After an illustrious eight years at Lugard House, Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi state has left an indelible mark in history as the first Ebira-born politician to achieve such a remarkable feat, especially since the creation of Kogi state. In this exclusive interview, Dr. Tom Ohikere, a two-time Kogi State Commissioner for Information and a chieftain of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), sheds light on Governor Bello’s eight-year administrative journey. Dr. Ohikere shares insights during a media session with selected journalists recently.
You have been a good political companion of Governor Yahaya Bello prior to the 2015 governorship primary election of the APC during which late Prince Abubakar Audu came victorious, and Governor Yahaya Bello emerged as the first runner-up. Tell us more about your relationship with him.
I was one of the few closest influences and key advisers to him in the period that led to the governorship primary election in 2015. I was glad we pulled through. Our efforts culminated in his emergence as the first runner-up. He defeated other known political generals in the state, came second after our Late Boss, Prince Abubakar Audu. Our efforts were both determinative and scientific in nature. But today, the rest is history.
The fact that you played a key role and were a known face in the Governor Bello Think- Tank in the pre-2015 governorship race, but it seemed there was a strife in your camp. Tell us what led to your fallout with him, especially after his emergence.
In the period of GYB indecision after the primary election where he came second, I disagreed with some of his actions, and as a result, we fell out. Blackmailers and bootlickers took advantage, particularly in the period when Prince Abubakar Audu made me the Head of Publicity and Media for the Audu/Faleke group. I was of the view that since party supremacy supersedes all, if we couldn’t get the ticket we fought for, we should have supported the winner of the primary election. I seriously believed that GYB was misled by some self-serving guys around him because I know him to be a possessor of a good heart that listens to good counsel.
Does that imply that the indifference between you and GYB remained unreconciled, especially during his first three years in office because you were glaringly missing?
It was not really a fight as it were. It was a kind of unequaled philosophical disposition. What happened was that between 2016 and the middle of 2019, blackmailers took total control of misleading the public about me, thereby compounding the crisis between His Excellency and myself. It was in the last 5 months before the second bid by GYB that a few of them summoned the courage to ask for a reconciliation with me, which I took in the spirit of the party and the fact that our party must win the 2019 election in the state. And the fact that GYB has no personal issues against me. Our relationship is still cordial till date.
Besides the fallout of the 2015 primary elections, were there other things you noticed with Governor Bello’s administration that made you stand aloof?
The major problem I had with Governor Yahaya Bello was his very poor relationship with the key founders of the party in the state, among whom were Senator Ohiare, and myself. Funnily, we all of his natal stock, hailing from the same senatorial zone. It seemed this was seemingly very deliberate on his part, perhaps he was ill-advised too, as many opportunists wanted to hijack the fallout of our relationship to their advantage. The same treatment was also meted out to some party executives from other zones.
We noticed you were once again active, canvassing for Governor Bello’s second term during the electioneering. Was it the reconciliation that birthed such a move?
Following the realignment of our forces, I was made the secretary of the media and publicity committee, and my assignment was to steer the media engagement with the opposition. I worked with Kingsley Fanwo, the commissioner of information, and we came out stronger than the opposition in the media.
What your assessment of Governor Bello’s 8 years of governance?
I have been keeping a very close watch on the state and can at this juncture conclude that GYB was not a failure. But, in the incomplete nature of man, GYB had its weaknesses and shared mistakes. Governor Yahaya Bello is one of the most successful governors in the history of Kogi state. But, I have strong reservations about his first term in office, especially in the area of public project delivery and communication and if I am to score him for his first term achievement index, I will score him 40%. But it is now obvious to all and sundry that his first term was hijacked, and it is also public knowledge that he stepped up his game in the second term, and we all can see that he is going home happy.
Are you saying that he performed more in the second term than his first term in office?
His second term was a monumental success, which can be validated by the milestones and achievements we see across the state. There is probably no senatorial district without the touch of His Excellency. I research about public policy at global and continental front and its impact on the people as a career. My assessment has scored Governor Bello 75% in governance in view of his second term achievement.
Was this score of 75% for the Governor Yahaya Bello-led government a product of empirical research?
The Nigeria Poverty Index, World Bank, UNICEF, and other global authorities have not indicated a failure in Kogi. Governor Bello rose from the mistake of his first term in office, learnt his lessons, took some legendary steps to record the achievements we now seeing in his second term.
As a matter of fact, it should be noted that failure or success in leadership is not judged by sentiments. There are globally acceptable indices and parameters that serve as impeccable indicators. GYB seems to be on the positive sides of those indicators.
But some Kogites may not agree with you, as some believe that there was acute hunger in the land during the reign of Governor Yahaya Bello. Why did the economic policy you termed as successful couldn’t bring economic prosperity to the lives of the people of Kogi state?
Government is a continuum. Governor Yahaya Bello did not inherit a Kogi state that was a father Christmas, sharing prosperity to all its citizens. Having survived the recession in 2016, the state, and other parts of the country were about gaining ground before COVID-19 set in, which further grounded governance and economic activities. But despite this, you could see the construction of the Reference Hospital in Okene, the renovations of the specialist hospital in Lokoja, the construction of Ganaja Flyover, and the establishment of two world-class universities, among other projects. He has demonstrated a good leadership disposition, and I hope that his successor would do more for the people.
Governor Bello will vacate Kogi state Governor House on Saturday, Dr. Ohikere, what words do you have for him?
I give him 100 salutes. He has made Ebira proud, and I am particularly proud of him. He has his mistakes like every other mortal, but I do hope he reminisces over them and learns and corrects them against his next political engagement. Kogi state will remember GYB for his gallantry, intelligence, and forthrightness. With him, we can say that the age of Methuselah has nothing to do with the wisdom of Solomon. I wish him well.
Recently, sir, there were issues related to the traditional institutions in the state that led to the emergence of the new Ohinoyi of Ebira land following the transition to the glory of the previous one, and the banishment of two other kings. What is your take, sir?
As regards the recent issue of traditional rulers, I have strong reservations too and don’t intend to comment on it.
On a final note, sir, a new governor will be sworn in Kogi state on Saturday to begin another journey of governance. What do you have to say to Alhaji Usman Ododo, the governor-elect?
After all our pre-election differences, Ododo is today the executive governor elect of the state, fully backed by the constitution and it is now sacrosanct that we must all respect him and his orders. So I am in full support of him and passionately pray that he succeeds.
What would say about the kind of governance that the people of Kogi state should expect from the Governor-elect ?
As a trained accountant and one that was deeply involved with the outgoing government, I am very optimistic that Ododo will work well and serve the people of Kogi state. I advise him to love the people of the state and see them as his golden project. Let him avoid any form of distraction and focus on the welfare of the people. He should learn from the mistakes of his immediate predecessor and work widely on improving on the success of his boss. I wish him well.
Thank you, Dr. Ohikere, for sharing your insights with us.
I appreciate your time as well. Thank you.
