AN OPEN LETTER TO HIS EXCELLENCY, ALHAJI YAHAYA BELLO, THE EXECUTIVE GOVERNOR OF KOGI STATE.
By Comrade A. M. Nasir
Your Excellency,
It took me as much as the exact time and moment required for a heart to get sincerely purified from sentiment and bias before writing this letter and I so wish that you accept it too with an open heart. It is also my resolve to make this as brief as possible and hence, take all matters that shall be highlighted serious. Whereas it is very easy in Nigeria and particularly Kogi state to get any form of sycophancy and eyes service at the corridors of power, with the advent of social media and sincere grassroots connect; every leader can have a true feel of the citizens. Going by this premise, I challenge you to use your highly exalted office and influence to vet my opinions.
I will like you to bear in mind that security and physical infrastructure are two interwoven factors often used in the assessment of a government, an individual or cooperate contributions to the society. Security of lives and property is hitherto the number one responsibility of every government and so far so good, kidnapping is abysmal in the state, petty stealing has taken over rural areas, robbers have domiciled inter town boundaries among other insecurities while there is no commissioned or ongoing project in the state that is creditable to your name in time to come. Instead, you will only be remembered for demolishing roundabouts and monuments which will not serve any good memory in time to come.
It is highly unarguable and pathetic to say but since the inception of your government, aside the initial appointment of youths as SAs, Council Administrators and Commissioners, there is no step that has been taken for any action which received a positive social media attractions. The only praises traceable to you are that of your direct beneficiaries or political jobbers who suck under disguises such as Youths4Youths, Kogi first, Kogi is for all, peace propellers etc and this call for reflection.
May I remind you that while your nomination to replace late Audu received mixed feeling among APC leaders as at last year, some reputable personality (such as Sen Dino Meleye and Alh Abubakar Rajab) within Audu’s camp as at that time were quick to embrace you describing your emergence as a divine providence but today, as a result of political gimmicks or alignment with the masses no longer promote your policies. The average Kogite who opines Kogi has not experienced much positive progress as a result of successive Igala ruling were all in solidarity with you as at when your government took over power but today, many of this fellows wish they could turn back the hands of clock. This is to tell how anxious the people were of your government.
Kogi state civil service has for long been over bloated with ghost work forces and it is on record that every past government in the state at one time or the other engaged in screening exercise. For this precedents, well meaning kogites welcomed your idea of staff screening and verification exercise as been commendable envisaging that it will rid off ghost workers which will by extension make life easy for genuine workers. However, it is now five-six months after the exercise commenced and yet, no lesser than fifty percent of Kogi state civil servants/pensioners groan everyday as a result of unpaid salaries, arrears, gratuity and pensions.
While your government is reported to have designed a blueprint tagged the new direction, kogites are not interested in knowing the dividend it will bring. Like the adage that says-“A hungry man is an angry man”. Kogi masses are hungry, kidnapping is on the increase, schools are closed, commercial shops are wrecking and immorality is becoming the only alternative; youths now see gambling(bet9ja) as a venture and moral conduct are lossing it’s value because what matters is sustainability and not the source which needs are acquired.
Your Excellency, at this point, I will like you to remember that your mandate is an unequivocal divine providence. Many contended and the tussle is not yet over until supreme judgement surfaces. So, the characteristic features of your transient rule will determine your popularity test in the events of a fresh election which is the most common opinion among political observers and analysts commenting on the debacle of Prince Abubakar Audu’s demise. The APC in Kogi state is divided between you and Hon James Abiodun Fakeke, the late Prince’s immediate family through its eldest son-Alh Mohammed Audu, has a couple of time distanced itself from you, the Kogi state chapter of NLC and TUC have had face offs with you, the student unions(except NAKOSS) at a time demonstrated against your leadership and the latest is allegation making round that your government is set to make purchase of official vehicles to the tune of $12million (I.e over there billion) while the ordinary citizens are dying of starvation.
Finally, whatever good you have in offing must be done fast. If bottlenecks are responsible for your governments public perception, disarm them; you have promised civil servants three months salary arrears before sallah, hasten the fulfillment; complains are still on from the staff screening, pay workers pending when issues are resolved and the woes will reduce. As a true believer of the Islamic monotheism, you must agree that “no matter the power anyone occupies; it is from Allah and Allah is capable of taking it at anytime he so pleases”. It could be by human influence, death, health or expiration of tenure but Alas, it is only the legacy we leave behind that determines what we would be remembered for.
Yours in humanity,
– Comrade A. M. Nasir
naadejohs@gmail.com
twitter handle: @Naadejohs
