yahaya Bello got over N400 billion since he was sworn into office as Executive Governor on 27th January, 2016. What has been the situation on ground in terms of infrastructure? Of course there is nothing.
This same man lived in low cost estate built by the previous administration he said underdeveloped the state in 16 years when he couldn’t show the world a single block of building by Yahaya Bello administration.
I was in the former Chief of Naval staff, Jibrin Oyibe Usman’s entourage across the Senatorial districts when he was contesting for governorship primaries. As a living witness, there is nothing to show that Kogi State has what is called government. In the Western Senatorial district, the only major road network from Kabba to Isanlu to Egbe has completely collapsed. The cottage hospital in Kabba uses Bush lamp without drugs. Patients are treated in private hospitals and sometimes fall into the hands of quack medical personnel.
It’s the same story in educational sector, that Kogi children take lessons under mango trees while some sit under dilapidated classroom buildings without text books. It’s just few days, Alhaji Yahaya Bello personally announced that Kogi State government has paid a counterpart fund to access UBEC funds for basic education in the state. The State Governor was doing that in almost four years of his administration.
All the tertiary institutions built by the previous administrations have been hit by paucity of funds and are today churning out poor graduates. Kogi State is the least State on the states’ development index.
The other day, Governor Yahaya Bello claimed to have paid all outstanding workers salaries and said opposition in the State have nothing to campaign against him, but before we say Jack Robinson, teachers have appealed for payment of salary arrears running into several millions of Naira. What tragedy in Kogi?
– Samson Atekojo Usman
