Few months from now, the tenure of Captain Idris Ichalla Wada, the Executive Governor of Kogi State will come to an end, with his dream of returning for a second term. Many in 2012 including this
writer saw his coming as a beginning of good leadership and development which the State suffered its paucity during the tenure of his predecessor, Alhaji Ibrahim Idris. He is armed with intimidating credentials as an M.sc. holder, eloquent speaker and career civil servant that got to the pinnacle of civil service as a proficient aviator.
Though, he is highly knowledgeable, but mercurial and voluble. Since the Country’s return to democracy in 1999, Kogi state have not fared well nor endowed with a kind of leadership and development anticipated by the masses despite the huge allocations it received from federation account. We have been hurt, and we have been disillusioned. We have seen a wall go up that separates us from our own government. We have lost some precious things that historically bond us
and our government together.
We have been a State wandering for too long.
Every honest Kogite as well as those whose domestic and personal bills were oiled by the state’s treasury will concur that our State fell beneath the bar in Nigeria that dividends of democracy and
good governance have not been so palatable. When you look at Kogi State from 2012-date, it’s the same as theKogi State of 2003 to 2011. For example, while many States in the Country were busy
revamping federal roads, the reverse is the case of ours under the governor. From any route one chooses to access Kogi State, the poor road network is the first gauge to substantiate the poor
performances of the Governor.
A journey from Idah-Anyigba, Ochadamu-Idah, Egbe-Kabba-Okene-Lokoja, Kabba- Obajana, Ajaokuta-Itobe, and Iyara- Iyamoye road will tell the deplorable condition of our roads in the State.
Virtually the Governor’s administration doesn’t have enough trace to justify the billions of naira’s been channeled to the sectors. Today, majority of Schools in the State look more of the abandoned farm houses, where by the renovation and equipping of Hospitals across the state has remained the responsibility of National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and Millennium Development Goals (MDG’s).
Under the out-going administration, the capital projects and Staff development at the State’s owned tertiary institutions have been taken over by Tertiary Education Trust Fund (TETFUND), while
construction and renovation of Primary and Secondary Schools were carried out by Millennium Development Goal’s (MDG’s), Universal Basic Education Commission (UBEC), community efforts, private individuals and political office holders mostly legislatures at the State and National Assembly who embark on the projects to enable them have an evidence for their re-election bids.
The State despite with landmass of 32,440sq.km with a good climate and soil that is fertile with capacity to produce virtually all of Nigeria’s stable crops such as Rice, Yam, Cassava, Beans, Millet,
Guinea-Corn, Soya-Beans, Maize, Wheat, Sweet-Potatoes, also with ample prospects for grazing, fishing, forestry and opportunities for the establishment of large scale farms in each of the
Senatorial zone which will lead to job creation, transfer of skills and technology were never utilized by the Incumbent administration. The situation is so pathetic that hardly any of the 21 Local
Government Councils today can boast of a single functional tractor. Lack of access to water supply has gotten to a peak; the case of Lokoja, Idah, and Anyigba is pathetic as the residents can’t recall last when water run through their taps. The population of water cage pushers which are very glaring in every nook and cranny of Lokoja is a clear evidence of the obscurity the residents faced over water scarcity. In fact, prior to the coming of the Governor in 2012, 20 litres of water cost 10 Naira, but today it goes for N50. This was a sector the Govenor claims to have invested billions of Naira.
The most awful situation is our State which was created in 1991 is now wadding behind Ebonyi, Bayelsa, Nasarawa, Gombe, Ekiti and Zamfara States that were created in 1996 in terms of physical and human development. Even the States of Yobe and Borno that is engulfed with insurgent crisis for past three years has accomplished better than us.
The out- going Governor today cannot tell the people of Kogi State the number schools that were constructed, equipped or renovated since 2012, number of hospitals that were constructed, equipped
or renovated since 2012, number of communities that were provided with electricity since 2012, number of Kogites that were offered foreign scholarship as did by other Northern States, number of
communities that where provided with portable drinking water since 2012 and number of times fertilizers, seedlings and pesticides where purchase and sold at subsidize rates to the farmers since 2012 under his leadership. Apart from the Governor unfulfilled promises, the state is owing over 45 Billion.
The political earthquake of 28 March, 2015 that rocked the entire country is a sufficient raison d’être that it’s not going to be business as usual.
It’s indisputable fact that the Governor deserves a cold farewell from the people of Kogi State.
- Balogun Emmanuel Funsho writes from University Of Ilorin, Ilorin; he can be reached on 07034444976 or irule9ja@gmail.com
